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RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
CREATURE COMFORTS
On BBCA the program is fun stuff. I get a kick out of the incredible attention to detail on these creatures and how they speak their minds on a topic. A recent episode had them discussing the Monarchy. TV.com says: "Creature Comforts is a plasticine animation by Aardman studios. It features various creatures who are interviewed about a different topic each episode. But the voices are not those of the creatures, it's the people of Britain. Members of the British public were interviewed about different topics, and then the animation of the animals is created to the voice. The result is a funny show" Makes me wonder (or do I really) who I'm laughing at and about while watching the animals address the issues. Just love it. Anyone else enjoying this? |
hkwiles Special user Howard Wiles 797 Posts |
Randy..these characters were first used way back over here on TV..advertising gas and electricty utilities.
I strongly advise you to check out the Wallace and Gromitt DVD's they are equal if not better than some of Mr Disneys best. This would be the best, contains his three most well known ones. Wallace And Gromit - 3 Cracking Adventures They also produce The Chicken Run...A sort of "Great escape" spoof cheers Howard |
RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
Howard, thanks for remind us of Wallace and Gromit. I also enjoy those two very much My introduction to the two was the mechanical trouser episode. Wallace is used by a criminal penguin in a robbery involving mechanical trousers.
The penguin has set out to get that jewel in the museum. He works alone and is very resourceful. This penguin is a horrible criminal. I grew to hate that penguin very much with his smug little attitude he's simply evil. He really is. And no matter who you are, you know right from the start that he must be stopped. He doesn't care if he puts Wallace and Gromit in harms way. He wants that jewel! A bit of trivia I found online: Trivia: In an effort to get Gromit out of the house, the penguin plays very loud music. One tune is "how much is that doggie in the window?" and another is "tie a yellow ribbon round the 'ole oaktree", indicating he's just been released from prison. I wouldn't want him for a neighbor as you can't turn your back to that guy for a second! That is a very very bad penguin. |
RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
Here's a photo of the Penguin that Wallace and Gromit dealt with:
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=1/2711414830.jpg&s=x2 The Penguin I spoke of is a real force to be dealt with. If you were to encounter this fellow I'd suggest you simply run. This penguin is a dozen steps ahead of ya no matter what you think you know. Even if you were armed and he wasn't, somehow, without a spoken word or any funny business, you'd find yourself at the other end of that gun barrel! That’s the way he thinks and always up to no good. Makes the Coyote look like a saint. Not to mention the fact that he used Wallace and his own invention to do wrong. The audacity of this bird! |
Cory Gallupe Inner circle Nova Scotia, Canada 1272 Posts |
Sounds funny!
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RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
A friend of mine asked how Wallace and Gromit came across this unscrupulous penguin aka “Feathers McGraw“.
Amazon.com: “It all begins on the morning of Gromit's birthday, when Wallace gives his beloved pooch the gift of his latest invention--a pair of mechanical "techno-trousers" that can be programmed to take Gromit out for "walkies" while Wallace sits comfortably at home. Gromit's not exactly thrilled with the new gadget, and things go from bad to worse when Wallace rents a room to a new boarder--a rather suspicious-looking penguin--to offset his rising expenses. As it turns out, the penguin's a notorious thief, and the amazing techno-trousers provide a foolproof method of pulling off a diamond heist!” You may notice the Penguin’s blank stare with those beady little eyes and no mouth. He should scare the giblets out of ya. Holding Gromit at gun point and casually, with apparent experience, gesturing