Broken Down Film - Duck Amuck meets Tex Avery

houserunner · #1 01-22-2007, 09:45 PM

I saw Osamu Tezuka's Broken Down Film. I read many great reviews about this short, and my expectation is very high. Osamu Tezuka is legendary japanese animation director, cartoonist who made Astro Boy series and some classic shorts. Broken Down Film is many regarded his best. Yes, this is a very well made, inventive short. Many in-jokes about cartoon itself plus some exellent gags. Many ways, Broken Down Film resembles Duck Amuck. Duck Amuck is without a doubt best cartoon about cartoon itself. Broken Down Film walks same road Duck Amuck walked long time ago. I think black and white silent western structure of Broken Down Film is interesting choice. I enjoyed this short. And, many gags using Broken Down Film is Tex Avery style. Especially one gag almost direct homage(possibly) of Avery's famous hair gag. There are many more Avery-style gags in this short. In my opinion, this is homage to Avery. Tezuka is a big fan of classic american golden age cartoons. And, anybody who made cartoon comedy certainly influnced by Tex. So, Broken Down Film maybe rightfully called Duck Amuck meets Tex Avery short. This short is worth viewing several times. I enjoyed second time more than first time. If you haven't see it, give it a try. It's a very well made short, and after watching this short, I respect Avery's legacy once again. Tex's influence is lived always with cartoon genre itself.

Tex Avery is a greatest gagman ever!

I agree

I agree, too. shortie.

Me, too. Oh, it's my time. I must go right now. See you stage guys.

Stage, oh Song and dance from red! Ah - ooh

He's crazy.

Excuse me, where it is?

You're in wrong place. Your chase field is next door.

Thanks.

Where is my hammer?

Here it is.

Thanks, you're nice mice.

You too nice cat. Hit with me that hammer.

cbrubaker · #2 01-22-2007, 10:03 PM

It's a neat film. If you'd like, you can watch it on YouTube.

Leviathan · #3 01-22-2007, 10:43 PM

This actually reminds me more of a 1920's cartoon or a Fleischer Talkartoon than either Duck Amuck or Tex Avery

Studio Toledo · #4 01-23-2007, 12:26 AM

Another film from Tezuka I admire a lot, albeit, not nearly in the same place as "Broken Down Film", is "Jumping". I got to see both films originally back about 12 years ago from a video my public library had that was a compilation of a number of shorts produced between 1980-85, including Borg Ring's "Anna &ella", Paul Vester's "Sunbeam", as well as both Tezuka films already covered. The copies used for this tape weren't nearly the best (looking more like 16mm dupes if any), but it was one of the first times I became familiar with this guy because of it.

Another film from the same period he did that was an homage to America's animation past people should try to check out is "Legend of the Forest".

Someone did bother to upload the "First Movement" of the piece, originally Tezuka wanted to do all four movements of "Tschaikovky's Fourth Symphony Op. 36", but only the first and fourth movement were ever completed before his untimely death.

FIRST MOVEMENT (1)
FIRST MOVEMENT (2)
FIRST MOVEMENT (3)

Here's something else Tezuka worked on for good measure.

Alf · #5 01-23-2007, 03:26 AM

A DVD with most of Tezuka´s independent works was issued in France as well as in Spain (in zone 2, obviously). More info here:

http://www.heeza.fr/BOUTIK/Fiches_Pr...XE/tezuka.html

Daffysleftfoot · #6 01-23-2007, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbrubaker

It's a neat film. If you'd like, you can watch it on YouTube.

That is a sweet film. Any anime fanboy (or girl) who says "Oh Japanese animation has nothing to do with 'western' cartoons" should see this little film by the FATHER of anime. Many of them won't believe their eyes.

Studio Toledo · #7 01-23-2007, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alf

A DVD with most of Tezuka´s independent works was issued in France as well as in Spain (in zone 2, obviously). More info here:

http://www.heeza.fr/BOUTIK/Fiches_Pr...XE/tezuka.html

Of course in Japan a similar release came out a few years ago, though here's a priced-down reissue that'll come out in a few days....

Cartman · #8 01-23-2007, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leviathan

This actually reminds me more of a 1920's cartoon or a Fleischer Talkartoon than either Duck Amuck or Tex Avery

I agree with you on that. I guess there is one small reference to DUCK AMUCK and that is the scene in which the villain is standing in the next film frame while the hero looks down.

Studio Toledo · #9 01-23-2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cartman

I agree with you on that. I guess there is one small reference to DUCK AMUCK and that is the scene in which the villain is standing in the next film frame while the hero looks down.

I wouldn't really say it was being Duck Amuck because of how small that bit was. There is also a rather cute bit where the guy's expressions suddenly change, when he first sees the train, as it appears you can see the fingers of someone off-camera changing the cels/drawings to show the proper shockful-looking face.

Of course there's that sudden irrelevant colorful interlude between the two lovers near the end that nearly takes you out of the film itself and presents it from another side often unseen, yet we have to go back to the film anyway and all the imperatives it applies.

cbrubaker · #10 01-23-2007, 11:34 AM

Anyone remember Tezuka's "Wonder 3"? That features three aliens disguising as Earth animals, which would technically make it a "talking animal" cartoon. The design of the duck character in particular was very Western-influenced, especially considering the fact that he had a "Beatles" haircut

It was dubbed to English and syndicated under the title "Amazing 3."