The Simpsons has been around for so long people may forget or never even know that it began as a series of shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show. It was popular enough that they had their own Christmas special, now referred to as “Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire”, a pilot that led to the first animated prime time series since I think either The Flintstones or Jonny Quest. It started a trend where other studios and networks tried to do their own but so far Fox is the only one to have really pulled it off, and even then there have been more failures than successes. As time, technology, and techniques have adapted over the years so to has the animation and general art style, plus you have to figure some of the older animators left for one reason or another and others came in.
Jazza, of the YouTube channel formerly known as Draws With Jazza until he opted to focus on numerous art styles, has done animation over the years, including the recent Saturday Night Showcase entry The Tale Teller, and decided to follow the evolution of the art style and animation of the show. While at some points the quality improved it came at the cost of quality elsewhere, as he demonstrates in this examination. Then I did a little checking of my own that may offer some explanations as to what happened to the animation.
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Forget flying cars; when are we getting the cool holographic video games?
Robotech: The Macross Saga #24
Comic The Comic Company (December, 1987)
“Showdown!”
ADAPTATION: Markalan Joplin
PENCILER: Howard Bender
INKER: Sal Trapani
COLORIST: Tom Vincent
LETTERER: Bob Pinaha
EDITOR: Maggie Brenner
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For context (and testing how to embed from anchor.fm) here are the two podcasts, mostly the second one here, that I’m referencing in my v-log. They’re from Jerzy Drozd’s entries in the Art Soundoff Challenge and preview of his upcoming podcast, because he’s a podcasting addict.
Jerzy Drozd discusses Rodimus Prime
Jerzy Drozd discusses Optimus Prime
Don’t forget to catch his new Transformers podcast, Four Million Years Later, when it drops next month. And now, with the technical issues not so much dealt with as bypassed, here’s my thoughts on both Primes.
EDIT: Thanks to all the issues the article scheduled for tonight will post tomorrow night so I can get everything done.
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Father’s Day has always been a problem for Kirk.
Star Trek #13
DC Comics (April, 1985)
“New Frontiers” part 5: “Masquerade!”
WRITER: Mike W. Barr
PENCILER: Tom Sutton
INKER: Ricardo Villagran
COLORIST: Michele Wolfman
LETTERER: Carrie Spiegel
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Robert Greenberger
MANAGING EDITOR: Tom Codon
EDITOR: Marv Wolfman
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Usually I’ve been posting these at 6AM ET, the time I ordinarily post the Morning Article Link but due to technical problems I had with the camera today it’s going to have to wait until I wake up, get my household stuff done, and have a chance to record and post it. I’m rather annoyed at this but you will get an Art Soundoff today, inspired by one of the other contributors. You’ll meet them all this Saturday on Saturday Night Showcase.
