Show #183: The Thief And The Cobbler

A podcast thirty one accumulated hours in the making, SOTSM broaches the subject of the animation albatross known as The Thief And The Cobbler!

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With the recent passing of the esteemed Richard Williams and the tributes that followed a pair of titles repeatedly stood out: his undeniably popular work Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, and another convoluted and perhaps notorious production called The Thief And The Cobbler. Delayed, waylaid and recut into various releases in its unfinished state, many had given up Williams' grand artistic statement as folly. But is this being uncharitable to what he strove to achieve not just in the film itself but animation as a whole? Crime, corporate skullduggery and a years long quest for perfection almost distract us from savouring a cartoon spectacle the likes of which may never be seen again!

Show #181: Drawn Or Alive! The Phil Silvers Show VS Top Cat

We've finally got the Let's Go Gang together for their most important case yet! Brian Smith joins us for another new format wherein we examine the transformative nature of live-action titles into animation or vice-versa and discover what is gained, lost or irrevocably changed in the process. To start with we look at one of the more notorious examples of a cartoon "homaging"a popular live sitcom, as Hanna Barbera was often wont to do, when Phil Silvers and his famous Sergeant Bilko persona are pitted against his hand-drawn doppleganger Top Cat. Plots, punchlines and even players are shared between the two but only one will make it out, DRAWN OR ALIVE!

Listen up!

Show #132: Space Ghost Coast To Coast

It's a star studded spectacular as we are joined by special guests Joseph Wade and Libby Cudmore for a special late night talk show on Space Ghost Coast to Coast!

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While we are saddened by the recent passing of an intregal creative talent to this cult classic, we also take this opportunity to celebrate and appreciate how this cobbled together Frankenstein of a TV show made for the spare change in your back pocket somehow went on to touch the hearts & minds of millions of insomniacs around the globe, not to mention opening the floodgates for Adult Swim and a whole host of other surreally humourous late night cartoons and providing a surprising shared cultural touchstone for our weird adolescences.

Joseph's Twitter

Libby's Twitter

Watch Space Ghost Coast To Coast here!

THE SHORT VERSION

Special guests

Format pioneers

The sublimely ridiculous

Show #125: Joe 90

A guy called Joe who works for Uncle Sam and blows stuff up a whole lot? Again? No we haven't gone senile while we've been away, we're just talking about Joe 90!

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Due to legal precedent set in the case of SOTSM V Dinosaur War Izenborg and the currently airing martial arts marionettes of Thunderbolt Fantasy, we have free reign to open up discussion to the realm of Supermarionation made famous by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Joe 90 is a slightly lesser appreciated example of their output, prey to the cultural shortcomings of its era but also revelling in the atmosphere of Sixties spy-fi. The ethics of child spies aside it does a pretty good job of making intricate espionage operations palatable to a young audience, helped in no small part by the infamous proclivity to outrageous explosive puppet violence.

THE SHORT VERSION

Killer kids

Political puppets

REMEMBER JOE, THIS IS A SNEAKING MISSION

Show #121: Jonny Quest (1964)

The warm weather has arrived so you know what that means; a theme we'll actually try and see out to the end as we kick off the Boys of Summer with Jonny Quest!

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Who would have thought Hanna Barbera would be ahead of the curve by producing a primetime animation series that wasn't a straight comedy (now don't that sound familiar?), packaging familiar stories within an appealing and distinctive style. Limited in animation and cultural sensitivity but triumphant in design, atmosphere and soundtrack, the fact it is still both celebrated and satirised to this day is evidence of its impact.

THE SHORT VERSION

Scientific investigations

Cultural portrayals

You said it Bandit!

Show #101: Poop-eye Will Never Not Be Funny

It's back to basics as we delve into one of the most nourishing wellsprings of the cartoons we hold so dear, the one and only Popeye The Sailor!

