LJ Idol Season 6 Week 4 Throwback Week

[puppetmaker]

This week Gary has given us 5 topics to pick from. A couple I have already written about and a few I have not. The hardest thing is to write something on the topic I have already written on because I don’t want to duplicate my efforts. Behind the cut is my entry this week drawn from some (not so) current events.



Asterix and Obelix turn 50

Asterix the Gaul is a series of graphic novels telling the tales of Asterix and his little town in Gaul who is the last holdout from the Roman Armies. There are a colorful cast of characters and some slightly historical characters tossed in for good measure. In the end the Gauls always win and keep their freedom from the Roman occupation. They are published in 103 countries in many languages.

Asterix and Obelix along with the rest of the gang are a solid part of my childhood. I can remember many a trip down to our annual vacation week in Florida included a new book or two along with all the ones we had already acquired. I think my favorite was Astrix and Cleopatra out of the whole bunch. One of the fun things about those books is that when I was younger I didn’t get some of the screamingly bad puns or the slightly adult double entendres that were through out the books. Like that the Druid of the group was named Getafix. These books were really my first graphic novels.

Recently I found a couple I hadn’t read while in New Zealand. We bought them and I sat happily on the airplane reading my way through the new adventures of my old heroes. I hadn’t known how much I had missed them until I started reading them again.

So this year Asterix is celebrating 50 years of being in print. Rene Goscinny, the writer, passed away in 1977 but his partner Albert Uderzo, the artist, is still producing the comics. France had a big celebration for the anniversary of these beloved characters.

If you haven’t read any Asterix, I recommend them if you have a love of bad puns, seeing Romans get thumped, and a really screwy look at history.

Quick Question: Have you read Asterix or seen any of the films?

Sesame Street turns 40

OK Everyone Sing Along!

Sunny Day
Sweepin' the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame Street

Come and play
Everything's A-OK
Friendly neighbors there
That's where we meet

Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street

It's a magic carpet ride
Every door will open wide
To Happy people like you--
Happy people like
What a beautiful

Sunny Day
Sweepin' the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame street...
How to get to Sesame Street
How to get to...

Sesame Street shaped my life (according to some it warped my life). I was 6 when it came on but I watched it with my preschool brother Sean and then with my other siblings Sheila and Patrick. And after they were too old for it, we kept watching it. I watched it through college and only fell out of the habit in graduate school. I picked it back up after Caroline was born.

Sesame Street was part of our daily lives. Lines from the show were standard phrases around our house. Sketches were repeated ad nauseam. And we did learned things from it both as children and adults.

The magic for me has been and always will be the Muppets. The first time I saw Big Bird, Oscar, Grover, Kermit, and Cookie Monster, I fell hopelessly in love with them. I have always had a special place in my heart for lovable, furry, ol’ Grover, the ever optimist trying to make the world a better place and not always succeeding in his endeavors. I so relate to that character. A close second is Kermit with Oscar not too far behind.

Part of the reason I am a puppeteer is because of that TV show 40 years ago which showed me new possibilities with puppets. There are two generations of people who grew up on Sesame Street. The third generation is just starting and are the grandchildren of the people who first started watching it. It is an institution of education that continues to amuse and amaze us.

Quick Question: Who’s your favorite Sesame Street Character?

Wallace and Gromit turn 20

My first encounter with Wallace and Gromit was part of an Animation festival that was running at the movie theater I use to work at in Atlanta. It was part of the series called “The International Festival of Animation” that was shown at various theaters. That festival introduced me to a lot of filmmakers that I follow to this day. I saw “Vincent” by Tim Burton which was narrated by Vincent Price. I saw my first Plimptoons there. I discovered the work of various European and Canadian artists.

There was something so “nice” about Wallace and Gromit. The animation was not perfect but it didn’t need to be. I was so glad to see a couple of years later another short featuring the two. After that I kept an eye out for Wallace and Gromit and knew I was going to be in for a good time.

When Peter and I got together, I found out that he and his girls loved Wallace and Gromit was much as I did. I was in cheesy heaven when “Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Wererabbit” was released. I enjoy Shawn the Sheep and just about every thing that Aardman has done. Recently we got the new collection of Wallace and Gromit shorts including the newest one “A Matter of Loaf and Death.”

Quick Question: So what’s your favorite Aardman character?



