OT: What fuels someone to become a public cartoon fan?

[Tom Stathes]

Of course, there are plenty of people signing up to online cartoon forums. Nonetheless, there are hundreds if not thousands of other cartoon fans (those who like 50+ year old cartoons) What is it that compells some to go online, and look up sites like GAC? For instance, my uncle is a cartoon fan and as I recently discovered, a friend of my mother's is a Farmer Alfalfa freak! Nonetheless, we never see or hear from many of these people. Is it the level of interest? Dilligence to pursue something? Let's see what others think about this philosophical thought.
-Tom

[MF TOON]

A genuine interest like anything else.

I think there's also a level of nostalgia in the imaginative artistry of classic cartoons that would appeal to many of the older fans as well. They transcend time -- being obvious that these are films from a past generation -- yet still enduring and succeeding in being as entertaining and humorous today as fifty plus years ago.

Given that role that nostalgia would play in such an interest, it's a pasttime that is more obviously personal than say... baseball or cars.

When I watch classic cartoon shorts from the 30's and 40's that I remember my father introducing me to as a young boy, I'm brought back to that age, for an instant, and am in a way reliving fond memories of the past while still being entertained by what's on screen at the same time.

I guess this is one of the main reasons it's not widely discussed outside of niche mediums like this forum. I post here becuase in real life, I can not hang out with friends on a Saturday evening and talk about Dave Fleischer or Jack Kinney films. Thanks to the advent of technology however, I can log on to my computer and at the click of a mouse and chat with folks from accross the globe who share similair interests.

I'm a film student and therefore am passionate and excited by all genres and branches of cinema. It's obviously a theme often discussed among my classmates. I wouldn't go to the theatre alone to see a movie though. As much as I appreciate the art of filmmaking and probably have a better understanding of it than your general theatre audience, it's more of a social event. I could pass the time watching hours of DVD's in the comfort of my own home, but wouldn't be driven out to the theatres by myself on a Friday night to catch a matinee.

For cartoons however, it is different. Perhaps it's because they're rarely screened theatrically, or perhaps it's the excitement of reliving what it would have been like for audiences.. (for my grandparents and great grandparents).. to have experienced decades ago.

Personally, though, I think it's not only an amalgamation of all of those elements, but also the fact that watching these classic cartoon films is more of an intimate experience in that they appeal to the child in me. They do so by still respecting my maturity however, unlike the contemporary cartoons of today's generation. It's really a combination of the youthful innocence and energy plus a sophisticated wit and charm that draw my interest. In that sense, viewing cartoons of the golden age for me, is something that I enjoy strictly for myself. It's a selfish hobby! True, I am just as excited to share these wonderful films with my younger siblings as I am to enjoy them personally, but I guess that can be realted to anything else in life that sparks interest. It's only natural to want to pass that along. But I can say without question, that watching cartoons for me, is a selfish pleasure. I'm not the type to sit in front of the TV or projection screen laughing out loud and slapping my knees, but I'll always have a smile accross my face... and that's why I love them so much.

Also, being as I've since taken the initiative to delve further into the background and context of these films... which is what would distinguish an enthusiast from your average Joe who might enjoy the same cartoons to a lesser degree... I can now appreciate the production and brilliance of these shorts on an entirely different level.

Not only do these films invoke past memories and make us laugh, smile, etc. but I can now appreciate the actual production of the film... the rich artwork, character models and designs, background paintings, subtle expressions, delicate charm and boisterous humor, the classical symphony scores, etc.... the fact that all of these elements are brought to life by some guy with a pencil is absolutely incredible and fascinating!

It's timeless entertainment, a mirror into the past and a captivating, prodigious creative and progressive work of art!

[Tom Stathes]

Well said!

In fact, it is as well a selfish pleasure for me. I spend lotsa time in front of the projector, smiling, but I almost never laugh or perform acts of humor or happiness. It's an expression inside me that does not need breaking out.
-Tom

[MF TOON]

I spend lotsa time in front of the projector, smiling, but I almost never laugh or perform acts of humor or happiness. It's an expression inside me that does not need breaking out.

Exactly!!



Funny story actually... I took my younger (11 year old) sister to a Flesicher Popeye screening earlier last year at the Cinemateque in Montreal, and there was a man sitting two rows behind us that was absolutely FLIPPING OUT!

He was literally going insane!

At first me and my sister were trying not to laugh at how embarassing this guy was, but after 10 minutes it just became obnoxious. Everytime Popeye would mutter adlibs under his breath, this dude would bawl out at the top of his lungs like the cinema were under aerial attack and bombs were dropping on our heads, repeat the line quoted from the film, and than start laughing and kicking the back of the seats causing the entire three rows in front of him to shake. It was bananas!

This man was in his mid-forties too, and he was a thin and quiet looking person that you'd normally expect to be fairly reserved.

We were watching Ali Baba's Forty Thieves for example, and during the scene when Popeye's trying to get into the cave and mutters, "Open says me!", this guys starts screaming, causing both me and my sister to jump forward in our seats...

"AHAHAHA OPEN SAYS ME!!! OPEN SAYS ME!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA AHAHAHAHAHA AAAAAAAAAH!!!!! HE SAID OPEN SAYS ME!!! AHAHAHA!!!!"

It was so ridiculous, he could've been a cartoon character himself!

I was just waiting for someone to whip out a can of spinnich and schlock him in the head!


:D

[Geezil]

Well, I came in during the TTTP days because I'd read Leonard Maltin's Of Mice and Magic cover to cover at least once, and wanted to find out much more about where & how to see these classics, at a time when most of them had already been wiped from the face of television land. (Not to mention the fact that most of the NYC area revival houses that used to do regular animation programs had closed as well.)

Once over my shock at finding there was only one good Popeye-related screen name left, it became, and has remained, a great ride!

[frizfrelengfan]

I've had a passion for them since childhood when they were shown on after-school TV. (I'm 50.) My interest was re-kindled after watching Toon Heads and Acme Hour on Cartoon Network. I found the forum (when it was on Toonzone.net) using a Web search tool, then I sought out and read Leonard Maltin's book.

I noticed that some forum members are artists or film students. I'm neither; I just like the cartoons. In fact, I can't draw at all.

[RetroMan]

I found the TTTP about 2 years ago through the old toonzone Looney Tunes site while searching for information about Tex Avery. I've always been fascinated by cartoons, or more specifically, the notion of invoking life with nothing but drawings and Classic cartoons have always been my favorites, mainly because they show some remarkable craftsmanship and because those are the really funny ones (as well as because of my near-obsessive fascination with the 30's and 40's). I enjoy discussing this sort of things with experts and fans, so here I is!