What do you think of this animation posted on Cartoon Brew?

[Jules]

I think it's terrible. It seems I'm the only one to think that.

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/octoc ... 1#comments

[2099net]

Well, presumably it's the animators first effort and its not actually that bad. The technique is rough, but I actually like a couple of the scenes very much - the tree growing out from under the rock and the "nice relaxing cup of tea".

The sad thing is, something like this would be entered for the Turner Prize in the UK and intellectuals would ponder for ages over what it "means". The tree from under the rock for example would be seen as a visual metaphor for something like "the rapid growth of information when we go looking to uncover unpleasent truths" or similar. Even the child like crudeness of the the drawings would be seen as a statement on innocence or the like.

When the whole thing is just an idea from a 13 year old boy for a "cool" animation, probably his first.

I think the animator does deserve encouragement, after all everyone has to start somewhere.

[Jules]

The sad thing is, something like this would be entered for the Turner Prize in the UK and intellectuals would ponder for ages over what it "means".

Actually, I was trying to do that - mostly because I seem to be the only one to dislike it. I kept wondering whether there was something, just something I was missing (and that would have, presumably, made all the difference).

In any case, it seems in today's world it seems defining 'art' is becoming more and more difficult. Do you think I'm being narrowminded by calling the animation 'terrible'? I've already been called a 'miserable blackheart' (whatever that means) on CB for the contribution of my rather negative-oriented opinion.

EDIT: OK, the acclaim and accolades this work is receiving is positively baffling. I've discovered it's one of the most watched videos on YouTube, and at this rate I think it's on the way to becoming an internet phenomenon. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

[Lazario]

Forgive me, but... Doesn't the link mention that the animator is 13? Why should we be so overly critical of something a 13 year old animated? Everyone's got to start somewhere. If anything, I think he's brave to put it up, considering the kind of criticism people can get on places like YouTube. Hopefully he spends more time on his next project and ignores most of the text responses. There are some really screwed up people who post comments on YouTube. But anyway, point is, I think it's a fairly amusing little cartoon bit. The voice becomes kind of annoying. But it's short, so it's nothing to complain about.


And by the way, it's only 40 seconds long, so everyone can spare a minute of their day to take a look.



Oh, and - great reply, 2099net. Probably an ace example of the pretentious nature of cinematic art appreciation. Reminds me of a scene from Absolutely Fabulous: "What's the difference between an artist who chooses to paint like a child, and a child's painting?" (that might not be word-for-word correct)

[Paka]

Julian, you do know that most of the comments are being facetious in their praise, right?

[Jules]

Julian, you do know that most of the comments are being facetious in their praise, right?

Well, I certainly don't think all of them are genuine reactions, but hey, a lot of people are taking it very seriously (aren't they? ). Er ... take Amid for example.

[Prudence]

He's thirteen?! That looks like a four-year-old animated it!

[Lazario]

That's very judgemental, P

[Prudence]

That's very judgemental, P

It's simply my opinion. A large number of my opinions are judgmental ones. If you like, I will scan in my own artwork done at the ages of four and twelve. (I'm not sure that I can find anything drawn at thirteen years.)

[Jules]

Actually, it's not really a case of the crudeness of the drawings. Sometimes crude animation can still harbour power. The problem is in the whole. In my opinion, it does not mean anything, and I'm not saying that because it literally doesn't make much sense. Finally, I think there's a serious lack of imagination in the work. I'm not saying Randy Peters is not imaginative - he could be a wizard of creativity - but he certainly makes no effort to show it in this.

Had I just come across this on YouTube, I would not have been bothered at all - simply percieving it as harmless. But seeing it glorified as something revolutionary and a wonderful work of art on Cartoon Brew hurts my heart. Oh well ... but I'm a "miserable blackheart" aren't I, for dissing it and saying I don't like it. What would I know?

[Lazario]

He's only 13! I still say you people are carrying on as though he should be beheaded for not having more skill. Maybe he just started this. Maybe he's lying about his age to make himself look older. Who knows? Yeah these are just opinions, but they are pretty cut-throat ones. Which under the circumstances seem a little overly critical.

If by the age of 19, 20 he hasn't improved - then you can say he's always been a hack. But, seriously- do you think anything can be gained from being this judgmental of a young person's art?

[Disney Duster]

I don't think the animation is horrible, the kid who made this knows that it doesn't look professional or perfect, that it looks kiddy and crude. That's part of the humour. In the overly simplistic world, more can be done, trippier things, more abstract things. I like when the cat screams at the end, I think that is actually drawn well.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Julian, because I actually came up with my own Octocat a while back in high school, around age 17. He looked completely different and was a completely different character, but he had the same name and the same half-octopus half-cat idea.

Now that this kid's creation has become a widely-watched phenomenon, would I still be able to make comics based on my Octocat? And sell them?

Would people realize that just putting two animals together isn't so complicated the idea could be thought of by more than one person in this world?

[Escapay]

Actually, it's not really a case of the crudeness of the drawings. Sometimes crude animation can still harbour power. The problem is in the whole. In my opinion, it does not mean anything, and I'm not saying that because it literally doesn't make much sense.

Try watching David Lynch's Six Figures Getting Sick (Six Times).

Albert

[Jules]

I YouTubed it, but to no avail. Judging from its IMDB profile, it sounds interesting. Considering its only 1 minute long, I'm surprised it's not on the internet. Perhaps it's because of the curious way the film must be set up? Wikipedia mentioned something about projector modification and blah blah and other stuff which I now forget.