Ronnie's Thinking Den

Now where was I? Oh yes; Barcelona.

2009-07-13T01:44:00.000-07:00

My little corner of the web and here I've let it rot. Decaying into naught but a Google Search engine result for my name. No more!

Well hopefully not. No promises. But I've got some interesting thoughts, and they're not doing much good in my head. Besides, anything representing my name ought to be hot.

It's been a good Year and a half-ish since I left this blog in the dust. I've done some good things, lost a good chunk of weight. Nearly finished with my Community College diploma. I'm a new man in a lot of ways.

As a new man, I'm entering a universe of new adventures and ideas. You can tag along if you like=)

By the way, new theme. Easier to read. You like? Not sure I'm partial to the color, but it might grow on me.

Modern Music

2008-03-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hey people!

So I've decided to pay a bit more attention to that crazy new music Kids listen to.

Hey, don't look at me like that! I need something to talk about that isn't related to animation or deep philosophy. Even old movies don't speak to anyone these days(Do you know how many people HAVEN'T seen Casablanca?!).

So yes, knowing more about our modern music culture might be a good idea. Granted, I know some music theory and I'll be picking nits often but whatever. On to the study.

So I decided to listen to the first artist I found on this MTV blog I was looking at and ran into Rihanna.
Not bad eh? Dolled up and photoshopped all to hell, but whatever. The music is what matters so on to that!

I decided to look up her apparent break-through hit "Pon De Replay"

Now actually, I kind of like this. I can't say I'd go out of my way to buy it, but I can see why it caught on. It has a nice bounce to it and some catchy lyrics("let the bass from the speakers run through your sneakers" is a pretty fun line). Nothing pretentious about it, just fun and jumpy music you could dance to. I'd probably keep it on for a few seconds if I were browsing though stations on the radio and I imagine that's why it's successful.

So then I moved on to see a more recent to song to see how she progressed since her 2005 hit. I landed on the song "Don't Stop the Music"

Yawn. As generic a song as the title given to it. It's fair dancing music but the weak lyrics are hard to ignore. It's more shallow than the song above and there's just no fun to this. Oh, and by the way, "feel me" and "ceiling" don't rhyme.

Aren't artists supposed to improve their craft over time? Isn't that what we all strive for?

I'd lost interest by this point but another song had started so I gave it a listen. The song called "S.O.S."(ironic...)

The hell? This is Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" with shitty lyrics! And Soft Cell wasn't even the first to preform "Tainted Love". It was sung first by Gloria Jones in 1964. Give it a listen:

Sow see... that's how you sing a song. With inflection and sincerity. To give another example, here's a Frank Sinatra clip.

Now see I find these vastly more entertaining to listen to than most new artists. There's an honesty about them... some heart.

That's what would bother me most about this Rihanna and many other artists of our age: Very little honesty in their performances. It all feels so... superficial

I always wonder... who will we point to and say "That music defined our generation".

Don't get me wrong, I like some modern music... There are exceptions! In fact I'm always trying to introduce my Mom-who is a super picky music major- to some modern stuff. There are advancements made even in our remix-heavy society. I'm not all "Kids suck because they don't know the Beatles"... I'm more "Kids suck because the Beatles are often the extent of their classic music knowledge".

They made a huge impact for sure, but they aren't the be-all and end-all of our music history. I love most of their work, but I'll admit Beatles tunes are quite simple(and while their voices fit their music... whether they were singers or not... that's debatable). Sometimes, even with classic singers who knew how to do it up right, I've gotta rock the Beethoven every now and then.

I DO NOT EXPECT YOU TO LISTEN TO ALL OF THIS

I totally understand if you can't get into it. It's much less accessible than any of the shorter things I've posted. If you can though, please close your eyes and give it a short listen. Take note of how the theme is played with in various ways. A classically composed piece takes on an entirely different form than the shorter pop songs. While pop songs tend to convey just one emotion, symphonies explore a broad spectrum in just one piece. These are the roots or modern music as we know it today. Anyway, that's why these pieces are as welcome on my play list as ABBA's "Dancing Queen".

