Saturday, June 25, 2005
Night of the living Freds:
So, okay, I know that the title of today`s blog is really tacky and that I really had to push to use it but where else am I going to get a chance to use such a line? And last night`s ASIFA screening at Harmony Gold was dominated by 2 animation and Anime greats with the name of Fred; Fred Ladd and Fred Patten.
Animation and Anime historian Fred Patten looked and sound great last night is his first public appearance since his stroke of last winter. He has lost a little weight. He was is a wheelchair and his right arm was immobilized in a form rubber arm support but his speech was clear and mind as sharp as ever.
Thank the gods, I have been worried about my friend, that was my first thought, but let`s be honest, I am sure that I am not the only animation history buff in the community that has been worried about losing all the knowledge inside on Fred Patten`s head.
Fred entered the screening after the lights went down which meant his presence was a nice surprise after a very enjoyable movie. A large crowd of well wishers formed around Fred Patten and I just had time to talk to him a little bit and pick up an envelope from him to pass on to Jerry Beck and Bob Miller, then I was crowded out by his other friends wanting to wish him well. It was great to see him out and about.
The love of animation makes us all a family. We come together at these events like favorite cousins that grew up together and only get to see each other at periodic family gatherings.
I am not sure if my wife understands about the animation family feeling. She did try to climb under her chair when I lead a verse of Kimba the White Lion to mark the pre-show entrance of Fred Ladd, the man that brought us Kimba, Astroboy, Gigantor, and many others.
As luck would have it my son, Tobias, was wearing a Gigantor 40th anniversary T-shirts that I had left over from last year`s Comic Con.
Do you think I should Ask Fred to sign my Gigantor T-shirt, joked my son?
Oh yes!! I said borrowing a Sharpy from an audience member in the seat behind me.
My wife, Ruth, who doesn`t come to these events often, for some unknown reason, buried her head in her hands and pretended not to know me.
After Toby got his shirt signed, a small group formed around Fred Ladd and he had to sign a couple of other autograph books before he could free himself. Luckily the movie started.
Maybe Fred Ladd will forgive me if I mention here that the early planning for Kimba`s 40 anniversary is under way set to coincide with the anniversary of the first New York City blackout that happened on the last day of voice work for the first U.S. episode of Kimba.
Okay, I had a little fun. I was hanging with my family, my people. These are my family, my people. People who set through the credits at the end of the movie and clap as the names of voice actors, the animators, and the director come up on the screen.
Oh, the movie. The movie was great. You know it is great. I`ve said it here before and I will say it again. Thank you for making it happen, Studios Disney, Pixar, and Ghibli. I needed to see it a second time. I would like to see it a few more times. I would like to have my own copy. HINT to Disney, Pixar, and Ghibli: Annie screenings and screeners, they make the animation community so happy. ¶ 10:42 AM
So, okay, I know that the title of today`s blog is really tacky and that I really had to push to use it but where else am I going to get a chance to use such a line? And last night`s ASIFA screening at Harmony Gold was dominated by 2 animation and Anime greats with the name of Fred; Fred Ladd and Fred Patten.
Animation and Anime historian Fred Patten looked and sound great last night is his first public appearance since his stroke of last winter. He has lost a little weight. He was is a wheelchair and his right arm was immobilized in a form rubber arm support but his speech was clear and mind as sharp as ever.
Thank the gods, I have been worried about my friend, that was my first thought, but let`s be honest, I am sure that I am not the only animation history buff in the community that has been worried about losing all the knowledge inside on Fred Patten`s head.
Fred entered the screening after the lights went down which meant his presence was a nice surprise after a very enjoyable movie. A large crowd of well wishers formed around Fred Patten and I just had time to talk to him a little bit and pick up an envelope from him to pass on to Jerry Beck and Bob Miller, then I was crowded out by his other friends wanting to wish him well. It was great to see him out and about.
The love of animation makes us all a family. We come together at these events like favorite cousins that grew up together and only get to see each other at periodic family gatherings.
I am not sure if my wife understands about the animation family feeling. She did try to climb under her chair when I lead a verse of Kimba the White Lion to mark the pre-show entrance of Fred Ladd, the man that brought us Kimba, Astroboy, Gigantor, and many others.
As luck would have it my son, Tobias, was wearing a Gigantor 40th anniversary T-shirts that I had left over from last year`s Comic Con.
Do you think I should Ask Fred to sign my Gigantor T-shirt, joked my son?
Oh yes!! I said borrowing a Sharpy from an audience member in the seat behind me.
My wife, Ruth, who doesn`t come to these events often, for some unknown reason, buried her head in her hands and pretended not to know me.
After Toby got his shirt signed, a small group formed around Fred Ladd and he had to sign a couple of other autograph books before he could free himself. Luckily the movie started.
Maybe Fred Ladd will forgive me if I mention here that the early planning for Kimba`s 40 anniversary is under way set to coincide with the anniversary of the first New York City blackout that happened on the last day of voice work for the first U.S. episode of Kimba.
Okay, I had a little fun. I was hanging with my family, my people. These are my family, my people. People who set through the credits at the end of the movie and clap as the names of voice actors, the animators, and the director come up on the screen.
Oh, the movie. The movie was great. You know it is great. I`ve said it here before and I will say it again. Thank you for making it happen, Studios Disney, Pixar, and Ghibli. I needed to see it a second time. I would like to see it a few more times. I would like to have my own copy. HINT to Disney, Pixar, and Ghibli: Annie screenings and screeners, they make the animation community so happy. ¶ 10:42 AM
