Theme Songs

I came across this show called Clone High recently and fell in love with the opening theme! So good!

I'll only partially brag about this awesome show being Canadian because I am as well. This awesome show is Canadian!

Ehem... Anyway, the great theme got me thinking about theme songs I enjoy.

Clone High (2002-2003)

Directed by Ted Collyer, Harold Harris, Phil Lord, and Chris Miller

Editing by Christopher Gould

Cartoon lovers, you may notice a similarity between Clone High and Total Drama. What's the connecting thread? Looks to be Todd Kauffman and Blayne Burnside. On blog John K Stuff after a post with a lot of replies on character design, Kauffman popped in to apologize for what the consensus of this entry through was horrible, ugly design. Here's his entry:

Anyway, I really like Clone High's theme. Tommy Walter is credited as the composer for the theme, which was performed by his group Abandoned Pools (which you can see in the final episode).

Ever heard of Baki the Grappler? The English version has a most enjoyable theme (in my opinion). Theme song is Child Prey by Dir En Grey.

Baki the Grappler (2001)

Directed by Hitoshi Nanba

Check it:

I enjoyed the show too. Pointless as it was. Sometimes you just watch something pointless though, you know? Sometimes pointless is good.

And do you remember the X-Men theme? I like it. 

X-Men (1992-1997)

Created by Stan Lee (surprised?)

Directed by Larry Houston, Fred Miller and Richard Bowman
Theme composed by Ron Wasserman

The Gloaming

The Gloaming (2011)
Directed by Nobrai
Written by Niko Nobrain


A pretty crazy short film
in a good way

Image from http://www.cgmeetup.net/home/the-gloaming-animated-short-film-by-sabotage-studio/

Watch it here http://www.nobrain.fr/the-gloaming-online

It's a lot to put in under 15 minutes--religion, war, politics, and more. This short film has everything from sex to explosion to bulbous hydra human beasts. If that's not enough to draw you on, it's also a mix of many different animation styles.
The Gloaming is 3D, 2D, stop motion, rotoscoping, and probably more that I'm not smart enough to spot. Anyway, just the mix alone is cool, let alone the topic of the film.

So we're in a desert when we meet our protagonist, a sleeping man turned deity. The man awakens, then walks along dunes to find a semi liquid blob on the ground. Upon picking it up it reacts, comes to life, and forms a planet complete with humans.
The man watches his planet progress, and indeed time passes insanely fast on this planet. We go from early man to future enslaved humankind in minutes.
From the beginning of civilization on the planet the man observes how quickly humans take to jealously, greed, and violence, as the first early man covets another's partner so much he kills him just to get her.
Giving up on that part of the world the man spins the planet to find tribes at war. At first when they notice him their war stops to worship, but soon enough they've moved on to destroying each other. The globe spins again and the man observes a civilization more or less something along the lines of the US right now. Families are slaves to processed meat and TV. And on the TV is news about violence.
The man finally comes to a futuristic civilization run by a multi-headed combination of the previous civilization's antagonists. They're harvesting humans for some sort of profit when the man steps in. He crushes one of the mind control satellites only to have another immediately dispatched. The next logical thing is to stop the satellites at the source, so he crushes their dispatch location. This upsets the globular ruler and the man finds himself under attack. He swats at the planet but his arm is stuck. Not only that but the planet begins to consume him! Soon the planet has reverted back to the beige-y blob it started as and it engulfs the man. He's liquified and absorbed, and the blog falls back onto the cracked dry ground it started on. The sun sets.


This film is interesting for a bunch of reasons. Beside the story of the film, the story of Nobrain is interesting too. So you got three homies who worked together in France. They joined forces and created Sabotage Studio. Then they relinquished it in order to take on roles that would allow them more control, from story to style. They became Nobrain, three individual artists acting as one director. Interesting, I'd say.
Also noteworthy is this is a film that transcends language. There's not really any litteral direct conversations between characters. There's grunts and screen and such, and that's all you need in order to understand everything they're saying. Not every wordless film achieves this so successfully.
Favourite scene in my book for this film is pretty much the ending. The man is covered in the sludge and his muffled yell competes against the screeches and screams of the planet and it's dying inhabitants. The rotoscoped look is really fun and intense, and the camera angle is perfect for the action.
Sound team, you're great. Foley is great, music is great. Yup yup.

