Clay/Ani-mated films.

18AD

I'm looking for some cool animated or claymated movies. Preferably something thought provoking, down-right weird, visually stimulating or a mix.

So far some things I've enjoyed are:
The Animatrix
Fantastic Planet
Heavy Metal
The Adventures of Mark Twain
DJ Q-Bert's Wave Twisters
Spirited Away

Anything by Bruce Bickford, although I'm finding these hard to locate.

On my to-watch list:
Fire and Ice
Interstella 5555
Wizards

Any recommendations much appreciated.

Cheers.
AD.

aidan_walsh

More, an Oscar nominated short by Mark Osbourne.

monkeyfudge

Comet Quest or The Adventures of Mark Twain is outstanding.

I always thought the standard of animation in that went above and beyond anything Aardman ever did as the entire sets were made out of clay as well.

Was it ever released on DVD? I got a VHS copy off eBay a few years back.

Fire and Ice is excellent... the over the top skimpy out fits are pretty funny. Wizzards is okay, but it's a little slow moving. Great concept to it though.

Another great one I tracked down was Starchaser: The Legend of Orin, it was one I used to rent all the time as a kid. It's pretty much a Star Wars rip off, but it has some great animation in it and is a lot of fun.

EDIT: Trailer for Starchaser:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=masIAvbP2fA

And if you liked Spirited Away you should definitively get your hands on all the other Studio Ghibli films... they're pretty much all excellent. And the films by Satoshi Kon are great too.

Also, a more recent US animation called Titan AE was pretty good, but really didn't do very well in the cinema, same goes for the Iron Giant which is a fantastic film.

Lemming

18AD wrote: »

I'm looking for some cool animated or claymated movies. Preferably something thought provoking, down-right weird, visually stimulating or a mix.

...

Any recommendations much appreciated.

Just about anything by Studio Gibhli, although ones off the top of my head:

• Spirited Away (which you've seen
• Grave of the Fireflies
• Laputa - Castle in the Sky
• Princess Mononoke
• Howl's Moving Castle

On a manga front: Patlabor is good without getting into the realms of the more .. ah .. psychadelic manga films (not that there's anything particularly bad about them).

I haven't seen much of it yet, but the newly released Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles has gorgeous visuals. As does Steamboy, if the story isn't quite up to par with Akira (same director) in terms of being groundbreaking. Titan AE is also worth a look-in on the visual front, and the storyline isn't half bad either.

Karl Hungus

As mentioned, all the Studio Ghibli films. You simply can't beat them.

Anything by Satoshi Kon would be right up your alley if you're after thought provoking and wierd.

cosgrove80

Neither claymation or animation but Dark Crystal is a bit of Jim Henson puppetry greatness

18AD

monkeyfudge wrote: »

Was it ever released on DVD? I got a VHS copy off eBay a few years back.

I'm not sure. Google seems to yield a lot of bootleg DVD results.
Are the comet scenes done with clay at the end? I couldn't really tell if there was a bit of animation in there or not

Lemming wrote:

On a manga front: Patlabor is good without getting into the realms of the more .. ah .. psychadelic manga films (not that there's anything particularly bad about them).

I have no qualms with psychedelic creations. Anything specific in mind? I'm not too familiar with manga. I have the obligatory Akira and Ghost in the Shell. Love them both.

Excellent feedback
This thread will have me busy for a long while.

All the best.
AD.

Galvasean

Clay you say?
Clash of the Titans

50 Percent Grey.

Brilliant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9wa6HGo9Ps

Another I came across randomly; moongirl

Lemming

cosgrove80 wrote: »

Neither claymation or animation but Dark Crystal is a bit of Jim Henson puppetry greatness

How the hell did I forget that one? +1

Not to mention just about anything Wallce & Grommit related

Lemming

18AD wrote: »

I have no qualms with psychedelic creations. Anything specific in mind? I'm not too familiar with manga. I have the obligatory Akira and Ghost in the Shell. Love them both.

Hmmm

Wicked City (not particularly parent friendly)
Urotsukidoji - Legend of the overfiend series (warning, really NOT parent friendly)
Appleseed

monkeyfudge

The sequel "The Power of the Dark Crystal" is due for release next year. Sounds like it could be pretty cool.

I did enjoy the recent Mirrormask film the Jim Henson Company made.

BlitzKrieg

damn it fudge

I went back to the old disney thread cause i remembered you posted some fantastic videos

but the one with the fantastic theme song is gone

Lensman

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055055738&highlight=fire&page=2

monkeyfudge

Oh yes. Amazing that it was never released on DVD.

A search of youtube shows the whole film is up there... but eh.. in Greek.

I should have an old VHS copy lying about somewhere though.

johnny_ultimate

Just watched My Neighbours the Yamadas last night - perfect if you want something offbeat / visually stimulating. Most Ghibli is great though.

Also second Satoshi Kon recommendations. One of the most interesting animators around today.

Belleville Rendez Vous is also a terrific French animated film, with a truly unique and refreshing artstyle.

slave1

erm, Nightmare before Xmas......and Titan AE is on tonight or sometime over the weekend, forget what channel