I'm sure I seem overly pretentious in my music tastes, but really I listen to all sorts. I mean, you're talking to a man who likes this:

and tries to say he knows good music!

I realize it's far from fantastic artistically, but it's catchy as all get out. I like it in some form. I can't call it bad.

Music in it's purest form is a collection of sounds that evokes a feeling. The general populace hears the same songs played and there's a sort of unity we gain from doing so. Even if I don't like all of the stuff being played, I want to get in on this feeling and feel a bit more attached to my own generation... and it's as simple as turning on the radio.

Who knows? I may find even more music that I like=)

AND YES there will be art next post okay?

BACK LIKE JACK... or something

2008-02-18T19:31:00.000-08:00

Just because you deserve something nice

2007-09-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

Wow talk about something needing Freudian analysis. I mean it's not even the subtext we're talking about... it's the text! I'll just let you guys have at it.

Wonderful little animated short. Very fluid, and very cartoony. I think this Patrick Smith guy used to work on "Doug" or something... I'll have to look it up.

I'm gonna try to update this thing every other day though not all posts will be elaborate. Keep checking back! I'll keep you entertained.

Til next time!

I Love Disney! The Three Cabelleros

2007-09-11T05:19:00.001-07:00

It's becoming sort of the popular thing to dislike Disney. Many see fit to mock the Disney's wholesome image... sometimes because they want to be "the cool kid". But others, like John K., are making valid artistic analysis and making people see that maybe some of the things we love aren't as good as we thought they were(I know I can't watch The Little Mermaid anymore without seeing various construction errors and thinking of how much cooler it would be if they had more extreme emotions). I see all the points being made... I can understand them... but I can't join in the total denouncing of Disney animation.

Did Disney's domination make other studios excellent and more cartoony work get overlooked? Yes. Did Disney have a limiting system to work under? Somewhat, depending on who you ask. Did Disney's notion for keeping characters "on-model" and not going to extremes keep some of the best animators in history from making more distinct works and getting further recognition for their talents? It's quite possible.

So why would I defend a company that seems to limit artists so much?

For God's sake just look at the artists work they produced under these "limitations"!

The motion! The colors! The music! The timing! The fun cartoon gags! The unadulterated skill seen in this short leaves me in awe. Above all things, the Disney crew DID know how to entertain. Watch Donald and Jose dance and tell me you don't feel absolutely overjoyed to be alive! Sure there are definitely some bland things about it(mostly generic expressions more than anything), but it's still so entertaining. I contest that there is a "Disney Magic" and this clip embodies it.

This and many other Disney animations have made so many people happy. How can one hate them for that? Do you people not have souls?

Yes, I'll agree that limitations upon artists are NEVER a good thing. It's true that the Warner Bros. and Fliesher Bros. studios did more to show what cartoons can do that other mediums can't. I love Bob Clampett cartoons more than anything. The artist in me would love to see more specific expressions... more distinctive characters... but there is so much to enjoy already, I just can't bring myself to hate them.

Other than that I just want to swear in The Three Cabelleros/Blame it on the Samba as my favorite pieces of Disney animation.

Of all the Disney stuff, this had some of the most character. Granted, they had latin american culture to fall back on from the start, but I say they did quite a lot with it. The music is wonderful and catchy, lots of surreal colors and gags... it's just so much fun! I must have watched this thing like 50 times when I was I kid.

Wow look at this! This is way more trippy than most of Disney's work... I'm somewhat surprised it got by. Mind you it's not quite as characteristic as like say the Flieshers' animation, but it's really cool in it's own right. The colors are just wonderful. So many shades and hues...

Take note that Disney's no stranger to surreal. I mean just give Pink Elephants on Parade a look-see!

I'm told this still gives some people nightmares. I just thought it was awesome. Crazy as all get out. I mean come on, Dumbo was freakin' drunk and woke up on a tree limb!

But anyway I find The Three Cabelleros to be a fantastic piece of work despite Disney's stated limitations. I see something new every time I watch(and hear something new everytime I listen!).

Y'know it seems Disney dabbled in latin american culture quite a bit. Quick! Can anyone find me a video of that cartoon where Donald is in Mexico serenading Daisy with a Spanish guitar? I'll love you forever if you can find it.

