On April 20th, we have another bad news.
director Gene Deitch passed away at the age of 95.
Speaking of his name, few people may know it, but when it comes to the works of his director, it is estimated that everyone in China and the United States and even the world will know it- "Cat and Mouse".
do you know? The two friends who are still active on the Internet, Tom and Jerry, who are on TV and on the big screen, are already 80 years old.
After years of precipitation, this animation has never lost its light. The Douban score of
"Cat and Mouse" is still as high as 9.7.
This cartoon can be called an animation evergreen tree. From the 1940s to the present, it has accompanied more than three generations of childhood—post-80s, post-90s, post-00s and even post-tenths. Still watching "Cat and Mouse" ".
, but we have to accept their director's death.
This makes many animation lovers, especially fans of "Cat and Mouse" sad.
Jean Deitch was responsible for the supervision of 13 parts of "Cat and Mouse" and was also the director of the first season of "Popeye" animation. Although
is a behind-the-scenes worker and is not as famous as Hayao Miyazaki's masters, Gene Deitch dedicated his life to the animation industry.
On August 8, 1924, Dai Qi was born in Chicago. By coincidence, they moved to California, and Dai Qi also started school in Hollywood.
In 1942, Dai Qi started his artistic career after graduating from high school. He first drew blueprints for North American Airlines, and then was hired by CBS Radio Station as an artistic assistant.
During this period, illustration was his main business, and illustration attracted the attention of United Production Corporation of America (UPA). Soon, Dyche jumped to this company and became one of the most recognized animation television commercial producers in the United States.
In August of the same year, he established his own studio. The first project of the studio was a blockbuster-the animation "Munro" was a huge success, winning him the 1961 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. After
, the studio's output was amazing, and De Qi also directed hundreds of animated films in decades. The most famous of
is from 1960 to 1963, he and Rembrandt co-directed "Popeye" and from 1961 to 1962 was responsible for the 13 animation "cat and mouse" supervision work.
Ever since I was little, I always thought "Cat and Mouse" was just a comic cartoon of jokes.
grew up slowly and realized that it is not simple.
is an animation with only 7 minutes per episode and almost 0 lines. Between 1940 and 1953, it lightly won 7 Oscars.
Why? First of all,
because of its ingenious production. The producer of
"Cat and Mouse" is MGM. Since there is no dialogue, the promotion and development of the whole plot rely largely on background music and physical movements.
smiles, every move must be drawn. Under Dai Qi's supervision, the amount of paintings in "Cat and Mouse" is amazing.
Because the production process is hand-painted frame by frame, only the play of TOM playing the piano,
requires about 15,000 intermediate paintings.
In order to draw the most vivid expressions, the animator Irv Spence drew the expressions while facing the mirror.
sometimes discuss actions, and screenwriters get excited and imitate directly.
Because of this production, every scene, every shot and every detail of "Cat and Mouse" can stand scrutiny.
For example: the layout and structure of Jerry and Taifei's residence, small table lamp, their names on the bed, small rug, bed made of cans, chair made of tea cup.
For example: the ups and downs of Tom's body when he sleeps.
Another example: shaping the horror atmosphere of New York street corners.
Secondly, "Cat and Mouse" is the ultimate control of music. According to statistics from netizens, "Cat and Mouse" contains a lot of world-class classic music. There are more than 50 classical music, including Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Rossini, Mendelssohn, Works by many musicians including Bizet.
For example: John Strauss' "Blue Danube", Chopin's "Great Waltz", Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" ……
And we mentioned the scene of Tom playing the piano before, there are netizens who are professional in music. Discovered an amazing secret: when Tom and Jerry play the piano, every note corresponds exactly to the keys of the original song.
Tom played the famous song Liszt "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" , that is to say, every keystroke is drawn carefully.
put these actions in real life and you can play this song!
is precisely because of this production method, only one episode per year. The longest production cycle of
"Cat and Mouse" is 18 months.
is probably the best way to interpret "ingenuity" in the world.
Finally, in addition to production, "Cat and Mouse" has many "unsuitable for children" in the story.
Don't look at its positioning as a children's animation, revealing the "low and young" inside, full of teasing about the adult world.
About love , "The Melancholy Cat" This episode is a pioneering tragedy of love licking dogs.
On the way to courtship, the humble Tom doesn't know what dignity is, and is played with wanton.
He gave a flower,
love rivals gave a bunch.
He gave a bottle of perfume.
The rival sent a car.
He spent everything he bought to buy a diamond ring,
was almost blinded by the love rival's diamond ring.
signed a "twelve years as a slave", only to buy a car for her.
can still be ruthlessly crushed by rivals.
Finally, with Tom's side is his mortal enemy Jerry. The two men who were heartbroken by love almost chose to commit suicide together.
Regarding history , "Cat and Mouse" stripped out the invasion and massacre of Native Indians by British colonists.
look at Jerry's dress in this episode,
look at the British army in the 19th century.
Look at Tom's dress.
Look at the Indians again.
There is also a "peace agreement" between cats, mice and dogs.
The relationship was sweet at first. If
violates one's own interests, the agreement will be immediately torn up, and the brothers will turn against each other.
Isn't this the most accurate interpretation of "no permanent enemies, no permanent friends, only permanent interests"?
There are many more details like this in "Cat and Mouse".
and some netizens said, why can't Tom never catch Jerry? Because Tom actually loves Jerry deeply. (Could it be that the more I like you, the more I want to tease you?)
From childhood to adulthood, watching "Cat and Mouse" is really suitable for all ages and both taste and popularity.
It uses the easiest way, with the most brainstorming plot, to talk about reality, dreams, utopia and even philosophy.
No matter what we look like, look at "Cat and Mouse", and maybe we can find our own shadow.
This is the contribution of Mr. Jean Deitch to us, and it is also the most precious wealth left by him throughout his life.
As netizens said: Thank you for giving us our childhood.
Tomato Jun also wants to say: Thank you for letting us know the cruelty of this world in the most witty way. Mr.
, go well.
(Film Rotten Tomatoes Editorial Department: Yangyang)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-