What Style Of Animation Is My Life As A Teenage Robot
While many current and upcoming shows accept devoted fans, only because a show has ended does not mean the end for the fan community. Far from information technology. Fans accept been instrumental in keeping shows such as Star Expedition alive for decades after the testify wrapped up and it far from lone in that respect.
Fans currently have a remarkable set up of tools at their disposal to help keep memories and interests alive. In years gone past, there were fanzines, clubs and conventions. Today many of these tools continue to connect fans and have been joined past new tools, such equally message boards, blogs and social networks like Facebook.
Maintaining the interest is imperative if fan communities are to go along to exist, and that relies upon continued upkeep of any sites and also moving beyond just the show itself; hence the reason many bulletin boards have off-topic threads or ones in areas of similar interest to members.
Today nosotros're focusing on ane fan blog for My Life as a Teenage Robot. Long agone, there was a traditional, official weblog that was created and run during the series' production. (If memory serves, it was one of, if non the outset ever product blogs for an animated show). While it connected to run afterwards the show concluded, it has been dormant for a number of years.
The rise of Tumblr equally a fan-friendly platform has not gone unnoticed thanks to its emphasis on particular post types and piece of cake sharing amongst the site'southward many members. The proliferation of fan creations on Tumblr have been nailed downwards to the ease with which people can create, post and share content in addition to the ease with which Tumblelogs can be maintained. Combined with a submission characteristic, it becomes piece of cake to see why so many fans and fandoms employ Tumblr as a tool to serve their interests. (In a coincidental twist, Tumblr emerged from the same office as Frederator; the creative studio responsible for My Life as a Teenage Robot.)
Hence blogs like Teenagerobotlove that serve to perpetuate fans love for the bear witness besides as providing a focal point for things like fanart. I'm glad that such blogs be and that people are willing to create and maintain them. They provide enjoyment for those of us who just practise not accept the time to undertake i themselves and serve as a reminder that fans still exist for the prove.
Here's my week links of stuff I read then should you!
Blitheness Insider Interviews Rob Renzetti
Yes, information technology'south an interview with the creator of my favourite animated TV evidence! Some smashing tidbits in there too.
It'south Finally Over: 8 Years Of Mattel vs. Bratz And No I's Getting Paid But The Lawyers
Techdirt has the details on this last chapter in a showdown over who created what. This is a case that is well worth reading up about because it deals with ideas and concepts and who is legally entitled to own them. All very of import concepts in the animation industry.
An Animated Tribute to Moonrise Kingdom
Via The A.5. Society comes this animated tribute by Michael Piazza and Toniko Pantoja to Wes Anderson's 2012 film, Moonrise Kingdom:
Within DreamWorks: how blithe movies are rendered
Techradar has this look at the technological side of DreamWorks Blitheness. It comes off as a bit of a pitch piece for Hewlett-Packard, but information technology's all the same very informative.
Clever Merchandising Necktie-Ins In Sailor Moon
The Sailor Failures tumblelog takes a look at how the series (specifically Sailor Moon R) featured crafty references to the trade in every episode. Hint: there was a reason the outer senshi were given specific shots of their lisptick being applied:
Tweets of the Week
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/aceandson/condition/294900683218497538″]
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/alikigreeky/status/295967054966714368″]
News that Immature Justice and Greenish Lantern: The Animated Series garner the following tweet from Brianne Drouhard:
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/potatofarmgirl/status/296401669862854658″]
A problem in animated content also:
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/TiredFairy/status/296717329784516609″]
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/davidoreilly/status/297060207874412545″]
Information technology's no underground that My Life equally a Teenage Robot is one of my favourite animated Goggle box shows. It's an underrated precious stone that is enjoyable fifty-fifty if information technology isn't quite every bit clever as other shows. As well it'south crawly sense of Art Deco way, the great vocalisation cast, the deeply embedded in-jokes and a key female protagonist, the show also makes superb employ of colour. (And no mail about colour should go without a link to Oswald Iten'south excellent blog, Colorful Animated Expressions)
I'grand not talking about the utilise of colour in the sense of The Simpsons either; stiff colours existed exist in that show, but rather to make them stand out confronting other Television shows. My Life as a Teenage Robot instead uses colour as a tool to accentuate atmosphere, moods and important plot points.
Don't believe me? Then check out the series of screenshots below, from the season iii episode, Stage Fright.
We kickoff off with Jenny (XJ-9) in her normal colours, that is, white and turquose.
Now we're inbound the theatre, where the darker setting changes Jenny's color to an fair and straight blue.
Still in the theater, but it's darker at present and Jenny'south colours follow along.
Now that she's on stage and in the lite, Jenny'southward colours alter dorsum to the lighter shades but include fifty-fifty more than shades to account for the costume.
