Show #200: An Emotional Animation Exchange! aka No Sea For Old Lastman

 Against expectations this abberation in animation appreciation has racked up 200 instalments (plus about that amount again in extra-curricular activities) and we're in a celebratory mood. And what's a party without favours, as we each perused our respective repositories of cartoon knowledge in search of a fitting gift for each other. Dwayne classes up the joint with an Oscar winning adaptation of Hemingway's The Old Man And The Sea; Niall blows it all away via the spectacle of French action adventure Lastman; both invite moments of profundity and true kinship! These podcast boys have become podcast MEN.

Listen up!

Show #85: The Fatue of Liberty

It's a flurry of freaky French film fun with director Sylvain Chomet's acclaimed feature The Triplets of Belleville!

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Monsieur Chomet is a man after our own hearts, a real old style director who does things his way or the highway even if it can get him into a spot of bother occasionally. When he does get a film out it's something to savour, as is the case with the Triplets of Belleville. Where else can one find a story of a bunch of old ladies and a dog embarking on a rescue mission to save a professional cyclist from the wine mafia, not to mention to have it be so visually bizarre and with barely a word of dialogue, and have a finished piece so engaging and full of love for the medium of animation. They don't make 'em like they used to but some folks still remember.

THE SHORT VERSION

Determined women

Corporate goons

Sweet jams

Show #73: The Secret Of Kells

It's a secret within a secret! A national treasure about a national treasure! It could only be The Secret of Kells!

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A true showcase for the talent of the Irish animation industry (along with France and Belgium) The Secret of Kells is a fantastical, serene and beautiful imagining of the creation of one of Ireland's most famous artworks. Taking inspiration from the Book of Kells itself Cartoon Saloon bring its intricately illuminated contents to life in a paean to the nature and importance of art and how it brings hope and happiness into a world that can be dark and frightening. And not once do we mention it was nominated for an Oscar!

THE SHORT VERSION

Art imitating life

Old gods

Attack on Kells

Show #68: Les Pamplemousse Est Dans La Fenetre

As storms ravage the country and the flood waters rise we're reminded of historical precedents as documented by A Monster In Paris.

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Courtesy of Bibo Bergeron of The Road To El Dorado and Shark Tale fame comes this whimsical tale of how a mutated flea invented rock and roll. While boasting some sharp design work and catchy tunes it's let down by its pacing along with some jarring visual hiccups but more than makes up for these with sheer heart.

THE SHORT VERSION

Avant Garde

Chic

Le petit pistolet

Show #52: A Man Can Get Lonely

Back to our regular schedule with a much re-scheduled show on Aardman Animation's The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists!

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As usual when we newly crack into the works of a particular animation studio we start with their most recent effort. The Pirates In An Adventure With Scientists (a much better name than the American "The Pirates: Band Of Misfits") is pretty straightforward as far as narrative goes but more than makes up for it on the strength of it's visuals, production design, rapid fire gags and great performances from an excellent cast. To contrast all this positivity we have a grand old rant on our bafflement at the box office success of some terrible animated movies.

THE SHORT VERSION

Pirates!

Scientists!

A chimpanzee butler!

Show #44: From One Legend To Another

Martin Schneider joins our posse to ride out across the vast and beautiful cinematic wilderness that is Rango!

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With all three of us gushing over this well regarded but not widely known 2011 Oscar winner this podcast turns into a bit of a film geek love-in, even more so than usual. Listen in to hear such diverse topics as local geography, Christian film reviews, pedantic IMDB entries and just what the hell is going on with Hollywood and Westerns these days.

Martin's Twitter

Current Releases movie reviews


THE SHORT VERSION

The Old West

The New West

Survivable injuries

Show #35: What Happened Gravity?

Our first Academy Awards special is released way past the point of relevance, but released it shall be nonetheless!

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What started out as a snappy bonus episode quickly became an ordeal of massive proportions yet we doggedly struggled on til completion. Pretty late as far as Oscar specials go but hey! Lessons have been learned and we shall strive to be more punctual next year.

Anyhow we get down to a bit of banter about this year's Oscar shorts and their various merits and how all that muss turned out. We also have a bit of discussion thrown in about the feature length animations, a few of which you may expect to hear about in more detail on a future podcast, so watch this space!

THE NOMINEES! 

Paperman

Head Over Heels

Fresh Guacamole

 Maggie Simpson in The Longest Daycare

Adam and Dog