with the gun to “move it” will get you wondering what we’re dealing with here. On another note regarding Wallace and Gromit is this interesting observation by a discussion board member on the topic: By Paul Richmond (Fri. Sept.2, 2005 05:16:31) “Have animation buffs realized that The Wrong Trousers is actually a well- disguised allegory and political satire on post-war Britain, the welfare state, political correctness, race and discrimination? It alludes to Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well, Hans Christian Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes ands, Plato's The Republic and George Orwell's Animal farm. In fact, it deserves to be the new Animal Farm and should be taught in high school and at university as a superlative narrative linking art and politics. See Wikipedia's entry on The Wrong Trousers to find out more and enter a serious discussion on this topic. “ Well that's one point of view and we'll let him have that. Others may argue it's nothing but a cute children's program. I’m sure the sinister “Feathers“ would rather you remain in the dark over the matter. Being the master of disguise he is, there‘s not much in the way of photos of him on the Internet. However, I did find this one of him practicing his tricks of the trade, no doubt in rehearsal for that anticipated and sinister diamond heist. Here: Just born rotten to the core... http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=1/2814214346.jpg&s=x4 |
RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-01-28 09:55, RandyStewart wrote: Confirmed! In watching the superb stop-motion claymation episode "A CLOSE SHAVE", Gromit is wrongly accused and improsoned but soon vindicated. A scene showing Gromit sitting in his cell shows the words 'Feathers Was Here' on the cell wall high above his head. This would be 'Feathers McGraw' - The Penguin! What a small world. Following his release, this Penguin continues where he left off in his life of crime! Thinks he's so smart and above the law. Insisting on doing things his way and his alone regardless of others and the law. You could just strangle that perfidious dirty little bird. In the meantime we're left to just grit our teeth but some day Penguin....some day. |
RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
On a lighter note, I realized that for years I misunderstood the meaning of that song. The old "tie a yellow ribbon round the 'ole oaktree" song I thought was about a soldier returning home to his love. Oh my God! What an idiot! Well can you entirely blame me as my earliest memories of that song were with Tony Orlando and his tux on TV joyfully singing it while the swaying audience joined in!
Well I obviously didn't pay enough attention to figure it out. But even with song lines like "it's been three long years" and "paid my dues" all that did was confirm in my mind that it was a heart-warming song of a GI coming home but was uncertain if his old love wanted him back. Thus his request for the yellow ribbon around the ole' oak tree. I even noticed the lines where he asks the bus driver to check for him as he just can't bear to see for himself. Oh man did I have that song all wrong turning out to be a whole different story. Amazing how one can totally miss the point or at least misunderstand the artist's intent. I recently saw some British pop stars interviewed on television and one of them was Ozzy Osbourne (does anyone understand anything that tortured soul is talking about?) who said he thought Jimmy Hendrix sang in 'Purple Haze' the words: "Excuse me while I kiss this GUY". When in fact he was saying "Excuse me while I kiss the SKY". Yeah you see how those sound alike! Interesting huh? And he thought this for many years just as I misinterpreted that yellow ribbon song. Too bad as it's really a nice and catchy tune. Miscommunication can have such a long life. Well apparently the Penguin understood it. |
hkwiles Special user Howard Wiles 797 Posts |
Nick Parkes and his Ardvaark Company are up for an Oscar with "The Curse of the Were Rabbit". Hope they can bag their 3rd one.
Howard |
RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
There is no end to the evil criminal mastermind that is the Penguin aka 'Feathers McGraw'.
