Short #20: Gone Fishin
It's another basic concept for this short. Bart and Homer go fishing and an adventure ensues. I see it as more of a technical achievement, though this is a funny short. Klasky-Csupo was able to show bigger improvements as far as small things like a waterfall and the boat moving in the same shot. There's not much to complain. A little strange Homer being serious about catching fish, but other than that, a hell of a way to end the first month of 1988.
Score: 7 out of 10
Short #21: Skateboarding
Another great showcasing by Klasky-Csupo and a great funny short to boot. It shows what makes Bart one of the best characters of the franchise. He is an ass to his sisters and tries to be a show off with his skateboarding. It's cartoon like, but watching Lisa and Maggie best him is worth watching. As far animation goes, the modeling is getting closer, and the neighborhood is a big improvement over some of the earlier shorts like Football. This is a must watch.
Score: 8 out of 10
More kid antics next week. The kids anger Homer in The Pagans, and Bart hides in Closeted.
Showing posts with label klasky-csupo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label klasky-csupo. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
The Simpsons Shorts: Maggie's Brain, Football Reviews
Short #10: Maggie's Brain
It's kind of a forgettable short, but you'll get a couple laughs out of it. Some of the potential feels wasted in the first half when Bart plays This Little Piggy with Maggie's toes. The last half gets the idea of what Maggie is thinking somewhat. In the end, this is a hit or miss short where your mileage may vary.
Score: 6.5 out of 10
Short #11: Football
The concept seems very simple, but it plays out like a cartoon. That's not a bad thing, though. Homer throws a football and wants Bart to catch it. It is the first we hear the phrase, frosty chocolate milkshakes. Amazing how Bart takes a good amount of abuse as well in the shorts. Just to catch a ball and it is the type of short that starts off slow and gets better.
Klasky-Csupo did a great job with the animation as the backgrounds outside and inside are a big improvement. Homer is a step up closer to what to what he looks like on the actual show and the cartoon approach is not over the top. A pretty good short that you can get some chuckles out of.
Score: 7 out of 10
Next week, it's some Bart led shorts with House of Cards and Bart and Dad Eat Dinner.
It's kind of a forgettable short, but you'll get a couple laughs out of it. Some of the potential feels wasted in the first half when Bart plays This Little Piggy with Maggie's toes. The last half gets the idea of what Maggie is thinking somewhat. In the end, this is a hit or miss short where your mileage may vary.
Score: 6.5 out of 10
Short #11: Football
The concept seems very simple, but it plays out like a cartoon. That's not a bad thing, though. Homer throws a football and wants Bart to catch it. It is the first we hear the phrase, frosty chocolate milkshakes. Amazing how Bart takes a good amount of abuse as well in the shorts. Just to catch a ball and it is the type of short that starts off slow and gets better.
Klasky-Csupo did a great job with the animation as the backgrounds outside and inside are a big improvement. Homer is a step up closer to what to what he looks like on the actual show and the cartoon approach is not over the top. A pretty good short that you can get some chuckles out of.
Score: 7 out of 10
Next week, it's some Bart led shorts with House of Cards and Bart and Dad Eat Dinner.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
The Simpsons Shorts: Making Faces, The Funeral Reviews
I apologize for no blogs this weekend and yesterday. It was a hectic weekend working and not being done until midnight two of those nights. Let's jump into Season 2 of shorts that The Simpsons had. Spoilers for these shorts as usual.
Short #8: Making Faces
The approach for this is similar to Burping Contest. All three kids make faces and Marge gets pissed that they are doing it. Really, the best laughs are in the second half of it when Marge puts on a scary face and tells them about their faces freezing already. A pretty good way to start the second season of shorts. Not much improvement in the animation, but the character modeling is an improvement in all the characters, though we don't see Homer until the next short. The end short was used in an intro of one Futurama episode. I forget which one since that show is butchered as hell on Comedy Central.
Score: 7 out of 10
Short #9: The Funeral
Whenever there is something very serious in a comedy, writers do have to tackle how much humor there can be in an episode. Even though this is a minute long short, Matt Groening certainly got the idea down on what can be funny, and he delivered. The Simpsons go to a family funeral, and Bart causes a little mischief before and during it, getting all three kids in trouble. It feels pretty tame, but it gets the laughs.
This was a pretty good short. The animation looked better and the characters are more refined. It would still take time for them to get into their final phase that would be on the actual show. Some good laughs in this one.
Score: 7 out of 10
Next week, we'll look at the next two shorts, Maggie's Brain, and Football.
