I get letters like this all the time:
Dear Jim:
My family and I are traveling out to Southern California next month. Is there any way that you can pull a few strings and get us a special tour of Disney Feature Animation? We’re all such huge animation fans. And I’d dearly love to know what really goes on in that Sorcerer Mickey building.
Christopher C.
Weisbaden, Germany
Gee, I wish I really had that sort of pull, Christopher. But — these days — it’s all I can do to get myself somewhat regular access to the Disney lot (Jeese, you write one or two — or twelve — anti-Eisner articles. And suddenly all the suits in Team Disney Burbank want your head on a pike). So arranging a special tour of Walt Disney Feature Animation for some JHM fans is kind of out of the question. At least for the foreseeable future.
But — on the other hand — if you really want a sense of what actually goes out in the Sorcerer Mickey building, then I suggest that you pick up a copy of Floyd Norman’s great new book “Son of Faster, Cheaper” (Vignette Multimedia, October 2003). This amazing and amusing collection of cartoons will give you some real insight into what actually has been going on inside the Mouse House for the last few years.
For those of you who don’t know: Floyd Norman is a legend in the animation industry. One of the true veterans in his field, Floyd has been “pushing a pencil” for over 40 years now. Probably best known for his work as a story development artist, Norman has worked on features as famous as Walt Disney’s “The Jungle Book” as well as Pixar Animation Studio’s “Monsters, Inc.” Floyd also had a hand in the creation of some of your favorite Saturday morning cartoons during his stint over at Hanna Barbera.
The above — you’ll have to admit — is already one hell of a resume. But the real reason that Norman is a legend among animation insiders is because of his gag cartoons. Drawings that he’ll quickly throw off in order to amuse the other animators or story artists that he’s working with. This often caustic cartoons would comment on something that was going on at the studio at that very moment and/or sarcastically send up one of the clueless suits who was then in charge of a particular production.
It’s these drawings that you’ll find collected in “Son of Faster, Cheaper,” folks. Gags that were never intended to been seen outside of Disney, Hanna Barbera or Pixar. But now you can (You lucky people, you!), thanks to Norman’s great new collection of cartoons.
There’s honestly some wonderful funny stuff in this book, guys. Images that are both timely (Witness Floyd’s great “Clash of the Titans” cartoon. Where Steve Jobs and Michael Eisner are seen attempting to beat each other to death with bags of money) and timeless (An oddly touching drawing that Norman drew back in 1985, right after legendary Disney animation director Woolie Reitherman died in an auto accident. The cartoon shows Woolie — with his ever-present cigar still stuck in his teeth — arriving in heaven. Only to be cussed out by Walt Disney as soon as he reaches the Pearly Gates. Disney — in a halo, wings and gown — is dressing down Reitherman, saying things like “What the hell’s goin’ on down there?! I told you to keep an eye on things!!” And Woolie is muttering an apology: “Aw gee, Walt …” ).
And — if you’re not a fan of Michael Eisner — then you’re REALLY going to love “Son of Faster, Cheaper.” For Floyd totally skewers Disney’s CEO. His drawings have Eisner doing all sorts of outrageous things. Like:
Telling Disney security that “I want security doubled around the Disney lot.” The security officer snaps off a salute and says “Don’t fear those terrorists, sir.” As he strides away, Uncle Mikey says: “Terrorists? I’m talking about shareholders.’
Sharing his new plan for fiscal success with Pixar CEO Steve Jobs. “It’ll be great, Steve,” says Eisner. “You’ll remake all of the Disney movies in C.G. And then we’ll remake all of the Pixar movies in 2-D.”
Standing in the doorway at Disney Feature animation, clutching an enormous bag of cash, as yet another wave of laid-off animators carry their personal belongings out the door. As these artists exit, Eisner calls after them: “Bye! Thanks for making me richer! Bye-bye! Good luck!”
Mind you, Floyd doesn’t just bash the Mouse. There are some equally funny cartoons in this collection that poke fun at Pixar (for its Hawaiian shirt dress code), Dreamworks (To ridicule that studio’s decision to go forward with production of “The Prince of Egypt,” Jeffrey Katzenberg is shown clutching the two stone tables that contain the 10 Commandments as he descends from on high) as well as Hanna Barbera (To further lower the cost of making Saturday morning cartoons, Bill Hanna — in one of Floyd’s cartoons — makes a deal to stop shipping animation work overseas and start shipping production off-planet. The cartoon shows Hanna standing smiling with HB’s new production partner, Darth Vader).
