VIDEOS – The Tex Avery Documentary that Inspired me to Get into the Animation Industry

Simpsons Quote:

“I could pull a better cartoon outta my aaayyyy, kids!” – Krusty

There were a lot of things in my life that pushed me into animation industry. Tex Avery was one of them.

Today I’m going to talk a very tiny bit on how I became aware of Tex Avery and what that awareness did to me. But really, it’s just my long winded introduction to the documentary that educated me about the man.

You can either watch the video or read the text below it. Either way you’ll get the same information.  Don’t forget to scroll down further to see the videos I posted up of the documentary itself:

Influential Documentary

Okay so how did Tex Avery help me get into animation industry?  Well, it really was the Tex Avery documentary I saw when I saw in high school, which I embedded below.

Tex Avery, what I can I say about Tex Avery.  Besides the documentary, you might what to seek out the this book with his work:

I really didn’t know anything about him at all until I watched the documentary on tv and I later recorded.  I watched that thing over and over again. I had been broadcast on PBS.

It really opened my eyes to a different style of humor and the way it can be pushed in animation. I was really into the comedic side of animation.

Why I Got Into the Animation Industry

THE reason I got into animation was to do exactly the kind of cartoons that Tex Avery did.  I wanted to write and direct, animated shorts, just like Tex Avery. I thought that I was going to be the next Tex Avery. I thought I was going to do what he did.

That’s the only reason I got into the animation industry.

I’ve changed  a lot since then. I know what I want now. I know how to go about doing it.  I don’t really want to be Tex Avery anymore, but initially that’s why I got into the animation industry.

Once I saw the documentary, I started seeking out his cartoons and when I saw them, they blew my mind.  His cartoons did stuff that I found to be very very different.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

Okay, so enough about me, here’s the documentary that changed the way I saw animation.  I’m afraid it isn’t all of it and I don’t know where you can find it complete.  Still, there’s enough here so that you can get something out of it. Enjoy:

What do you think? Did you know who Tex Avery was before you watched this documentary.  Has his cartoons influenced you in anyway.  I’d love to hear  what you have to say.

Who Inspired You?

Who are your heroes. How have they driven you.  Have you moved on from them as I have?  I still love Tex Avery but I’m not driven by wanting to be him anymore.  My heroes are different now.

SOME THOUGHTS – A Question for you About 2D Animated Features

This Tuesday after figure drawing, I got into a conversation with Richie Chavez and Paul Wee, about the animation industry. Specifically, 2d animation.  I’m still hopeful about 2d.  I think audiences want to see 2d animated movies.

Richie, had a different opinion.  He doesn’t think audiences care.  He doesn’t even think audiences know the difference.

The reality is that the last two 2d movies Disney came out with didn’t do well.  Never mind the fact that one wasn’t all that well written and the other didn’t really appeal to most people.

The conversation lasted an hour and a half.  We went into a lot of depth about the business of making animated movies and the way things are changing behind the scenes.

I can’t really reproduce the whole conversation here.

Chris Oatley had something to say about 2d animation in his blog a while back, but I’m wondering if the reason he’s so optimistic is because he’s surrounded by a group of people who appreciate the art form.

How about the “average” person who never thinks about animation at all? Do they feel the same way about 2d animated movies?

We discussed what “average” person meant and narrowed it down to: “parents/families.” Someone looking for something with good values they can trust.

But this begged the question:

Is that the ONLY market for animated movies.  Why not target other markets like anime does?  The answer from the discussion was this:

1. Anime which is released in theaters that target those other markets, don’t really make all that much money. Even Studio Ghibli movies.
2. Raise of the Guardians, was more teen centric and it didn’t do all that well (and it was CG!).

The discussion left me wondering.

What do you think?  Would you like to see 2d features? Why do you think that the last ones failed?  What would you like to see?

Is your opinion the same as the “average” person?

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