Featuring
The Talents Of Debra Winger, Emo Philips, and Lloyd Kaufman
Animator/Director:
Bill Plympton
Feature
length: 90 minutes
Extras:
Special Introduction With Bill Plympton and Lloyd Kaufman, Creator Of The Toxic
Avenger, Rare Plympton Footage, Commentary Tracks With Bill Plympton,
Featurettes, Trailers
Languages:
English Stereo
Subtitles:
N/A
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 20
Sound:
Stereo Sound
Year
of DVD Release: 2002
Home
Video Distributor: IndieDVD
MPAA
Rating: Not rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
There
is a new kid on the block and the name is “IndieDVD.” IndieDVD is a group of
independent filmmakers who banded together to form a company devoted to
releasing the best independently produced films to mainstream home video.
“Independent Film” means that a filmmaker has invested his or her own money
or borrowed money to make a film. If the film fails to get purchased by a major
studio, it tends to disappear into obscurity (or the filmmaker’s basement).
IndieDVD strives to spotlight quality independent film and share the profits
directly with the filmmaker.
IndieDVD
will be releasing “Plymptoons: The
Classic Works Of Bill Plympton: Special Edition” to DVD-Video in less than two
weeks. Bill Plympton is one of the most acclaimed independent animators of his
generation. Mr. Plympton was nominated for an Oscar® for Best Animated Short
Film in 1987 with “Your Face,” which is included among the compilation of
animated shorts on this DVD. His work has appeared in magazines and periodicals
as diverse as “National Lampoon” and “Playboy” and has inspired much of
his animated work, which has appeared as interstitials on MTV as well as
commercial endorsements featuring the voices of Emo Philips and Debra Winger.
His first feature film “The Tune” is widely considered among the all time
classic independently produced animated films and his new film “Mutant
Aliens” is currently experiencing its theatrical run across the country.
There
is a reason why Matt Groening, the creator of “The Simpsons,” proclaimed
“Proof that Bill Plympton is God… or that he sold his soul, I’m not sure,
one or the other” and that is because Plympton combines a level of provocative
humor mixed with his distinct observation of the human condition as can be seen
with shorts included on this DVD like “One Of Those Days” or “25 Ways To
Quit Smoking.” Chances are you have seen a sample of his work at one time or
another. His commitment and passion for his art is only matched by his sense of
humor and down to Earth nature, which can be seen in the 20 “Plymptoons”
included on this DVD that can viewed individually or collectively as one
62-minute reel. The extra features make up for an additional 28-minutes or so
worth of added value material. The shorts with their running times as detailed
on the DVD are:
Self
Portrait (:15)
The
Turn On (2:00)
Lucas,
“The Ear Of Corn (4:00)
Boomtown
(6:00)
Drawing
Lesson # 2 (6:00)
Your
Face (3:10)
Love
In The Fast Lane (3:00)
One
Of Those Days (7:50)
How
To Kiss (6:35)
25
Ways To Quit Smoking (5:00)
245
Days (4:24)
Noodle
Ear (:15)
Human
Rights (:20)
Environmental:
Acid Rain (:20)
Trivial
Pursuit (:20)
Sugar
Delight (:30)
Sugar
Delight (:30)
Previous
Lives (:15)
Previous
Lives (15)
Plymptoons
(6:45)
The
shorts run the gambit from as early as 1968 to 1992 and are presented in the
(1.33:1) aspect ratio in which they were shot and presented. Due in part to the
age of some of the materials as well as missing negatives, the earlier shorts do
contain scratches and artifacts while the newer ones appear a bit soft though
they are clean. The shorts are presented with English Stereo Sound though most
of the shorts have little to no dialogue because the humor is visual and
therefore quite universal. Bill
Plympton provides commentary for all 20 shorts though not every commentary track
per short is the length of the actual film, but since the “Plymptoons”
occupy one scene selection apiece, they are easy to skip over to the next
commentary or select to view as a whole just like the feature. Mr. Plympton is
very articulate and candid about the various animated shorts, which make the
release valuable, even as an educational resource for aspiring filmmakers.
Extra
features include a videotaped introduction with non other than Lloyd Kaufman of
Troma Entertainment, which gives viewers a behind the scenes look at
Plympton’s studio including a look at the poster art for his latest feature
film “Mutant Aliens.” There is a collection of rare films featuring Bill
Plympton and his work with an interview conducted by Al Goldstein of “Screw”
and there are some rare behind-the-scenes filmed shorts as well as a videotaped
look at Plympton creating a character on paper and a gallery of his work too.
Compilation trailers for titles available on DVD-Video from IndieDVD and Troma
Films wrap up the extra features included on this DVD. The menus were animated
by Plympton himself and are easy to navigate.
The insert within the keep case folds out into a poster of art from
Plympton’s Academy Award® nominated short “Your Face.”
A
fellow resident of New York City, I interviewed Mr.
Plympton, which you can
access by clicking here. “Plymptoons:
The Classic Works Of Bill Plympton: Special Edition” will debut on DVD-Video
from IndieDVD on Tuesday, July 23, 2002 and can be preordered now at retailers
on and offline.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.