I hope you have enjoyed my entry this week and will give me your vote when the time comes

Comments

[stormkitty.livejournal.com]

Really great entry!

I've not read any of the Asterix books. Favorite Sesame Street character was Grover followed by Oscar. And I loved "Walter and Gromit: Curse of the Wererabbit". I think it was my first one I'd seen. :)

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

There is a Box set that came out recently of the shorts that have been done over the years for Wallace and Gromit. Shawn the Sheep is pretty doggone funny too.

[readinggeek451]

Asterix was the about the only "graphic novels" I've ever liked. Thank you for introducing me to them!

Kermit is my favorite muppet, forever and always. From Sesame Street, I always had a soft spot for Oscar the Grouch.

I like Sean the Sheep, because of his name, if nothing else.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

The other GN we had was Tintin which was much more Sean's thing than mine.

I always liked Kermit as a reporter with the little trenchcoat, hat, and microphone.

[readinggeek451]

I liked Tintin in the paper every day; I don't remember if ever read any in book form.

[lovewas.livejournal.com]

Quick Question: Who’s your favorite Sesame Street Character?

The Count. Ah ha ha!

Quick Question: So what’s your favorite Aardman character?

The turtle from Creature Comforts.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

There is a blooper that I have seen once that was between the Count and the Countess that goes into some really weird places. But the Count did teach my youngest brother how to count. We just had to convince him that he didn't need to laugh when he was done.

[shadowwolf13]

Awesome! :)

I've never read those books but now I'll have to look for them. I don't know that I have a favorite character from Sesame Street ... I love them all so much. I was in shock to find out that Miss Kid had never seen any of them. I've never seen Wallace and Gromit, I need to fix that.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

There is a new box set of all the shorts of Wallace and Gromit that came out recently. It is currently the only way to get "A Matter of Loaf and Death."

[shadowwolf13]

Oh! Interesting! :) Thank you! :)

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

Have I read Asterix? Yes, many volumes about it, courtesy of a former boyfriend. One of the few fond memories I have of that relationship!

Who's my favorite Sesame Street character? Super Grover!

What's my favorite Aardman character? That terrifying penguin

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Ah Feathers McGraw in "A Close Shave". He is pretty scary.

Super Grover! I love Super Grover too.

Asterix is one of those gems that I wished more Americans knew about.

[tamaraland.livejournal.com]

Great entry.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much

[comedychick.livejournal.com]

My brother is a huge Asterix fan, so I've seen some of the films because of him.

Favourite Sesame St character is maybe Telly or Snuffy. But Grover and Cookie Monster are also big favourites, as well as Oscar. Argh! I don't even know if I have a favourite really...

And definitely Gromit.

I liked how you asked us a question at the end of each section :)

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

I though asking a question might keep the reader engaged since this one was a rather long one.

[rattsu.livejournal.com]

I am a lifelong Asterix fan, well, being a sweden and all. I think that those books kindled my love for history and language, and my love affair with those very wild boars...

Glad you brought these things back up!

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

I had boar or a version there of last time I was in France. It reminded me of deer in terms of texture but a bit stronger in taste.

It is always nice to find another fan of Asterix out there.

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

I have not see/read 2 out of your 3 examples here. But Sesame St. Oh! I suppose my favorite character is Cookie Monster (C is for Cookie). But I absolutely want to make soup out of Big Bird. He has always totally annoyed me! hahahahah.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Big Bird is suppose to be the POV character for the preschoolers because he is their age (4). Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

The other two I wouldn't have known about if it weren't for friends of the family who introduced us to Asterix and I hadn't been working at the movie theater.

[kiwiria.livejournal.com]

I grew up on Asterix, Tintin and Lucky Luke :-)

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

I had totally forgotten Lucky Luke. I read those too along with Tintin. I'm going to have to see if my parents still have those next time I visit them.

[rejeneration.livejournal.com]

Now I will have C is for Cookie stuck in my head the whole day! -grin-

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

that's good enough for me *grin*

Thanks for reading

[http://users.livejournal.com/____hejira/]

I loved Cookie Monster, but they've ruined my childhood and made him green and eat veggies...not a fan.
Myn favorite is Kermit, (I am an unabashed Kermit fangirl), but Grover is a close second.

Runaway Bird is still one of my favorite movies...yes I just admited that.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

I understand why they did what they did but I totally don't agree or support it.

He was a big goofy monster that ate cookies. It was silly and would still be silly if they had left it alone.