There's your bit to chew on for today. 'Til next time!

Oh and check out this awesome new animation you can see at the end of Disney World's "Gran Fiesta" ride!

If I had to guess I'd say Eric Goldberg(lead animator on Genie in Aladdin) animated this stuff. It's definitely Disney at the core but has that urban Warner Bros. feel that Goldberg has openly stated he prefers. You know he's apparently going to be heading up the new series of theatrical shorts Disney Studios is working on. If this short clip is any indication of the quality we'll be seeing I'd say that's good news!

Akira Toriyama Part 1: Dragon Ball

2007-09-07T12:17:00.000-07:00

Sorry, been busy folks! I imagine you're looking at me the way little Krillin is the above picture so I'll be good and get to my writing.

AKIRA TORIYAMA

I'll be honest: I've always been a fan of Akira Toriyama's work. He gets a lot of flack for Dragon Ball Z and it's long drawn-out execution of somewhat shallow stories, but when you consider that even he was tired of making DBZ ("How much more powerful can I make these guys?!"-Akira Toriyama) I think you can cut him a little slack.

There were about 2 big anime series to speak of in the 90's before the boom of Pokemon and a million others, and those were Sailor Moon and Dragonball(and it's Z variation). Now I did see Sailor Moon first and while the unique anime things caught my eye.. it was far too feminine for me to really get into. I enjoyed it the way I enjoy watching Cinderella.. but less "Wow the animation is so beautiful and smooth" and more "Wow that animated chick is kinda hot".

ANYWHO then there was my first viewing of Dragonball. Not Z, the original Dragonball.

I remember where I was exactly. I must've been about 7... I was hanging out at my friend Eddie's house on a lazy Sunday. Coming fresh off a hot game of Co-op Bubble Bobble we decided to channel surf for some cartoons. A few clicks of the remote later we were greeted with a monkey boy on flaying around on a yellow cloud. Being used to American cartoons we were both a bit perplexed and kept it on the channel if only to figure out what the hell was going on.

Where Sailor Moon had failed to capture my interest, Dragonball captivated me. This anime was definitely masculine. It was cute to be sure, but there was a MANLY view of the world to be seen here. It was a bold style in color and design. Hell, Toriyama's women often don't even look all that feminine. ChiChi and Bulma's proportions are not exactly the perfect hourglass figures. Much like Olive Oyl of Popeye fame though, I find that to be part of their charm as animated characters. They're appealing characters and not at all ugly. (Also, does anyone else like the fact that almost all of Toriyama's girl characters are strong-willed and likable? I can't think of one that is a generic damsel in distress.)

And despite sharing some of the flaws inherent to most anime (conservatively even proportions , Pac-Man wakkawakka mouth movement, reused expressions) there was a fun cartoonyness to it all. I mean, the kid had a monkey tail! There were Dinosaurs running around! Perverted old men! Funny animals! The cities had interesting rounded shapes! There were kickass airships and robots and motorcycles and junk! The story premise was fairly simple and not overwrought with details. It screamed "fun"!

And did I mention how wonderful the colors are?! So warm and inviting without being kitsch. all the characters seem to belong in their environment and even though there are some abstract things(blue hair, bright green foxes ect) the colors aren't competing with one another for attention. Compare the above shot with this screencap from Family Guy.

EEEEEYYYYUUUCCKKK. I'm not gonna make this post about ripping Family Guy apart(many people have that arena covered) but that is horrid. It's physically painful to look at. It's like someone colored it with the MS Paint bucket tool. The colors are bold primaries that are all trying to grab your attention and it leaves you with no real focus. Not to mention the boring expressions, lack of construction, and mathematically even composition on display. This "art" should not be unleashed onto television.

If there's one thing anime is pretty consistent about, it's having good color theory. Composition is often pretty spot on too. I say that partly comes from the Disney influence in Japanese comics... but that's for another post!

Toriyama is one of the best in this regard and actually has a few high profile imitators such as Eiichiro Oda(One Piece) and Masashi Kishimoto(Naruto). "Imitator" is a bit harsh.. but they haven't denied that Toriyama was a huge influence on them. I'll admit, they do add their own special touches( especially Oda... his color work is absolutely lush!) .

