The Officaly Unoffical Don Bluth Thread

[The "Chase"]

Well, seeing that I'm hearing a lot about Don Bluth lately, thanks to the Nostalgic Critic and all of the blog posts related to him, why not, we do a Don Bluth thread. Now, I have a strange feeling this thread is going to get ugly, but hey, we'll see...

So, any thoughts on the guy and his films?

(and yes, it's Officially Unofficial. Can a mod fix that?)

[Brandon Panther]

People seem to have this opinion burned in their brains that because his movies aren't as good as Disney or some other animation studio, it's automatically Don Bluth's fault. I told Mike Barrier this same statement, but with the exception of Thumbelina, Bluth's movies don't come out quite as good due to studio interference. "The Secret of NIMH" was produced independently, and for "An American Tail" and "Land Before Time", Bluth kinda had Speilberg to protect him. But later films like Rock-A-Doodle, and Pepple and the Penguin, just got butchered beyond his control.

The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, The Land before Time (the first one, not those sequels which he had no part in), All Dogs Go to Heaven, and his comeback film Anastasia all show what Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, and the rest of the Bluth team can really do. And unlike Barrier and Ray Pointer, I am fully excited about his upcoming Dragon's Lair movie. I hope that one day it was get fully produced, and maybe just one last time, we can see another Don Bluth film on the big screen. He is getting up in his years.

[FleischerFan]

I think rather fondly of Bluth's efforts - although I confess I own none of his films on DVD after having most of his early stuff on VHS.

He really kept the torch burning for those of us who cared about feature length animation during the days when it seemed like Disney was slowly losing interest in continuing their animated tradition (after The Rescuers and up until The Great Mouse Detective).

He made a real effort to reach out to animation fans. I remember a number of the flip books he produced (those I still have!) as well as fanzines and other items.

I just wish his films had matched his level of enthusiasm.

[ohmahaaha]

I just recently watched "Anastasia" and I thought it was a knock out ... very well done and very enjoyable.

[Thad]

I can't think of a worse way to waste time on the Internet than discussing Don Bluth. Yes, this is another of my short and sour posts, but I get the feeling my thoughts on him (all of them negative) would be censored and be too much for some of the posters here.

[nickramer]

I guess my favorite projects are the laser disc games Bluth did. I thought those were some of the most unique arcade games ever produced. I wish that "Dragon's Lair" movie was made.

[nickramer]

I can't think of a worse way to waste time on the Internet than discussing Don Bluth. Yes, this is another of my short and sour posts, but I get the feeling my thoughts on him (all of them negative) would be censored and too much for some of the posters here.

No one is forcing you to post here, Thad.

[Thad]

Well, seeing that I'm hearing a lot about Don Bluth lately, thanks to the Nostalgic Critic and all of the blog posts related to him, why not, we do a Don Bluth thread. Now, I have a strange feeling this thread is going to get ugly, but hey, we'll see...

So, any thoughts on the guy and his films?

Why not offer thoughts yourself rather than light a match and run?

[Brandon Panther]

Thad, I just did one post about Bluth above the second one.
He was talking about Chase.

[nickramer]

He was talking about Chase.
Oops, I'll get rid of that post. I have a bad habit of not proof reading post, mine or others.

[Mr. Semaj]

As of today, I've only seen one Bluth film in its entirety.

[Glowworm]

Hmm-truthfully I haven't really seen too many of his movies. I saw Rock A Doodle when I was only 5 and only have faint memories of it-I also don't remember too much about Land Before Time-although I did see the first one AND only the first one. Anastasia on the other hand-hmm- that I can tell you-I honestly wasn't that into it. Lovely animation yes-and a good song for Rasputin(As opposed to all those evil Owl songs that I easily forgot all about in Rock A Doodle) however I honestly grossed out at the undead Rasputin falling apart. I was in fourth grade. I can't really say that I hated it-but I didn't love it either.

Also I honestly use to think that Ferngully was one of Bluth's movies-looked like his sort of plot.

Also to me "All Dogs Go to Heaven" sounds awfully harsh for movie mainly directed at children(perhaps I'm wrong though) I mean I haven't seen the movie but the "hero" is a selfish con-artist and even though there's a fairly happy ending-the dog is technically dead. Nice that it didn't get too cliche-the dog doesn't suddenly come back to life at the end-yet still the dog IS dead.

[The "Chase"]

Why not offer thoughts yourself rather than light a match and run?

Well, since you asked...

First off, I don't think he's an truly awful director. Sure, he made "The Pebble And The Penguin" (with, other than "Now And Forever" was really forgettable) and "Bartok The Magnidicent", but then again, he made "The Land Before Time" and "Anastasia" (then again, they might be guilty pleasures to me. And yes, I haven't seen "The Secret Of NIMH" fully yet).

And besides, I rather have/see "fake Disney" animation than "UPA-equse" animation. Hey, bright eye candy is better than dull eye candy to me.

Also, I believe that while Don kinda didn't really started the animation renaissance, I think Don at least showed that animation still has SOME life to it left and he gave the executives out there a chance to let it grow ("An American Tail" did surpire a lot of people), which led to "The Little Mermaid" and so on.

Then again, I haven't seen all of his films, so I can't give my full opinion on the man's work. Like I said, I haven't see NIMH yet, and I'm curious to see it.

[CueBallCat79]

I like his 80s films and...that's pretty much it. I wonder if I'd even like them that much if I didn't grow up with them.

Don't really have much else to say here.

[Brandon Panther]

I haven't see NIMH yet, and I'm curious to see it.
Here's part 1 to start you off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tosHoqLPKNo

[Matthew Hunter]

I never cared for Bluth's stuff. I saw most of his films at least once as a kid, and I always kind of felt gipped when I had to watch one of them at a friends' house or when it rained during school recess. Maybe it was just that they tried so hard to imitate Disney that even a little kid could notice it, but usually fell flat, especially the "musical" aspect of so many of them.

They were also relentlessly DARK, even the happier, brighter moments had a sense of forboding to me...because I could just TELL it was going to be a fleeting moment. Look at "All Dogs Go To Heaven" or "Rock A Doodle", and you'll see what I mean. Don Bluth must've been one dark, brooding S.O.B.! "All Dogs", particularly, doesn't hold up well when you watch it as an adult (I had the unpleasant experience once.) If you could imagine Quentin Tarantino's attempt to direct a cartoon film for preschoolers, you might get pretty close to it!

[Marty26]

All Dogs Go To Heaven

I liked that movie.

[J. B. Warner]

Don Bluth is a great draftsman, and his films contain some very fine animation. As a storyteller, though, he's uneven at best. I have no doubt in my mind that he could produce consistently solid work if he had some stronger story crew, but even if his films don't tell a good story, at least they're a treat to look at.

I kind of consider Bluth to be the modern equivalent of Ub Iwerks. Both men left the Disney studio to produce their own films, both were terriffic animators, and both struggled visibly in the story department.

[Brandon Panther]

mike Barrier has updated his blog post with a few reader comments about Don Bluth.
http://michaelbarrier.com/Home%20Page/WhatsNewArchivesApril09.htm#bluthcomments

The anonymous one is from me. And I'm actually embarrassed how poorly written that was, compared to the other (much more intelligent) people who wrote in.