Short #8: Making Faces
The approach for this is similar to Burping Contest. All three kids make faces and Marge gets pissed that they are doing it. Really, the best laughs are in the second half of it when Marge puts on a scary face and tells them about their faces freezing already. A pretty good way to start the second season of shorts. Not much improvement in the animation, but the character modeling is an improvement in all the characters, though we don't see Homer until the next short. The end short was used in an intro of one Futurama episode. I forget which one since that show is butchered as hell on Comedy Central.
Score: 7 out of 10
Short #9: The Funeral
Whenever there is something very serious in a comedy, writers do have to tackle how much humor there can be in an episode. Even though this is a minute long short, Matt Groening certainly got the idea down on what can be funny, and he delivered. The Simpsons go to a family funeral, and Bart causes a little mischief before and during it, getting all three kids in trouble. It feels pretty tame, but it gets the laughs.
This was a pretty good short. The animation looked better and the characters are more refined. It would still take time for them to get into their final phase that would be on the actual show. Some good laughs in this one.
Score: 7 out of 10
Next week, we'll look at the next two shorts, Maggie's Brain, and Football.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
The Simpsons Shorts: Burping Contest, Eating Dinner Reviews
All of Season 1 shorts:
Short #6: Burping Contest
This short seems pretty tame compared to today's stuff. It's a basic concept. The kids have a burp contest against Marge's wishes, and it's pretty funny. Animation wise, its getting better and the modeling on Bart and Marge is an improvement. Some of the cartoon like approach is done well, and we get to see Homer, even if he appears for only 10 to 15 seconds, as the oaf people love. A solid short that will have you laughing through almost all of the short.
Score: 7 out of 10
Short #7: Eating Dinner
I think this short is more of a concept that would used better when The Simpsons became an actual show. That's not to say this short is bad by any means. I feel it's more like Marge trying to make the family act courteous when they eat dinner during the week. I know these are very short reviews, but you'll get a few chuckles out of the short. The animation is still a little crude, but it looks amazing compared to where it started with Good Night.
Score: 6 out of 10
Next week, we begin the second season of shorts, beginning with Making Faces and The Funeral.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
The Simpsons Shorts: Babysitting Maggie, The Pacifier Reviews
The last few reviews of The Simpsons: Potential spoilers. Read at your own risk.
http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-simpsons-shorts-review-good-night.html
http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-simpsons-shorts-watching-tv-jumping.html
Short #4: Babysitting Maggie
When Tiny Toon Adventures' second season was announced on DVD about four, five years ago, they omitted one episode, Elephant Issues, because of a segment called One Beer. Fan backlash led to the episode being put on DVD. If Babysitting Maggie were to be put on DVD of all The Simpsons shorts if it actually was made, it would be a tough battle to include it in its entirety.
Most people upload to YouTube the Comedy Central syndication of The Tracey Ullman Show so unless someone has an airing from when Fox aired it new, that's the only version you will find. A part that's cut is Maggie sticking a fork into an electrical socket. I don't blame it being cut for syndication. It's kind of reckless and despite being different than the actual show, it doesn't feel funny. In fact, the whole short is like a cartoon with Maggie getting hurt. It's not like Jumping Bart where you can get humor out of both Bart's injuries and Homer's forgetful mind.
It's a shame, because Klasky-Csupo's first efforts of having outdoor scenes was nice. The living room inside was an improvement over Watching TV. Plus, you see the distinctive traits of Bart and Lisa's ways of concern over their sister. The only laughs you might get is Bart saying stuff to Lisa and that's it. Kind of a forgettable short despite better animation.
Final Score: 5 out of 10
Short #5: The Pacifier
This is a solid short and like Jumping Bart, funny from beginning to end. The approach is a little cartoon like in certain parts, but it works pretty well. You gotta admire Matt Groening for making Maggie feel fearless and committed to just being a baby. Bart and Lisa's efforts are thwarted by their sister being committed to sucking on a pacifier. You don't mess with babies. I would say the ending is surprising, but funny.
Another short, another outside effort from Klasky-Csupo. The outdoor scene shows how well they can draw up a backyard. And the kitchen inside is not bad for a first effort. I would say it's their best effort out of the first season of shorts. There's nothing distinctive of Bart and Lisa's personalities, but as I said, it's funny. Probably the best short of the the first season of shorts. Kudos to anyone that can find the Life in Hell reference.