First big modify. Later on the aliens invade, we go an orangish Jenny nicely contrasted against a green background.
Aforementioned colours but with a regular groundwork. (Also, crawly pose.)
Activity way is now off so nosotros revert back to the darker theater color in the sitting pose above.
The aura lightens Jenny to the signal that she is brighter than in the 2d screencap only doesn't revert to her normal colours.
Aaaaaaand, Action! Big changes hither as Jenny becomes pink and purple, contrasting nicely with the orange and dark-brown background. For the nearly office, Jenny is always some combination of white and blueish/greenish except when engaged in some kind of activity. In these instances, she tin exist just about any colour.
Not a great shot, but it shows what Jenny looks like in the shadows; practically violet.
Bad guys defeated, Jenny reverts to the white and bluish that's been the theme for this theater setting.
Last but not to the lowest degree, here's Jenny on stage in full wardrobe retaining the blueish and including some lighter shades to fit the costume.
And that's it! If you lot know your stuff, you'll realise that in just near 11 minutes, Jenny's colour changed a total of 5 times (not including costume and shades). In the m scheme of things, she changed appearance a total of 12 times, that's about once a minute!
This wouldn't usually be too much but Stage Fright is a fairly average episode. Some of the more activeness oriented ones go even more than colour changes and things get actually interesting once Jenny goes into infinite!
So at that place y'all go, a quick look at how the crew of My Life equally a Teenage Robot managed to use color as a a great tool throughout the series.
Information technology's no secret that My Life as a Teenage Robot is one of my very favourite blithe Television set shows, but it would seem that it's in the visitor of many other shows that are also my favourite in that never seemed to catch on with the mainstream crowd (like Futurama, Dilbert, etc.). Then why is this and then? Hither's a couple of reasons why My Life as a Teenage Robot is currently undervalued.
1. The Plots Are More Complex Than They First Appear
One of the things levelled at the show is that the stories aren't overly complex; that they're too simple and stake in comparison to some other shows out there. Well, that is certainly the example, but it is on purpose. The show just happens to be one that doesn't rely on overly complex stories and is none the worse for it. It's a fun show, not an epic one like say, Avatar. At that place is some continuity with the likes of Vexus and the Infinite Biker Gang that plays out over the seasons, but the stories themselves are complex in how they are resolved. Jenny doesn't rely on her abilities near equally much as you might think.
2. A Kick-Ass Heroine Is Yet Quite Rare In TV Shows
We're starting to see more of these (Korra beingness the latest) but a lead female person protagonist is still a rarity in TV shows, particularly animated ones. My Life As A Teenage Robot helped break the mold, and with a robot at that! Jenny is a very stiff graphic symbol that shows how it is possible to avert the almost egregious of stereotypes and still maintain her identity (and a few laughs along the fashion).
iii. The Potent Accent On A Cohesive Show Design
One of the things that initially attracted me to the show was it's sheer focus on pattern. The creator-driven shows of the 90s are well known for their focus on a strong sense of design; harkening dorsum to the cartoon modern shows of the 50s and 60s, where style was the be all and cease all of a testify. MLaaTR continues the trend but does so with a heavy emphasis on Art Deco. While it isn't as strong or forward-looking as Carlos Ramos' The X's, it does complement the testify nicely and information technology is dandy to see 1 of the revolutionary 20th century styles used to effectively; giving the prove a modern, contemporary look but retaining the advent of grade. It's no coincidence (or hinderence) that the use of Art Deco also echos back to the vintage cartoons of the 1930s like Felix the True cat and even more than so the Fleischer Bros.
4. The Apply of Colour
This is a topic that will necessitate a full mail service in the foreseeable future, merely needless to say, the show made first-class and effective use of color that puts it on an entirely different level compared to other shows. Information technology'due south something we haven't actually seen since.
5. The Subtle Jokes
Yes, they are in in that location, and they're even more than subtle than you tin imagine. While this may not do much for some, it'due south the fact that they are just as knowing as the more blatant examples that makes them funny.
6. The Non-So-Subtle References
Like only about every show that came along after The Simpsons, MLaaTR has its fair share of pop-civilisation references. These are much more than breathy that the jokes but are all the same entertaining. Chief among them is Wizzly World and Uncle Wizzly, and all-also noticeable nod to Disney World and Walt Disney. Too that, there are also plenty of nods to super heroes (how could there not), other TV shows (Samurai Vac anyone?) and Japan and Japanese culture.
seven. The Cast
Not to become unnoticed are the voice bandage. There are your usual suspects only 2 stand out in Candi Milo doing a groovy turn as Mrs. Wakeman and the tardily World Kitt who brings a surprising performance as Queen Vexus with a perfect menacing undertone.