But getting back to Dragonball... the original series was a fun adventure with a delightful sense of humor. It's no wonder it was so popular! Of course they wanted more so now we move on to...

Ah yes... dear beloved Dragonball Z. No longer a fun-time adventure story but a martial arts drama where greater power levels must be achieved at any cost. Much as Superman at some point veered away from his simple super-powered adventures on earth and began to explore his Kryptonian origins, Goku was visited by invaders from his hardly-talked-about home planet and was faced with some people that could match and even best him in power. Suddenly, just knowing Kamehameha wasn't such hot shit.

The tone got pretty serious and things got crazy sci-fi with aliens, space/time travel, bio-engineered villains, and much more. Things weren't quite as magical(beyond multiple death cheats). Goku wasn't a kid anymore.

Despite this intense stylistic change, I find myself with a particular fondness for Dragon Ball Z. I can't quite bring myself to hate it even though I understand why some people do.

Yes it was insanely long and drawn out. I think if they'd have shortened it by 100 episodes or so people wouldn't have been so offended by it's popularity and we would have a much tighter show on our hands. I think what made it all tolerable though is that there was an honesty about it... to me it feels as though the writers knew how over-the-top it was and never really took it all that seriously. The characters were pretty corny and stereotypical but I think the writers took note of that. Whatever cheesiness the show exuded I believe was intentional.

And you've gotta admit, there were just some cool character designs throughout the show. The kind that are so badass a young boy can't help but to love them. That's probably the biggest part of it's success. Toriyama has an apealling, distinctive art style that can also look cool. I preferred his old work that had more charm but I was eating up this cool stuff too.

The serious tone did get old, and Toriyama(bless his heart) did interject some more magic and comedy into the final Buu Saga, my personal favorite of the four. There was the fusion dance! Heavenly tournaments! More Hercule! The Great Sayiaman! Majin Buu was a magical creature... he turned people into Candy! What's not to love?

Dragon Ball Z ended and so did Toriyama's involvement. It should have all ended there but the sweet smell of money enticed another series.

Dragonball GT was made but the lack of the original creator's touch was evident. They just continued to build on the superficial aspects and the stories became more and more convulted and stupid. They tried hard.. dear lord did they try... but it just didn't work. The ratings declined. The series didn't last long.

But hey, despite all it's flaws I enjoy the Dragonball series as a whole(though I adore the original show). I'll definitely defend it, if only because Akira Toriyama rocks so hard.

Part 2 will focus on Toriyama's game artwork. Don't miss it!

On another note HOLY CRAP DBZ PEZ

A Look Through the Looking Glass

2007-09-01T00:50:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd post an essay I did for my last quarter's english class. The assignment was to read Through the Looking Glass and Alice in Wonderland and make an analysis of them(only rule being you couldn't use the old drug-use analysis!). Looking at this again, I think I could have really improved it. Very little of my personality shows through and the ending is VERY rushed... but I had very little time to write it! I like some of the things I wrote about though and figure maybe it'd make for some good discussion.

Check it out! I've even included some great pictures to make the text easier to read.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND/THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS-- ANALYSIS

Both books, on the surface would seem to be childish nonsense. Crying a river of tears? Playing croquet with flamingos? Eating teacups? Talking chess pieces? Pure unadulterated poppycock!

However, if one takes the time to look deeper, they’ll find a story of a young girl’s growth into a woman and gain an intense understanding of society.

At the start of Alice in Wonderland, you’ll find Alice with her older sister who is reading a strictly no-nonsense book lacking pictures and conversations. A right and proper thing for an English woman of the 1800s to do, but Alice, not having all the rules of society ingrained in her mind and still having some of that childhood innocence, found it to be a useless exercise. She began to daydream, as characterized by the white rabbit, and eventually fell into a deep sleep, as characterized by the fall into the rabbit hole.

When she finally reached the bottom of this fall (or finally reaching the deepest of sleeps and the real start of her dream) she was met with a hall full of doors. None of them but one would open with the single key she had found, but yet that one door was one she could not enter. This calls for Freudian interpretation.