Final Score: 8 out of 10
Next week, we'll finish up Season 1 with Burping Contest and Dinnertime. After that is Season 2 shorts, and boy, am I excited.
http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-simpsons-shorts-review-good-night.html
http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-simpsons-shorts-watching-tv-jumping.html
Short #4: Babysitting Maggie
When Tiny Toon Adventures' second season was announced on DVD about four, five years ago, they omitted one episode, Elephant Issues, because of a segment called One Beer. Fan backlash led to the episode being put on DVD. If Babysitting Maggie were to be put on DVD of all The Simpsons shorts if it actually was made, it would be a tough battle to include it in its entirety.
Most people upload to YouTube the Comedy Central syndication of The Tracey Ullman Show so unless someone has an airing from when Fox aired it new, that's the only version you will find. A part that's cut is Maggie sticking a fork into an electrical socket. I don't blame it being cut for syndication. It's kind of reckless and despite being different than the actual show, it doesn't feel funny. In fact, the whole short is like a cartoon with Maggie getting hurt. It's not like Jumping Bart where you can get humor out of both Bart's injuries and Homer's forgetful mind.
It's a shame, because Klasky-Csupo's first efforts of having outdoor scenes was nice. The living room inside was an improvement over Watching TV. Plus, you see the distinctive traits of Bart and Lisa's ways of concern over their sister. The only laughs you might get is Bart saying stuff to Lisa and that's it. Kind of a forgettable short despite better animation.
Final Score: 5 out of 10
Short #5: The Pacifier
This is a solid short and like Jumping Bart, funny from beginning to end. The approach is a little cartoon like in certain parts, but it works pretty well. You gotta admire Matt Groening for making Maggie feel fearless and committed to just being a baby. Bart and Lisa's efforts are thwarted by their sister being committed to sucking on a pacifier. You don't mess with babies. I would say the ending is surprising, but funny.
Another short, another outside effort from Klasky-Csupo. The outdoor scene shows how well they can draw up a backyard. And the kitchen inside is not bad for a first effort. I would say it's their best effort out of the first season of shorts. There's nothing distinctive of Bart and Lisa's personalities, but as I said, it's funny. Probably the best short of the the first season of shorts. Kudos to anyone that can find the Life in Hell reference.
Final Score: 8 out of 10
Next week, we'll finish up Season 1 with Burping Contest and Dinnertime. After that is Season 2 shorts, and boy, am I excited.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
The Simpsons Shorts: Watching TV, Jumping Bart Reviews
Check out last weeks review of the first short, Good Night. And there might be spoilers. Read at your own risk.
http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-simpsons-shorts-review-good-night.html
Short #2: Watching TV:
Watching TV feels like a very basic concept, even for cartoons. Sibling fights are pretty common. It's intriguing for 1987, a time where cable wasn't 100 plus channels. You might have a couple, but main sources of programs were on the main three if you weren't brave enough to check out Fox. Bart and Lisa have very basic fighting in between commercials and changing the channel with Maggie getting yelled at for changing it. You might get a chuckle out of it.
The final bit will feel a little weird. Homer sounds like a father bonding with his family, talking about what a typical family could do. Being interrupted by Bart that what they are watching is back on and him being sad is worth a chuckle. It's like Good Night. You'll get a couple laughs out of it.
Final Score: 6 out of 10
Short #3: Jumping Bart
The cue that is seen in Jumping Bart is being more cartoon like. Klasky-Csupo did a good job of showcasing Bart's pain when Homer tries to get him to leap into his arms. Not to mention a little improvement in small stuff in the background. This is the first short that will make you laugh in every segment. It's the first we get to see Homer as a dopey father rather than someone intelligent like in the first two shorts. Yet, he's still serious in wanting his son to jump.
Bart's voice feels like a work in progress with showing different emotions.Other than that, this is the first solid short in their short first season on The Tracey Ullman Show
Final Score: 7 out of 10
Next week will be reviews of Maggie shorts, Babysitting Maggie and The Pacifier. Thanks for reading.
http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-simpsons-shorts-review-good-night.html
Short #2: Watching TV:
Watching TV feels like a very basic concept, even for cartoons. Sibling fights are pretty common. It's intriguing for 1987, a time where cable wasn't 100 plus channels. You might have a couple, but main sources of programs were on the main three if you weren't brave enough to check out Fox. Bart and Lisa have very basic fighting in between commercials and changing the channel with Maggie getting yelled at for changing it. You might get a chuckle out of it.
