Liquid Nonsense

I use the interweb to find all sorts of crazy shit. A good example would would be old vintage cartoons, especially cartoons that I remember from own past. This night's entertainment included episode 1 of season 2 of the Thundercats.

Good Christ this shit is awful. Spectacularly awful. The voice acting alone stands as a monument to the progress of animation over the last 15-20 years. I remember thinking this was awesome, and through the eyes of a child I can understand that, but damn. Why my parents didn't smack the shit out of me and tell me to watch some decent cartoons I may never know.

I know there were some decent cartoons I watched as a child because it was only within the last year I managed to track down a COMPLETE copy of The Mysterious Cities of Gold. Watching it in my 20s I realize that it is a far cry from what I would call modern day anime quality, but the fact I could actually stand it and still find things to applaud is fairly impressive.

Another show I remember semi-well is Belle and Sebastian. The show dealt with many complicated matters that clearly sailed over young-child Chris. At least that's how I'd like to remember it since I don't think I'll ever be able to actually track down a copy of this.

We also can't remember such joys as Captain N: The Gamemaster. Nintendo totally had to cash in on this one because I can't imagine them giving up the rights free gratis to the names from their biggest franchises ever (Metroid, PunchOut!, Megaman, Castlevania, and Zelda to name a few). Today I would probably find this totally devoid of any meaningful plot, but it still has a warm spot for all the video game references in one place.

If asked about how much of my childhood was spent watching Count Duckula, I may very well lie. Lie right to your face. A bald face lie so obvious that children will cry upon hearing it. Nonetheless, I feel that a teleporting castle in Transylvania, powered by a duck hopping into a coffin no less, could only have been inspired by drugs. Lots of them.

In order to counteract the accidental World War II propaganda my parents showed me I'm sure they had to dig up something ridiculously cute and adorable. Enter the Shirt Tale Gang. So sweet you may actually get cavities from more than ten minutes of exposure. I actually remember recording an episode or two of this and watching it when I was like six or seven. Craziness I say.

I distinctly remember a point somewhere around 5th grade when my friend Matt moved back from Colorado. I also remember going swimming with him one weekend and getting the shit burnt out of my from the burning, burning sun. I also remember sitting on the couch watching Rude Dog and the Dweebs. So many colors....soooo many colors.

One show that I remember distinctively well, mostly because I know I loved it, was probably so far over my head I didn't even really know what I was watching. Today I'm convinced that I am the only person who has EVER seen it, because anytime I mention it or describe it, I just get funny glares. Spartakus and the Sun beneath the Sea was actually quite complicated. At least I think it was...



Upon looking back at my childhood it really isn't any wonder I'm such a big fan of anime now. I didn't even realize how many of my favorites were actually originally created in Japan and re-dubbed for America. There was also some kind of animated movie I remember watching that is just sitting on the edge of my awareness. I remember it had something to do with a rabbit and his ability to run super fast, but that's about all I can come up with. One of these nights when I have some more time I'm going to try and hunt it down just so I can know what it's about.

Also, while I'm thinking about it: any information leading to digital copies of any of the aforementioned animated works (with the exception of The Mysterious Cities of Gold, because I already have it) is entitled to getting felated. I want to compare these "works" with modern productions for the sake of developing perspective and a benchmark.