Animaland

Rating:
Summary: one of my favorite animated DVDs!
Review: Animaland is an exceptionally clever and enjoyable collection of cartoon shorts, with the unique ability to keep the attention of both children and adults. David Hand and his production team did not simply mimic the style of Disney's cartoons, but tried to push the envelope, developing clever plots, strange characters, and sometimes surreal settings. Most of the shorts are fast-paced action stories, with minimal dialog. When the characters do speak, they often have British accents. Some of the shorts are introduced by an off-screen British narrator, who, parodying instructional nature films, gives "scientific" information about the lead animal. The original music is catchy, perfectly timed with the visuals, and provides good instrumental sound effects. The animation is sophisticated, as we'd expect from Hand's reputation as a key Disney animation director. My favorite is "The Ostrich" in which a male Ostrich steps into a two-dimensional Egyptian Hieroglyphic to pursue a female Ostrich. The vocal lyrics to that segment are hilarious, and the animation mesmerizing.

A few comments on the reviews below. Comparisons with Disney characters are misleading; Animaland characters have personalities of their own - often very British. The audio to the DVD is fabulous in view of the date of the source material. Yes, the cartoons are charming and comparatively wholesome, but we're not talking Teletubbies here. The two words I'd use are "zany" and "intelligent".

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating glimpse into a nearly-forgotten animated world
Review: If you thought that, beyond Disney and Warner Bros., there were no more animated worlds to discover, here's a real find.

A film archivist in Burbank, California named Ken Kramer bought several reels of movie film, paying $50 to the guy who was selling them just to get rid of him. The haul was mostly movie trailers. Then, he struck pure cinematic gold. Four of the reels contained a series of theatrical cartoons that were thought to have been lost forever. The 9 cartoons had the look and feel (to use computer nerd terminology) of vintage 1940s Disney with a liberal splash of Looney Tunes lunacy. Each was identified as "A David Hand ANIMALAND Cartoon".

A phone call to Leonard Maltin revealed David Hand to be the same David Hand who was Walt Disney's supervising director of the animated features "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "Bambi". After progressing as far as he could in the enforced anonymity of the Disney studios, Hand was lured to England by J. Arthur Rank to establish a similar animation studio on the British Isles. The "Animaland" cartoons were released theatrically in Europe but could never find an American distributor, possibly because of pressure from Hand's former employer, one Walter Elias Disney.

When the Rank Organisation closed Hand's studio, the fate of the "Animaland" cartoons remained a mystery for the past 50 years. Hand returned to the USA and spent most of the rest of his career producing industrial training films. In Europe, 4 "Animaland" cartoons eventually turned up and were released on home video overseas. They were thought to be the ONLY extant specimens.

Flash forward to Ken Kramer's incredible find. The 9 cartoons are, to date, the biggest collection from the series. The good news is that David Hand's son, David Hale Hand, agreed to their release on home video in the USA. Since David Hale Hand owns the American rights to his father's work, there are even plans for an animated feature film starring the cast of the "Animland" cartoons.

Most of the cartoons feature Ginger Nutt, a fiery red squirrel who's easily as cute as Thumper the rabbit from "Bambi" but can be intimidating enough, when necessary, to fend off the 3 forest troublemakers Corny Crow, Dusty Mole and Loopy Hare. Ginger Nutt's love interest is a female squirrel named Hazel. The rest of the cartoons are one-shots with obbligatory production numbers on such species as the cuckoo, the duck-billed platypus, the ostrich, the lion and the house cat.

Anyone who enjoys classic Disney and Warner animation won't be able to stop watching these cartoons. The most fascinating thing about the cartoons is that they offer a glimpse into another cartoon world located somewhere between Disney's unrelenting cuteness and Warner Bros. madness. There's also a sense of sadness of what might have been, had David Hand been able to continue the series. Although they're on the "Just For Kids" home video label, these are still theatrical shorts, just like the Disney's "Silly Symphonies" and Warner "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies".

If you think this collection would make a great gift for your favorite vintage cartoon fan, think again. You'd better pick up 2 copies, for yourself and for the lucky recipient.