The final bit will feel a little weird. Homer sounds like a father bonding with his family, talking about what a typical family could do. Being interrupted by Bart that what they are watching is back on and him being sad is worth a chuckle. It's like Good Night. You'll get a couple laughs out of it.
Final Score: 6 out of 10
Short #3: Jumping Bart
The cue that is seen in Jumping Bart is being more cartoon like. Klasky-Csupo did a good job of showcasing Bart's pain when Homer tries to get him to leap into his arms. Not to mention a little improvement in small stuff in the background. This is the first short that will make you laugh in every segment. It's the first we get to see Homer as a dopey father rather than someone intelligent like in the first two shorts. Yet, he's still serious in wanting his son to jump.
Bart's voice feels like a work in progress with showing different emotions.Other than that, this is the first solid short in their short first season on The Tracey Ullman Show
Final Score: 7 out of 10
Next week will be reviews of Maggie shorts, Babysitting Maggie and The Pacifier. Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
The Simpsons Shorts Review: Good Night
Today marks the 30th anniversary of one of television's biggest set of characters. A quick drawing before a meeting, Matt Groening would introduce the world to The Simpsons. They made their debut on April 19, 1987 on The Tracey Ullman Show. Animated by Klasky-Csupo, it followed Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. A lot has changed since then, and as the shorts went on, they made progress on animation, voicing as they continued on and eventually becoming their own show. A quick warning, which I will do for every review of whatever show I'm reviewing, there will potentially be spoilers, so try to watch an episode however you can.
For their first short, Good Night, it's a basic concept. The parents say good night to their children. However, kids have imaginings of their what their parents say. Keep in mind for these shorts for anyone new to them is that the family's characteristics are not what you think of now these days. It might feel a little weird hearing Bart ask Homer a serious question that isn't sarcastic. Lisa's thoughts of bed bugs is something that a child might be afraid of. Who wasn't afraid of sleeping in their own room?
That being said, the animation does look very crude. It was really Klasky-Csupo's first real effort and they would improve it more and more until their departure at the start of the 4th season with leftover episodes from the 3rd production season. Some might find it hard to listen to some of the voices. Lisa still sounds the same. I think Bart was a matter of consistency and perfecting it when the shorts were new. Homer is a case of imitation as Dan Castellaneta went for a Walter Matthau approach. Then again, he is a different kind of parent compared to the show and delivering the very first joke of the franchise. Marge's voice comes off sounding like a grandmother in this first short. Luckily, improvement is a key and it was a work in progress as the shorts went on, even into the first few seasons of the TV show.
You are going to get a few chuckles from the kids reactions in an otherwise okay short.
Final Score: 6 out of 10.
On a final note, the best chance you are going to find these shorts are on YouTube. The Tracey Ullman Show hasn't been run for a very long time in reruns in the United States and a good majority of the shorts have not appeared on any DVD of The Simpsons. Fans should persuade Fox to do a disc of all the shorts. Stop by this upcoming Tuesday with a review of the next two shorts, Watching TV and Jumping Bart. Happy viewing.
For their first short, Good Night, it's a basic concept. The parents say good night to their children. However, kids have imaginings of their what their parents say. Keep in mind for these shorts for anyone new to them is that the family's characteristics are not what you think of now these days. It might feel a little weird hearing Bart ask Homer a serious question that isn't sarcastic. Lisa's thoughts of bed bugs is something that a child might be afraid of. Who wasn't afraid of sleeping in their own room?
That being said, the animation does look very crude. It was really Klasky-Csupo's first real effort and they would improve it more and more until their departure at the start of the 4th season with leftover episodes from the 3rd production season. Some might find it hard to listen to some of the voices. Lisa still sounds the same. I think Bart was a matter of consistency and perfecting it when the shorts were new. Homer is a case of imitation as Dan Castellaneta went for a Walter Matthau approach. Then again, he is a different kind of parent compared to the show and delivering the very first joke of the franchise. Marge's voice comes off sounding like a grandmother in this first short. Luckily, improvement is a key and it was a work in progress as the shorts went on, even into the first few seasons of the TV show.
You are going to get a few chuckles from the kids reactions in an otherwise okay short.
Final Score: 6 out of 10.
On a final note, the best chance you are going to find these shorts are on YouTube. The Tracey Ullman Show hasn't been run for a very long time in reruns in the United States and a good majority of the shorts have not appeared on any DVD of The Simpsons. Fans should persuade Fox to do a disc of all the shorts. Stop by this upcoming Tuesday with a review of the next two shorts, Watching TV and Jumping Bart. Happy viewing.
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