But — primarily — Norman’s “Son of Faster, Cheaper” turns its laser sharp pencil toward the Mouse House. With most of the ridicule aimed at the studio’s now clueless executives (One particularly timely cartoon shows a Disney employee expressing shock at the news that “You’ve fired all the animators?” But the Disney executive tells this panicked staffer not to worry. To pick up the slack, he’s “hired twenty new vice presidents”). One of these drawings even takes a somewhat subtle shot at the sexual orientation of most of the VPs who work at Disney Feature Animation. This cartoon shows two WDFA staffers strolling along a corridor. One animator is saying to the other: “Remember when queens used to be the villains in Disney movies?” “Yeah,” the other animator laments. “And now they’re the guys that we work for.”
That’s just a sample of some of the truly funny, biting stuff that you’ll find in Floyd Norman’s “Son of Faster, Cheaper,” folks. If you’re an animation fan who’d like to get a comical look at what actually goes on inside the Mouse House, I can honestly think of no better book on the market today.
You can pick up your very own copy of “Son of Faster, Cheaper” over to the www.afro-kids.com store, where you’ll find copies of Floyd’s book available for sale right now. So go order a copy now. You can thank me later.
Okay. Now that we’ve finished talking about “Son of Faster, Cheaper,” I’m now going to attempt one of the worst segues of all time. So please keep your hands and arms inside the car at all times.
And speaking of queens and biting but funny stuff — Allan Neuwirth’s publicist just sent me a copy of his brand new book, “Chelsea Boys.”
“Who’s Allan Neuwirth?” you ask. Well, a few months back, I wrote an extremely enthusiastic review here at JHM of Allan’s great animation history book, “Makin’ Toons: Inside the Most Popular Animated TV Shows & Movies” (Allworth Press, April 2003). Which you can read by following this link.
Well, Neuwirth now has a new book out. A collection of the extremely popular syndicated comic strip that Allan and Glen Hanson have been churning out for five years now. And — having just finished reading “Chelsea Boys” — I have to tell you folks that I really like what Neuwirth and Hanson have done here. Their comic strips are beautifully drawn and have some incredibly tight, warm, witty writing in them.
Of course, some folks might be turned off by the very idea of a comic strip that details the varied and various adventures that three gay roommates have as they fumble through life in NYC’s fashionable Chelsea neighborhood. And — given that “Chelsea Boys” features a lot of bedroom and bathroom humor — it’s clear that this book was not intended for small children and/or easily offended adults.
But — that said — me personally, I really enjoyed getting to know neurotic Nathan, naïve but deep Sky and over-the-top drag queen Soiree. Allan and Glen have done a great job here of fully fleshing out their characters. So — while we’re encouraged to laugh at Nathan for being a Barbara Streisand-aholic — we can also feel bad as his various attempts at romance misfire. And — instead of giving in the easy drag queen stereotype with Soiree — this “Chelsea Boys” character becomes someone that readers can easily sympathize with through the heartbreak of sudden career setbacks and his estranged dad’s passing.
Okay. I know. “Chelsea Boys” won’t be every JHM reader’s cup of tea. But I’m really glad that the nice folks at Alyson Publications sent me a preview copy of this particular comic strip collection. I really enjoyed seeing Glen Hanson’s detailed but elegant line work and he and Allan Neuwirth truly have a gift when it comes to character driven dialogue. Me personally? I’m hoping that this is the first of many “Chelsea Boys” collections. I’m really looking forward to finding out about what Nathan, Sky and Soiree have been up to.
So there you have it, folks. Two new cartoon collections that take you deep inside two unique, colorful worlds: Floyd Norman’s “Son of Faster, Cheaper” gives you a satiric peek inside the world of feature animation, while Glen Hanson and Allan Neuwirth’s “Chelsea Boys” takes you on a colorful tour of NYC’s trendiest neighborhood with three lovable characters.
Both books are well worth a look. So go pick up a copy of “Son of Faster, Cheaper” and/or “Chelsea Boys” today.
P.S. Allan Neuwirth’s other book — “Makin’ Toons: Inside the Most Popular TV Shows & Movies” — is also still available through Amazon.com. If you’re a serious animation history fan, you HAVE to have a copy of this book in your library. So if you want to check out “Makin’ Toons” as well, take a look at the JHM review of the book where you’ll also find purchasing information.
|
If you’re planning on picking up a copy of “Chelsea Boys” you can help support JimHillMedia.com by ordering your copy from Amazon.com by clicking the link to the right. Your cost will (unfortunately) remain the same (though it is currently 20% off!) But — if you go there through us — we get a tiny cut of what you spend. So help keep Jim Hill behind the computer and and pick up your copy of “Chelsea Boys” through the link to the right. And don’t forget: You can pick up a copy of “Son of Faster, Cheaper” over at the www.afro-kids.com store, for sale right now. |
|