I remember a Disney film by the name of “Donald in Mathmagicland” which used a similar format to explain a journey of discovery. There was a point near the end where Donald was met with a hall full of doors. Donald vivaciously explored many of them but eventually came to halt and found he could not open any more that lay further down the hall. The ominous narrator described these doors as “The Doors of the Future” that must be unlocked through the power of mathematics.

“Donald in Mathmagicland” obviously had some elements of “Alice in Wonderland” within it, so perhaps the doors in “Alice in Wonderland” are time-related as well. So if we take these locked doors again as “The Doors of the Future” we remember that Alice is still a young girl and has much to learn. She cannot access these doors until she ages. What do we do as we age? We reminisce. So consider that perhaps these doors don’t lead TO the future, but would in fact show us the past. Alice has access to one of these past doors. What past does Alice have? I thought of her as a girl of about 10 (she can’t be much older)… so she would only have her younger childhood to look back to. In most cases, our childhoods are bright, colorful and filled with memories of playing outside. So when she opens this door, she sees a beautiful garden that may represent the simple pleasures of her childhood.

Anyone would want to go back, right? But poor Alice can’t seem to get to the right size to fit through the door. As much as she eats and drinks she’s either too big or too small (can’t pick up the key) to get through. Frustrated, she cries so many tears that she literally makes an ocean!

If we continue to believe she is about 10 years old, one could see this as a metaphor for her transition from childhood in adolescence. Puberty is a confusing time, and almost everyone questions whom he or she is and why they are going through so much. To bring the door and garden back into view; one can look at their past, but can never go back to it. Considering how simple childhood is, I’m sure we’d all like to go back to it every now and again to escape the pressures of adult life. Granted, she’d need a couple more years to really feel the transition, but considering girls historically go through puberty sooner than boys I think the analogy is still sound.

She never gets through that door, but the sea of tears allowed her another path. Floating to an island she met the Mouse and a host of other creatures. Alice wished to hear his story but kept interrupting with constant questions and after a while tuned him out altogether. After a bout of confusion as to weather she wanted to hear the story of not, it was suggested they have a caucus race to get themselves dried off. They achieve this goal, but we still do not know the Mouse’s apparently epic tale. They decide there must be a winner, and decide that they all win and must all get prizes! Yet they demand that Alice should give out all the prizes, even to herself!

This confusing scene is where Alice is introduced to Wonderland’s rules. She quickly finds (but doesn’t quite yet understand) that this world is inherently nonsensical and questioning it will only bring about more confusion. Lewis Carroll was an inhabitant of England so I find it fair to look at this as an interpretation of the British political system. Now Britain has had a Parliament council where they gather into an open forum-style room where one person speaks and the rest are to listen but can interject at any time. The meeting of Alice and the other creatures mimics this system, though they are decidedly talking about nonsensical things. Nothing was really accomplished from the meeting or the race, so I feel that Carroll is mocking this system, deeming it broken and silly. And to think of how silly the conversations are here, think of a similar system where they are talking about serious issues and see if you don’t get a little worried about your government!

But the important thing here is Alice’s interaction with it and her assumed place within. She’s introduced to these rules and while the conversations seem silly and the system used possibly sillier, she’s not allowed to question it. Indeed, she’s nearly told to hold her tongue! I get a small inkling that this book is pointing out the sexism of society from this time as well. Women did not have a high place in the social standing in the 1800s and I think the way Alice is treated in this book reflects that. Alice is not given much chance to state her opinions, is not exactly welcomed anywhere she goes in Wonderland, and is also expected to give out prizes in light of this (much like how a Wife was expected to cook and bear children).

While I see this element in the book, I believe that Lewis Carroll’s message is that this kind of treatment is not acceptable. The biggest reason of all being one large element of Wonderland that largely reflected British society: They all bowed to a queen! Queen Victoria had a lot of clout at the time and pushed it anyway she could. Both in England and Wonderland, The King was present but had little say or standing in the decisions made of his Kingdom. How could a society that has put women as second-class citizens give so much power to a woman? Carroll seems to be pointing this out in a comical way.