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An essential history lesson for all you animation fans out there, Popeye came from humble origins to become one of the most iconic and popular cartoon characters ever, inspiring so many more on to greatness in the medium. Popeye went to strange places both in quality and content over the years, also being guilty of some unfortunate representations that were sadly all too common of the era. It's that beating heart of comedy and characters, vitality and violence that keeps us coming back for more even after all these years.

THE SHORT VERSION

Handsome sailors

Pioneers of animation

Fightin'

Show #71: I'll Have To Engage PCP Power

Anthony Askew of Dynamite In The Brain is coming up fast to join us for a few laps of the way out Wacky Races!

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Wacky Races has quite the cultural footprint but besides that it's a pretty okay cartoon. It's a Hanna Barbera show so what do you expect? On this viewing we find ourselves siding with supposed villains Dick Dastardly and Muttley and pondering how they wound up in this silly situation. We spin a yarn of Cold War defection, organised crime and corruption that may not actually be true but is still a lot of fun to talk about!

Anthony's Twitter

THE SHORT VERSION

War heroes

Useful gadgets

Dirty rotten cheaters

Show #33: Who Else Can You Trust But Napoleon Bonaparte?

In our first installment of what we hope will become a regular feature 8 Man, aka Tobor The 8th Man, and 8 Man After clash in the middle of a TIME PARADOX!

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Two cartoons enter, one cartoon leaves! 1963's 8 Man is yet another example of the high concept madcap escapades we always love to see on SOTSM. 8 Man After comes out swinging with a darker and more violent take on the themes and characters introduced in its prequel series. Which one will win out? 60s or 90s? Chief Tanaka or Chief Fumblethumbs? CYBORG JUNKIES OR ROBOT TIGER? You'll just have to listen to find out!

THE SHORT VERSION

8 Man Classic

8 Man After

The deciding factor?

Show #24: NO LITTLE ROK

Fighting caveman crime in a not-so-future time, we delve into the exploits of the ridiculously overpowered Hanna Barbera superhero Mighty Mightor!

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What of the good old days? A simpler time when men were men, or Vulturemen or Tigermen or Abominable Snow Men. When cartoon studios could get away with severely restricted animation and recycled plots because them kids don't know any better. Good riddance to those days, but Mightor gets an A for effort from us if only for Alex Toth's design work and the possibilities of these characters and setting in the right hands.

THE SHORT VERSION

Hang in there baby

Discover agriculture already you lazy Vultureman

Sometimes you just gotta be a dick

Show #10: He Was A Good Actor, Before The Accident

Behold true believers! We aggressively assemble to dish out discussion and dialogue aplenty as we delve deeply into the cosmic core of comics cartoons with the 1966 Marvel Super Heroes! Now, stand back for your own safety!

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Man, what is with us and talking for so long about old badly made cartoons?  We should really be riding their asses hard and this time is no exception (up to a point). But just like Birdman the early animated incarnation of the Avengers has wormed its way into our hearts by sheer virtue of tripped out craziness, ham acting and killer theme tunes. Maybe that's the REAL Secret of the Sailor Madness (it's not). Enjoy in small doses, or better yet just listen to the audio. It works quite well!

THE SHORT VERSION

                                                   There's Something About Thor

                                                            New/Old Avengers!

                                         It's Iron Man! It's Big O! Tastes great together!

Show #4: You Gotta Push The Lasers Birdman!

On this installment we delve into the vaults of Hanna Barbera to bring you the solar powered exploits of that hero, patriot and serial arsonist, the one and only BIRDMAN! We're sorry this post is so late by the way. We were out of the sun for too long!


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More well known for it's parody series Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law, the original Birdman series is best taken in small doses lest you succumb to the inherent stupidity/insanity of it's plotlines. Nonetheless this cartoon is good for a bit of harmless fun every once in a while and to admire it's often nifty character designs & funky music.

THE SHORT VERSION

                                             Birdman & Avenger, chillin' at the Bird Lair

                                                        Falcon 7, a suave dude

                                         Number One, with the facial hair of leadership