All 3 seasons of one of the most underrated cartoons of the last decade are now on DVD through Amazon. At $19.99, they aren't the cheapest, only seeing every bit this show is well overdue for a release and that DVD is in the twilight years of its existence, y'all should consider it a worthwhile investment.
Flavor 1
Season 2
Season 3
The other mean solar day, I cam across the web log of Steve Joseph Holt, a rather talented creative person whose worked on some of your favourite cartoons from the last decade or and so. Long story short, on his portfolio, I noticed that he was responsible for a couple of title cards for My Life equally a Teenage Robot.
So of class, I couldn't resist going dorsum and looking through them all and I again realised how awesome they really are. I mean, fair play to Fred for insisting upon them on all of his shows, and then following up with an entire book devoted to them.
Anyhow, here's 7 of the best from the entire serial' run.
The Wonderful World of Wizzly – maybe a reference to…oh, we all know who information technology is.
While in that location are a few cartoons could exist said to take re-ingnited my passion for animation, i had a bit more of a profound effect than others. And while My Life as a Teenage Robot may have lacked the smarmy humour of SpongeBob Squarepants, it is notwithstanding a great show. I mean, who doesn't like seeing a robot girl kick donkey within a universe where Art Deco is the prominent architectural fashion?
The series lasted but well-nigh three seasons on Nickelodeon before the network decided that it would not exist ordering boosted episodes. Officially the reason given was the low ratings however I would debate quite strenuously that having the evidence's timeslot bounced all over the schedule couldn't have helped matters either.
Equally is (almost) inevitable when a show gets canned, the fans (not I) reacted in the manner that is most common for TV shows; they created a petition:
To: Nickelodeon
Petition to Salve "My Life every bit a Teeanage Robot" from Cancellation. Annotation: My American-English language is not good because I'grand Italian…
"My Life as a Teenage Robot" is one of the about underrated Tvshows on Nickeloden. This TvShow is about a robot, Xj9 (a.chiliad.a. Jenny), who wants to be a normal Teenage girl, hang out with friends etc. Brad Carbunkle is Jenny's all-time friend. He's your average high-school student; Brad'southward younger brother, Tuck Carbunkle is oftentimes scared by robots, simply he likes Jenny as a friend. Jenny'south "female parent", Nora Wakeman, is one of the best characters in the bear witness: plus, she's voiced past Candi Milo, she's great.
Since Jenny was congenital to protect the Planet Earth, there's an evil-conflicting empire, the Cluster, who wants to take over our world. The Cluster Queen, Vexus, is Jenny'southward arch enemy."My Life as a Teenage Robot" won a few Annie-Awards as well.
OK. I'grand merely saying this, WE MUST SAVE "MY LIFE AS A TEENAGE ROBOT". Information technology may be non the best show on the planet, but it has a lot of fans who are really upset for the counterfoil. We want a 4th Season. Alternatively, since the 3rd Season volition be (perhaps) the "Final Flavor", I think nosotros all need a "Serial Finale" (Jenny & Brad ending up together, for example…).
If you are a fan of the bear witness, sign this petition. If y'all don't similar Jenny and you don't intendance near her, please sign this petition equally, because nosotros need your assist too. Alternatively, you can try to help the show with other petitions or sending Eastward-mails to Nickelodeon.
Note: In that location are other awesome Nick-Toons who are going to exist cancelled: "Danny Phantom" and "The Fairly OddParents". Nick will just never larn.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
Now in fairness to the guy (or girl) English isn't their offset language so let's cut them some slack for that. However, this petition even so makes all the rudimentary errors that most fans brand when crafting petitions so we'll judge it on those.
Firstly, information technology completely and totally neglects to speak directly to the network. It reads equally more of a plea than an effort to persuade the network to change its mind. Anyone can call a show "underrated" just in the network's mind, if it has hopes and dreams for viewership numbers and the show doesn't brand them, the show is considered "underperforming" and might exist costing the company money as a result.
Secondly, giving a clarification of the show'southward characters is superfluous at best. The network knows which bear witness you are talking about and the only time such descriptions would ever be called for is when the letter discusses a prove on another network.
Just in the third paragraph do we see the beginning hints that the show is worth saving in that it won a few Annie awards. A prestigious award in their ain right, but the letter fails to tie those awards to anything meaningful. such equally say, having an Annie-laurels winning bear witness in your portfolio will draw more astute/flush blitheness fans to your network thus increasing revenues on it and other shows alike.
And then there'due south this line:
OK. I'm only proverb this….
Well of form you are, that's the whole purpose of the letter! It too alludes to the conventionalities that the network doesn't know what the letter is nearly, when in fact, if it were an actual letter, would probably exist in the bin by now.