The criminal talent has once again been spotted. Notice the crafty disquise. Phhhh! he makes me so mad as he thinks he's so smart and ahead of us all. He remains a master of deception and a free creature. I for one, won't be fooled and had by this naturally wicked mind. http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=3/8822104691.jpg&s=x11 Penguin, have you no shame? I assure you, he cares nothing about you or what you think. You dirty little penguin, You dirty little bird. Some day Penguin! Some day! |
Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
Also check out Rex the Runt. Another Aardman Studio clay animated (claymation is the trademark process used by Willl Vinton Studios) series.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
The Penguin may be mute, but the actions of this ‘Feathers McGraw’ speak louder than words ever could - the language of a most intelligent Criminal Mastermind. A good Samaritan (wishes to remain anonymous) PM’d me and reminded me that I misquoted Feathers McGraw’s scribbling on the cell wall that held poor ole’ Gromit for a short time. When Gromit is wrongfully imprisoned in ‘A Close Shave’, a graffito on the cell wall reads: “Feathers woz ere”. Thank you for clarifying that good fellow. Of course, with my luck, it was probably Feathers himself who messaged me. You mock me now Penguin, go ahead...laugh…laugh all you like…but someday....someday…
For law enforcement and citizens alike, here’s another recently captured photo of this dirty little bird and criminal Master Mind: http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=4/10513460732.jpg&s=x402 Some have noticed what appear to be movie mistakes but there are perfectly reasonable explanations. Some of the noteworthy I’ve listed here thanks to http://www.moviemistakes.com Q: When the penguin uses the remote to get Wallace out of bed, the sheets are all crumpled up, but in the next shot they're neatly spread over the bed again. A: [Do you think the man (or, indeed, the dog) who invented the first rocket to go to the moon and return intact couldn't invent some self-folding bedclothes?] Q: When the penguin is on the windowsill at the museum, he unfolds a big piece of paper, but where did he get that? It definitely wasn't there when the penguin is standing on Wallace as he climbs up the wall. A: [It was in the holster which holds his hidden gun. See previous corrections of this type of 'mistake'.] Q: During the chase scene, the penguin removes a peg, thus disconnecting the part of the train he is on with the part Gromit is on. He does this twice in two shots. A: [The carriages are held together by couplings with two pins.] Q: When Gromit is looking at the penguin's plan to steal the diamond, there are some pencils at the corner of the poster near where is says "Museum", but in the next shot, these pencils disappear. A: [The 'next shot' is a close up of the plan, and after that there is a close up of Gromit. He lets go of the plan which rolls up by itself, and who knows where the pencils could have gone? They probably fell on the floor.] Q: When Feathers shuts Wallace and Gromit in the closet we can see that there are several other items in there too. These disappear later when Gromit bursts out of it. A: [Gromit doesn't 'burst' out of the closet, Wallace does. Gromit falls out and the view of what's in there is still obstructed by Wallace. All that's in there are a few coat hangers anyway. They could easily have fallen to the floor considering what was going on.] Q: When the penguin comes to inspect the museum, all he brings is a pad of paper and pencil (we see this as he is walking by the café) but suddenly when Gromit spies on him he has a tape measurer with him. Just because this is a cartoon doesn't mean that the characters can pull things out of nowhere. A: [I believe this has already been corrected in relation to the gun that Feathers pulls out on Gromit. If a penguin were to be seen walking around the north of England with a tape measure and note pad, people would ask questions. As it is, its just an average, everyday penguin minding his own business. This is a normal occurrence in a world where dogs have opposable thumbs and a glove on the head is good enough to fool people into thinking you are a chicken.] |
RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
Another beautiful little production that makes me happy is DR. KATZ.
I've never been to a shrink, having one in the family, he always seemed to come to me but those are details for another day. Just let some people have their day. This addition to "Creature Comforts" is one of my longest standing. Yes I saw this production several years before the wonderful productions listed thus far. Be good, not to yourself as you do that far too often, but to Dr. Katz by viewing DR. KATZ! Description from Bestprices.com: "One of the true gems of 1990s animation, Comedy Central's DR. KATZ, PROFESSIONAL THERAPIST, not only trafficked in refreshingly intelligent, satiric humor, but pioneered an innovative style of animation known as Squigglevision. Created by comedian Jonathan Katz, the cartoon series centered around the eponymous psychiatrist (named for and voiced by its creator) as he wryly ministered to a clientele of neurotic standup comics while parenting his own adult slacker son, Ben (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin), and suffering the deadpan iciness of his acerbic receptionist, Laura (voiced by Laura Silverman). This collection presents every episode of the groundbreaking series' debut season, which included guest appearances by comics Ray Romano, Dave Attell, and Joy Behar." You should not find yourself or anyone you know in this and following production. If you do, DON'T TELL ANYONE. Have a nice day. Oh! and here's a lovely photo of Dr. Katz, Ben, and Laura: http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=5/12500502252.gif&s=f5 Make Tom Snyder proud! |
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