Batman: Gotham Knight

Batman: Gotham Knight (2008)
Directed by Yasuhiro Aoki, Yuichiro Hayashi, Futoshi Higashide, Toshiyuki Kubooka, Hiroshi Morioka, Jong-Sik Nam, and Shouijrou Nishimi

Didn't know what to expect going into this. Didn't read anything about it or even what's on case. Just went right to action watching the movie and my mind, it was blown.
Just as a side note too the estimated budget according to IMDB for this was $3,500,000 which is the same estimated amount for Emerald Knights, New Frontier, Year One, and Wonder Woman. Guess DC gives the same allowance for everything?

So the first short in Gotham Knight totally caught me by surprise. I was all like 'Waaaa?! Tekkonkinkreet! Wooah!'
All unique interpretations of what and who Batman and Bruce Wayne are, but that one in particular, largely due to the whimsical tales the art style can lend itself to (Tekkonkinkreet is an animated movie that came out a few years before Gotham Knight). Both Tekkonkinkreet and Gotham Knight's Have I got a Story for You share the same editor (Mitsumi Takemiya) and the same art director (Shinji Kimura) which explains the shares awesomeness.
Have I got a Story for You basically follows a group of kids as they talk about their encounters with Batman. They each have different ideas of what it is they saw. The story finally culminates in Batman bursting into their hangout to stop a villain with the aid of one of the kids.

 

(gif from http://chromatichouse.tumblr.com/search/batman#13262440287)

Crossfire is a story about two members of the Major Crimes Unit, one with faith in her work and Batman, and the other against Batman, feeling like all the MCU does is cleanup and babysit. Through chance they find their car parked between a bullet-riddled confrontation. Batman shows up to save the two officers and perhaps change the second one's opinion about a few things...
Interesting thing to note is Batman is HUGE in this story. He looks like 6' 4" or so (or everyone else is just tiny). Yes, Batman is 6' 2" which is on the taller side, but really, he looks HUGE in this one.

(image from http://www.grayflannelsuit.net/blog/gfs-home-movies-batman-gotham-knight)

The next short, Field Test, is probably the one I'm least fond of. Not that I hate anime at all, but super anime style Bruce Wayne was a bit strange. He's a pretty boy in the midst of more Western-design-style characters. His cowl I also wasn't very fond off. Once you see it, it seems like it would be more difficult than his normal cowl

 The cowl that would inhibit sight more than usual that I was talking about ^ (image from http://porkcutlets.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/gotham-knight-the-batmanime/)

Anyway, so Mr. Fox has developed a "highly sensitive shock wave sensor" that will activate the gyroscopic electromagnetic pulses deterring small arms bullets. Batman takes it for a spin and find it works too well, when a bullet bounces off the field and hits an enemy. Batman rushes the criminal to the hospital and discontinues the use of the shield.

 As cat-detective on tumblr put it "I don't think I'm okay with bishounen Bruce Wayne. I just can't deal with Kevin Conroy's voice coming out of this face...." (image from http://letterboxd.com/variousthings/film/batman-gotham-knight/)

In Darkness Dwells, Batman follows Killer Croc under Gotham and gets bitten. Scarecrow's fear toxin flowing through Killer Croc then enters Batman and he must continue his journey under the toxin's effects. Further into the underground maze Batman finds Scarecrow preparing to sacrifice Cardinal O'Fallon in the company of other Arkham escapees. Batman saves the holy man and leaves him in Gordan's care.
Batman runs off a ledge and glides into the night for the end. I really like the idea of animating something in slow motion. It's not like filming something at 200 fps then slowing it down; the animators had to really think about it. Speaking of animating, this short was directed by Yasuhiro Aoki, who was an animator for Steamboy, one of the Sailor Moon movies, and the original Neon Genesis Evangelion animated series.

Love Scarecrow's design here. (image from http://www.batmanytb.com/animated/gothamknight/bios/scarecrow.php)

Working Through Pain is awesome! I really dig the character design of Bruce in this one.
So Bruce is underground in Gotham again, and gets shot. While trying to get to a meetup point with Alfred we see flashbacks of Bruce learning how to deal with pain from a woman named Cassandra. She's confronted by a gang of angry young men who says she's betrayed her culture by teaching these secrets to an outsiders and then attack her. Just like the teachings, she withstand the pain, but Bruce steps in and defends her. After the attackers stop Cassandra tells Bruce to leave as he's learned what he came there for. Back in the gutter Bruce finds loads of guns. Upon Alfred's arrival he extends his hand to Batman (arms full of guns) to take it only for Bruce to reply "I... I can't..."