And Carroll continues to mock the British political system by way of stating that as many times as the Queen gave a serious command (“Off with their Heads!”), they were almost never executed. This makes it clear that Carroll (and perhaps more in the British society) thought the Queen and the Royal hierarchy in general were already figureheads and had no real power or use.

Again, the importance is Alice’s interaction with this society and the fact that she is learning how it works. The social system within the book (and additionally Wonderland) is actually not that different from what’s in the real world she lives in. Wonderland is full of silly things because it is a dream world, but the way they handle their society is quite similar to the 1800s British society. By the end of Alice in Wonderland, Alice grows literally and figuratively. She realizes that she can overcome this silly society she has been presented with.

This theme is continued in Through the Looking Glass but instead of playing cards we’re given chess pieces. A good portion of the story takes place within the confines of the chessboard, showing how society has certain rules set and certain roles you are given. Alice is given the role of a pawn, but by the end of the book she reaches the end of the board and transcends this meager role to become a Queen. I believe this to symbolize the fact that despite all the odds, Alice will transcend her assumed role in society and become the person she wants to be.

So in short, this duo of books chronicles a girl’s philosophical journey to becoming an adult. Throughout the story she learns the rules of her society, her assumed role in it, and that she can transcend the role she is given.

And so that would be it. What did you think?

On a side note, Lewis Carrol's surreal books have inspired many stories haven't they? I'll have to make a post about that in the future.

Til' next time!

Skinny Legs Rock!

2007-08-30T16:59:00.000-07:00

I have some more elaborate posts I'm working on but Metroid Prime 3 is sorta taking up my time(FANTASTIC game). Here's a little eye candy to hold you over.

So there was this waitress... skinny but not anorexic. Her pants were hiked way up and she had these thin little legs. Now one would think I was making fun of her by focusing on this in the sketch... but on the contrary I think her skinny legs made her unique and beautiful! What do you think of it? I like how the perspective turned out and the hand is fun to look at. I may have to clean this one up and color it!

Not the greatest face drawing but I think I captured her laid back demeanor here. This chick was gorgeous! Wish I had had the courage to hit on her.

And just to celebrate Metroid...

Til' next time!

A Night at the Noodle Bar

2007-08-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

That handsome fellow would be me whilist slurping noodles. I spent last evening at the local Noodle Bar. What can I say? I like the food there. Something about ordering a giant bowl of chicken noodle soup(in spicy coconut milk with tomatos and cilantro and a lime for flavor) and drinking a full pot of smokey mango tea puts my soul at ease. It's so relaxing that I often stay there a while and do some sketching. I started to sketch some character things like normal...

.. but then I suddenly realized that the restaurant enviorment is perfect for finding a bunch of different faces and funny shapes. And so I started drawing random people...
Trying to find the funny shapes in their faces/heads...
Mind you, my expressions and eyes suck here, but the important thing here is that I'm trying to see the world through my own eyes instead of my favorite artists' styles.

I did many more, and most sucked, but there was one really funny guy that I just had to capture somehow. He was sitting at the head of the table across from me with his family. Had an awesome scowl on his face. A "No nonsense" kind of look. Seemed very much "The Dad". I failed drawing him well at first but I had to keep trying! Watch him progressively get funnier and more specific.

Not as funny as I wanted it to be, but I'm still pretty happy with what I ended up with. I got an interesting shape out of him. Expect more restaurant drawing sessions!

Fanart to get the comment train a-rollin'

2007-08-06T01:39:00.000-07:00

So yeah I'm pretty pumped for Smash Bros Brawl

RARG

Is link playing craps? Seriously, I don't know.

Fox's Brawl design has kinda grown on me.

So there is today's bit. Keep checking back!

Totally not a Theory Corner

2007-08-06T01:27:00.000-07:00

Hey all!

Gonna try this blog thing and see if I can keep it up. Here I'll post sketches, deep theoretical thoughts and things that just tickle my fancy. Hope you enjoy!

BTW if you're a friend of mine keep checking back... a sketch of you showing up is pretty likely!