Rating:
Summary: David Hand's a Colorful Cartoon Genius!
Review: Loony tunes is Wacky!,Nicktoons is Cool!,Tom and Jerry and Tex avery is Great!, Woody Woodpecker's a Joy!, Katy the Catterpillar Soars Like a Beautyful Butterfly and Disney's Cartoon World is Magical! But somewhere in a Cartoon Vault is a Surprisingly Lost Cartoon World and now Found! Made by a Disney Legend "David hand" who Helps him Create "snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "Bambi" Comes a Never-Realesed Animated Adventure and now Captured! Introducing David Hand's "Animaland"! With Ready-to-Meet Characters like Nutty the Squirrel,Oscar the Ostrich,CooCoo and More! Super Animation!,Colorful Backrounds! and Never-Been-Heard Music! You can Watch This Future Classic Again and Again! Share It with Your Friends! It's Fun for the Whole Family! Nutty and his Pals Will Be Toontown's New Freinds! and it's Availibale at Video Stores EveryWhere!

Rating:
Summary: A correction. . .
Review: My review below identifies David Hand as being British. He was an American.

Rating:
Summary: Charming, but the audio quality is very poor.
Review: These are classic cartoons with a wonderful romantic quality, but I find the audio quality (or lack thereof) to be distracting at times.

Rating:
Summary: High class animation is great fun to watch!
Review: This is a terrific title for kids and adults, full of cute characters and beautiful backgrounds. Hand has truly brought to life a magical forest. There are many different stories detailing the exploits of the animals in the forest. I am reminded of the classic period of animation back in the 30's, when Disney and Warner Brothers were the kings!

Rating:
Summary: Wholesome Cartoons for Concerned Parents
Review: Tired of the seeming lack of wholesome shows for kids? Concerned about what seems like an endless stream of materialism, immorality,etc. finding it's way into even THEIR stuff too? We viewed ANIMALAND after borrowing from the Lancaster County public library. Not only do the vintage cartoons lack these things but they may actually learn something as well! Wish there were even more out there. THUMBS UP!

Rating:
Summary: "Chip-a-dee! Chip-a-dee!"
Review: Who isn't familiar with Bugs Bunny's "What's up, Doc?", Goofy's "Garsh!" or Woody Woodpecker's grating laugh?

Had British animator David Hand found an American distributor for his 1940s "Animaland" cartoons, perhaps Ginger Nutt's signature expression "Chip-a-dee! Chip-a-dee!" might have occupied a similar spot in our collective cinematic consciousness.

So, who is David Hand and why is this collection of cartoons being hailed as a genuine treasure? Well, if you were enthralled by Disney's "Bambi" or captivated by "Snow White and the Seven Dwarf", you've seen David Hand's work. He was the supervising director on both features before heading back to his British homeland to set up an animation studio for the Rank Organisation. While there, he produced a series of cartoons called "Animaland" which were released theatrically on the Isles but never made it across the Pond. Most of the cartoons centered around a fiery red squirrel named Ginger Nutt and his love interest, Hazel. As cute as Thumper the rabbit from "Bambi", Ginger Nutt can, when necessary, be intimidating enough to fend off the 3 forest troublemakers Corny Crow, Loopy Hare and Dusty Mole. Think of Disney cuteness slamming into Looney Tunes madness. Also under the "Animaland" title were a few one-shots dealing with the African lion, the ostrich and the duck-billed platypus.

When the Rank Organisation fell on difficult financial times, the animation studio was among the operations to be pared back. David Hand returned to America and spent much of the rest of his career producing industrial training films. The fate of the "Animaland" cartoons is shrouded in mystery. Only 4 were thought to still exist.

Flash-forward 50 years. Burbank film archivist Ken Kramer pays $50 for 6 boxes of film reels, contents unknown. Screening them, he comes across a reel containing 9 "Animaland" cartoons. He calls Leonard Maltin who tells him more about David Hand. The best news of all is that the owner of the rights to the films, David Hand's son, David Hale Hand, agrees to their release on home video. There are even plans for an animated feature film starring the cast from the "Animaland" cartoons.

Although the cartoons are on the "Just 4 Kids" label, anyone who enjoys classic Warner and Disney animation will not be able to stop watching them. The fascination is in seeing a glimpse of yet another cartoon world, somewhere between the sometimes sedate cuteness of Disney and the madcap mania of Looney Tunes. Ginger Nutt might be as cute as a button but he's clearly no sissy. And the production numbers in the one-shots will have you singing snatches for days after you first see them.

Just 4 Kids? Cor!