Post #9 Shakespeare in Animation
I must admit that when I first started to write this blog I was going to focus on the more modern tales that “borrow” their stories from Shakespeare, however; I have come across a cartoon based on the Adventures of Shakespeare and would like to talk about it first. According to Wikipedia, Shakespear The Animated Tales comprised two six-part television series, first broadcast in 1992 and 1994. Each episode was an animated half-hour adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s plays. It was meant for a Welsh audience butFor the English-language version, the productions generally used British actors for the voices, including Hugh Grant.
I am a fan of his stories and was hoping the animation would give credit to the tale. I do appreciate the subtitles because its like a cliff-notes of the actual play however for being an animation of the 90′s I expected more. It seem plain and horribly miss-proportioned which actually made me appreciate the new alternate animated takes on Shakespeare work.
The Lion King, also a 1994 animation was much more vibrant and well drawn. Characters were proportionate and at no point did I feel as though I was watching a fever dream. As of 2007 this was the highest grossing 2D film of all time in the united states. Many younger children wont realize the Shakespearian connection but for those that do the film does the tale justice. While the story clearly draws inspiration from Hamlet I would also like to point out that there is a major controversy about the film and another film called Kimba the White Lion. The controversy is interesting and I think more people should be informed of Kimba. In Hamlet the King is killed by his brother (Scar killing Mufasa) and than Hamlet has to avenge his fathers death, he speaks to his fathers ghost (Simba talking to Mufasa in the sky) and he must kill his uncle and take the throne (end of Lion King).
Shakespears influence in cartoons can be seen even further back in the silent era of the 20s as well as in the MGM cartoon “Romeo in Rythm” seen below.
Shakespeare influence in animation is timeless and I’m sure he is not the only great writer we need to thank for some of our great animated moments in history. This blog was written to really point out some of the external sources for animated film ideas that often get skipped over.
ETA: I have commented on alberry, Pocalyko, weber
ericarose311 said,
March 26, 2010 at 5:50 am
Interesting post. It was not until late in high-school that I realized Disney’s The Lion King had a Shakespearean touch. I’ve never seen the second animation you posted. It is definitely a bit more obvious to point out Shakespeare’s influence in this cartoon than in The Lion King. I also have never seen the Welsh Shakespeare cartoon you mentioned above. After watching a little bit I wasn’t impressed.
When I think of Shakespeare in cartoons the first thing that comes to mind is The Simpson’s who have recreated a few of his plays.
wittel said,
March 29, 2010 at 1:17 am
I have to say, that I think that Shakespeare in his purest form is hard to capture in live action, so I can see where it would be also hard to capture in an animation. I think what makes The Lion King so great is that is isn’t “in your face” Shakespeare, it is one of his stories modernized so that anybody can understand. Plus, I’m not sure if I can take the Shakespeare animation seriously because the people just look off!
amanda22192 said,
March 29, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Y0ur blog hit some very main points that I am still unaware of. For example, I was introduced to Lion King before understanding Shakespeare. Until your blog, I ahve never made the correlation to Hamlet and Lion King. I am sure many generations such as mine will admit to the same. I am horrible at understanding the true menaing in animation and have to be constantly reminded by others how the story lines corealte to understand. As mention I have to be slapped in he face with the storyline to get the meanign that you take away from it. When there is a series of shows or movies that play hand and hand as you showed in your youtube videos, then I am able to understand but have no interest in them. This makes me forget main points and ruins the overall experience. Again, Thank you for opening my eyes in a new type of outlet.
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