 This was another animated slow mo moment. Prettay awesome. (image from http://otakurevolution.com/content/batman-gotham-knight-a-delicious-appetizer)

Deadshot, the last short, follows hitman Deadshot as he tried to take down Batman. To lour him out he attempts a hit on Commissioner Gordan. Of course Barman foils the shot Deadshot was taking from a moving train. Deadshot then attempts to to take out Batman from a closer range. As soon as Batman takes down Deadshot he turns from a pompous villain into a coward who sells out his client in an instant. Batman leaves Deadshot unconscious outside one of the train cars, then goes home to Alfred and sits in front of the fire.

(image from http://www.hobotrashcan.com/reviews/batmangothamknight.php)

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010)
Directed by Lauren Montgomery

Great great great!
Plus great to finally watch the movie where the Handsome Face meme comes from.

So the Kryptonite meteor Batman destroyed in Public Enemies was carrying something more than Kryptonite. Encased inside was Kara, cousin of Kal-El (Superman). When her parents had heard that Kal's were sending him off in a ship, they did the same.
Kara's ship falls to Earth, landing in Gotham. In her disorientation she wrecks Batman's ship he's taken to investigate the crash site, and Batman begins to pursue her, eventually ending their chase by knocking her out with a piece of Kryptonite.
When she awakens she freaks out, trashes some of Batman's equipments and begins to fly away uncontrollably.
Superman grabs her before she gets away and calms her down in their native language.
Thrilled at what she says, he tells Bruce she says she's his cousin (and thus Handsome Face was born). Bruce, however, is wary of this random girl from the sky who can't control her power or remember much.

Batman no approve!
This shot totz looks like Superman and Kara are having a moment and Batman is a third wheel. (image from http://hagiblog.wordpress.com/2010/12/28/supermanbatman-apocalypse-2010-film-reel-reviews/)

After a short period of time in the Fortress of Solitude Kara explains she wants to go out and see the world, live like an Earth girl. Kal-El thinks shopping in Metropolis is a good way to start. However their day ends in misery as Wonder Woman launches a sneak attack on Kara in a park and she panics, going crazy with her powers and destroying a statue of Superman. Furious Superman tells Wonder Woman to back off. She retorts that if this had happened in the daytime when the park was filled with people it would have been a disaster. Wonder Woman has decided to take Kara back to train with the Amazons.
After a few months with the women, Superman wants to take her back. All the arguing amongst the 'grown-ups' causes Kara to put her foot down, saying she wants to make her own decisions, then flying off with best friend Lyla.

Batman and Superman are talking smack about Wonder Woman behind her back lol! (image from http://www.popscreen.com/v/6GyeU/Superman-Batman-Apocalypse-Movie-Animated-Trailer-HD)

When the two are alone they are ambushed by evil Darkseid's henchmen. Lyla is killed and Kara is kidnapped to be brainwashed and used by Darkseid.
To get to Apokolips where Darkseid resides Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman enlist the aid of Barda who had previously defected from Darkseid's army.
Once on Apokilips, the team gets right to work trying to rescue Kara who is under Darkseid's mental control. In order to release her Batman sets a storeroom full explosive to detonate shortly and will only disarm them is Kara is freed. Impressed by Batman's courage to bet the destruction of the whole planet against Darkseid, Darkseid releases Kara and the group returns to Earth.
Back on Earth Kara tells Kal-El that she doesn't want to be a hero. He decides Smallville will be a good and safe place for Kara to live her desired life as an Earth girl. Too bad Darkseid has other plans. Waiting for them at the Kent's farm, he strikes while Clark isn't looking and knocks him into space. Looks like Kara will have to use that Amazonian training.
Even though under his rule Kara could be one of the universe's most powerful beings, she explains that she doesn't want that because she wants to have a say in her own life. She kicks his butt for a while but eventually gets beat down.
Meanwhile in space, Superman absorbs some sunlight then goes back to work, trying to trash Darkseid as well.
After a short period of unconsciousness Kara waked up, and uses a mother box to create a boom tube that Superman pushes Darkseid through (a trick she learned from Darkseid himself). He ends up floating frozen in space.
After the fight, the Kent's pull up their driveway to find their farm and house trashed, and their son and some new girl staring at them.
The fight has changed Kara's mind and she knows what she must do with her powers.
Superman re-introduces Kara to the Amazons as Supergirl. The cousins fly off happily. Yay!