It may be not the best prove on the planet, but it has a lot of fans who are actually upset for the cancellation.
While this argument may be true, it does cypher to further the cause. Upset fans of a cancelled show mean nothing to a network unless they can evidence conclusively that their upsetness will bear upon the networks other properties. For example, if, when the show was cancelled, the fans as well stopped watching other Nickelodeon shows and buying related merchandise, then the network would take a concrete reason to bring the testify dorsum. Saying your simply 'upset' will take no bearing on the network's quarterly results and thus will be accounted irrelevant to the discussion.
However and then we get to this line:
We want a 4th Season.
A flat-out need! Well heck, I desire a million dollars but it sadly isn't going to happen whatsoever time soon. This line also comes off as being advised and unsympathetic to the networks position; something that you lot should be trying to achieve as much as possible.
The second to last paragraph pleads for anyone and everyone to sign the petition whether they like the show or not. Now this is problematic for a number of reasons, just chief amidst them is that information technology seriously blurs the lines between who really wants the prove back and who's but singing information technology for shits and giggles. Secondly, such practices brand it extremely difficult to trust the numbers. For a show with every bit devoted a fanbase as MLaaTR, it's likely that they aren't likewise far off the truth. However, the fact remains that if there is whatever uncertainty in the information, more often than not they are presumed to be faulty and will be excluded from any formal analysis.
The last paragraph is more of a side note that states that other shows on Nickolodeon are beingness cancelled as well but information technology is the terminal line that'due south the killer:
Nick will just never learn.
That one line unmarried-handedly destroys the entire argument for the letter of the alphabet because information technology states that the network is doomed to repeating its 'mistakes'. Why is this a problem? Well the whole purpose of a petition letter of the alphabet for a soon-to-be-cancelled show is to enlighten and persuade the network to change information technology's ways in the promise that information technology will exist more careful about cancelling shows in the future.
Frankly stating that it "volition but never learn" implies that the network is besides stupid, impaired or ignorant to heed to advice. Which begs the question of why and so, should it listen to this petition? If you already call up I'm dumb, practise you really recall I'm going to value your opinion and sentence on matters? Of course not, y'all called me dumb!
Overall this is a pretty typical fan response to a hard business decision that plays on emotions rather than corporate common sense. A truly efficient alphabetic character would see the signatories sympathise with the networks demand for viewers in club to continue ad acquirement up and would emphasise the many ancillary benefits that the bear witness brings to the network in terms of viewers for additional programs, trade sales, etc. Such a letter would exercise much to encourage the network to retain the show based on its bodily merits, non the perceived ones.
This letter, for what it'due south worth, isn't all that bad, I mean, information technology did garner a few thou signatures, many with individual responses to the show and how much information technology was loved. Even so, when it comes to influencing some executive in some far corner of Viacom's vast headquarters in New York, information technology has zero potential and that's why it's not going to bring My Life every bit a Teenage Robot back from the dead.
I'm not quite sure why, merely I accept an affinity for characters that are somewhat mysterious or secretive. That'south non to say I like characters who are double agents or who conceal themselves for nefarious purposes. Oh no, it's the shy characters or those who are hiding something out of necessity that I notice the virtually intriguing.
Take for example the poster below:
Yep, it is Jenny Wakeman (or XJ-9) from the Frederator series My Life as a Teenage Robot. Notice how she is in silhouette, which adds even more than mystique to her figure, as if the shadow is concealing something about her character, which of course information technology is (hint: she's a robot).
At that place are plenty of other example throughout the animated universe, too many in fact, to listing here. Nonetheless they inhabit diverse places in TV shows and films, from protagonists to sidekicks to members of the supporting cast.
They add together a lot to any show or motion picture for a simple reason: they brand the audience remember.
Mysterious characters represent a discord with their surroundings of which other characters may or may not be aware of. In whatever case, the audience is almost compelled to put the pieces together or to speculate on the reasons behind such circumstances. Much the same as Lisa Simpson mulling over the enigma that is Nelson Muntz and why that make him even remotely attractive.
This is the fundamental to why I find them so interesting, they requite me something much more than the performance on-screen and in so doing, increase my enjoyment immensely.
Another great example is Megara from Disney's Hercules.
Initiating thought within the audience is a key way to maximize their enjoyment. Mysterious characters are a superb way of doing that because they allow for the audience to both connect with the and to ponder the character in a way that is outside what is presented on-screen.
Source: https://animationanomaly.com/tag/my-life-as-a-teenage-robot/
Posted by: larosasupponed1981.blogspot.com
0 Response to "What Style Of Animation Is My Life As A Teenage Robot"
Post a Comment