Showing posts with label television. Show all posts
Showing posts with label television. Show all posts

Nov 6, 2009

Richard Williams' A Christmas Carol

This youtube posting is not of the very best quality to say the least, but I was reminded of this special yesterday and the impact it made upon me when I first saw it-old Magnavox, living room floor, Hancock Park, the 70s. One viewing cemented Richard Williams for me as someone working among animation's elite, although if I remember correctly he got a lot more press later for his "Return of the Pink Panther" titles.
But this TV special was just wild. It still is--even in these few clips, just the layout alone...amazing. And while I'd put the Ghost of Christmas Past in the Alastair Sim version a close second, the way it's done here is the most faithful to Dickens' description--a great marriage of film, drawing and concept realized together. And Marley still shocks me.





Dec 8, 2008

R.O. Blechman CBS Christmas Message (1966)

It's poignant to see what television-and animation-once could be as far back as 1966. Simple touches like this made viewing the warm old tube an important part of the holiday season for kids--in a good way for a change. Today this spot with its understated good cheer looks positively revolutionary to me.