Very good stuff. Batman's design is also great; the way he stand covered with his cape when watching the Amazons train or at Barda's house just looks so cool! His cape is very long in this movie.

Diana is also extra hot in this movie. The animation really shows care when Diana starts the practice exercise between Artemis and Kara and when Diana steps backwards her hips sway.

The scene with the care to animate the swaying hips on the left. (image from http://fortresstakes.wordpress.com/2010/11/10/supermanbatman-apocalypse-2010/)

Also interesting to note is Summer Glau is Supergirl's voice for this movie. You may know her from a little movie called Serenity! Kevin Conroy, voice of Bruce Wayne from the 90's Batman show is Batman's voice here too. Director Lauren Montgomery is also the director of Green Lantern: First Flight, Wonder Woman, Superman/Doomsday, and Justice League: Doom just to name a few. Basically her track record as director is amazing to me (though she did direct a Scooby Doo show and I hate Scooby Doo... However her other work is so impressive that maybe this show is actually good).

Green Lantern: First Flight

Green Lantern: First Flight (2009)
Directed by Lauren Montgomery

This movie is awesome! Animation quality is good, even great at moments (like the transformation).
So Hal Jordan inherits Abin Sur's ring, but when the Guardians find out Abin Sur's legacy has been handed down to a human they are displeased. Sinestro, a respected and feared Lantern suggests they give Hal Jordan a chance by letting the two work together for a bit. The Guardians agree.
After a short while of working together Hal Jordan sees that Sinestros methods for getting his man are all but humane. Sinestro even frames Hal Jordan for the death of the Corps' main suspect in the creation of a weapon as strong as the Green Lantern's battery. Sinestro has actually killed the suspect himself and is planning on finding and using the weapon. However because the Guardians believe Hal Jordan is responsible, they take from him the ring.
Big mistake, because Sinestro finds the weapon, essentially the same as the Green Lantern's battery but yellow. He swaps his green ring for a yellow one, then attacks the Corps.
Luckily Hal Jordan hadn't yet gotten sent back to Earth, because he find his ring and goes into the giant Lantern that houses the green battery. It seems that its dead from the attach from the yellow battery and it rains Green Lantern rings from the sky. All the Lanterns in space dies when the 'power went out'.
However, scratching the surface of the green battery reveals that under the dead outer coating, it's still alive inside. Hal Jordan holds his ring up to the battery while inside the giant lantern and becomes temporarily more super-powered that ever before.
With this new strength he takes out Sinestro and becomes the newest Green Lantern.

So when Hal Jordan transformed:

I did not make this youtube video, but it pretty much embodies how I felt about that sequence.
For the record though, this transformation sequence is totz boss. Love it.
Also, another nice touch to this movie was the choice to make Sinestro's teeth light yellow. Those little considerations add up to make a great animation.

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights (2011)

Directed by Chris Berkeley, Lauren Montgomery, and Jay Oliva

 
Wow this one was weird. I'd put it in the weirdness of Allstar Superman. Not weird in a bad way. Just   weird.
If you're like me and have not read the comics, then this is a nice little view into a hand full of other Lanterns. I say it's weird because there's so many stories and flashbacks WITHIN stories, that you can easily forget something is just a tangent from the actual overall story.
Animation is pretty nice. Choice for voices is also enjoyable (Nathan Fillion of Serenity and Firefly, Jason Isaacs from Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Harry Potter, Elisabeth Moss from Girl, Interrupted, and other awesome talent).
I really really love that there's SO MANY character designs for humanoid and non-humanoid creatures. I mean I understand lots of bystander characters go into tons of animations, but usually they're all the same species as the main character(s). So lots of respect go out to the whole team that created and animated all the other worldly Lanterns.

So Hal Jordan has been trying to show rookie Arisia the ropes when evil strikes. Arisia has to go through trial by fire as Krona, in all his anti-matter villainy, enters through a sun to destroy the Green Lantern Corps.
During the wait period for Krona is when Hal Jordan and Sinestro tell Arisia all these stories of other Lanterns.

Green Lantern from Princess Laira's sector. This Lantern perished while defending Laira's father and her people. Upon this Lantern's death, the ring chose Laira next. (image from http://static3.aintitcool.com/assets2011/glekglc.JPG)