2/26/10

The Fleischer Superman Cartoons



This was the first in a series of 1940s cartoons release in theaters, and the interesting thing about it is how, compared to modern cartoons and comic books, realism plays such a strong role.

Look at the details of the city, the proportions of Clark Kent (aka Superman), and how the problems shown throughout the series, while based in cartoon villainy, also are dealt with realistically, in the sense that the characters are not exaggerated.

Max Fleischer also produced the Popeye cartoon series, and both were masterpieces of craftsmanship long since discarded. First came the cheapo tv cartoons of the 150s, then the Hanna-Barberazation of the 1970s, then the dark, modern cartoons of the last twenty or so years, but none that capture the realism and skill of these cartons.

Compare garbage like Shrek, or any other computer cartoon to the work displayed her. It's simply no contest.

Look at the realistic human movements. Simply put, computers cannot substitute for a real human touch.

It's a sham ethat such Golden Era work is in the past.