Sometimes these sorts of changes just burn my biscuits.

[joeymichaels.livejournal.com]

I've read Asterix before - I used to have a thing for Asterix and Tin Tin - but I haven't read any for year.

My wife loves Cookie Monster, and I like him too, but Grover is my favorite.

I love, love, love the penguin in "The Wrong Trousers."

[onda-bianca.livejournal.com]

I loved Sesame Street...Oscar was my favorite. :)

[sherriola.livejournal.com]

That was fun! my younger sister learned to read watching sesame street! We too had to sing the songs with her and my youngest brother. his claim to fame was singing Rubber ducky. i can still sing many of those songs, from all the mornings listening to it with the little ones and from the album of the songs. I guess my favorite character is Oscar, because I love cats, and he's hilarious!

[theafaye.livejournal.com]

*groans* After all these years and it takes your entry for it to suddenly click to the "Getafix" reference. Doh! Absolutely loved the books when I was a child but I couldn't tell you which was my favourite.

As for Sesame Street, Mr Snuffalupagus was always cool.

Not a huge Aardman fan though. I'll enjoy anything of theirs if it's on, but I won't go out of my way to watch it.

[crimsonplum.livejournal.com]

I ADORE Gromit! He's just so brilliant and resourceful. I love that he's a knitter, and I love his eye rolls when Wallace gets another hare-brained idea.

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

I adore Sesame Street. It's really hard to pick a favorite character. It's a toss up between Ernie who probably wins, and Grover.

[majesticarky.livejournal.com]

I've heard of Asterix due to French class and from my tour guide in France. it seems really silly, especially considering that the Gauls were the heros in the story when the Romans contributed so much more to French society. A lot of French who really look at it find that so ironic.

I was listening to an NPR special about the 40th anniversary of Sesame St. It was great listeing to the Frank Oz interview. I really learned a lot. For some reason, I never realized Jim Henson started it. I guess because I watched it well after he died. It's great that Sesame St. still thrives after all this time. I actually don't have a favorite character. I like the less popular ones, and I think it's great you like Grover so much! I like Count von Cont and Cookie Monster. C IS FOR COOKIE AND COOKIE IS FOR ME! Hee : ).

As for Wallace and Grommit, really don't care for it. Sorry! I really enjoyed your post, though. So many great anniversaries of media that has affected children of all generations! I was watching some Looney Toons today, and while I've never really cared for that either, I couldn't believe how long it's been around. So great that they continue to make a huge impression on new generations, and I hope they will for years to come!

[mstrobel.livejournal.com]

Aww, this was so much fun to read! :D

[walkertxkitty.livejournal.com]

I never learned to like "Wallace and Gromit" but I grew up on the other two. Asterix was actually shown in some of my history courses because the information in the films were at least partially based on history and could spawn discussion. Later, when I became pagan, they were standard fare at most of our gatherings because they were fun and we could identify.

I learned to read and count through Sesame Street, like many others in my generation. I remember when you didn't have to censor some of the things which are on the 'naughty' videos, like milking a cow and where a baby cow comes from in the first place. The world's a poorer place for that sort of clean-up.

[poppetawoppet.livejournal.com]

I remember when Mr. Hooper died. It was one of the most sad and powerful things I have ever seen on television, and why Sesame Street will always be my favorite.

[soundscool1.livejournal.com]

Revisiting the comics from your childhood is always fun. Thanks for sharing :)

[being-fulfilled.livejournal.com]

Asterix: My family was on a trip to Paris several years ago, and we decided to go to Parc Asterix, rather than EuroDisney, because everyone in the family had been to some Disney theme park or another, and because my brother, who was in his early teens at the time, enjoyed the Asterix books.

It wasn't until sometime toward the end of the day that my sister (19 at the time) piped up with, "You know, I've never been to a Disney park." It took her another 5 years to get to one--when she came to visit me in L.A. last spring, we made sure to spend the day at Disneyland, and we still tease her about being forgotten like that.

Sesame Street: I grew up with Canadian Sesame Street, and it's how I learned to count to 16 in French. For whatever reason, that's as high as I learned to count until I actually took French classes in middle school.

Wallace and Gromit: I had a junior high teacher who would bring them in on slow days, reward days, or the last day before vacation. And yes, I saw Curse of the Wererabbit in the theatre.

Great trip down memory lane!