I never really played the Dragon`s Lair Laser Disk game that much. It was 50 cent a play. Double the price of the other games and I got creamed the first couple times I tried it. I have always been financially conservative/cheap. But I watched it a lot on other player`s 5 dimes. It was the only game in the arcade that drew a crowd of spectators. We were waiting for these outrageous animated cut screens.

Don Bluth is not an easy person to put in a pigeonhole. He is not an easy person to write about. He is controversial. He has always been a lightening rod. Bring up his name in a group of animators and you never know how they will react.



Maybe that is why he is so important? From his first days at Disney, to his infamous Bluth lead Disney revolt and walkout, to his pioneering video game work, Don has always been noticeable, out spoken, visible above the crowd. People love him, people hate him, some people have even brought out picket signs.

Sometimes his projects worked, like his glorious Secret of NIMH and his earth shaking Dragon's Lair, and sometime they didn't. That happens with every filmmaker. But it seemed to mean more with Don Bluth`s name attached. He has made waves, he has acted on his beliefs, he has fought the odds and made movies.



Some people in the animation community rejoiced in his triumphs and some rejoiced in his failures but nobody, nobody, ignores the work of Don Bluth. He has made an impact on the world of animation and for that ASIFA-Hollywood is honoring him on January 30th with the Winsor McCay Award for lifetime achievement.

Some will rejoice, some may not, some may even purposely schedule a premiere to compete with his award, but Don Bluth will not go unnoticed. Congratulation Don, long may you rock the boat, long may you make waves. And I for one would like to see another feature sometime soon.



  ¶ 10:58 PM