(fwd) Re: SWAT Kats: Better Than You Think (fwd)

From: Andy Hill <chance_at_unix.infoserve.net>
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 1995 07:40:00 -0700 (PDT)

     Only some of us have access to the newsgroup rec.arts.animation -
so here's part one of a post/followup exchange that took place on it.
Comments appreciated.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 1995 19:13:35 -0700
From: Andy Hill <chance_at_unix.infoserve.net>
To: chance_at_unix.infoserve.net
Subject: (fwd) Re: SWAT Kats: Better Than You Think

Newsgroups: rec.arts.animation
Path: news.infoserve.net!news.bc.net!torn!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu!klknole
From: klknole_at_rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu (Kevin L. Knoles)
Subject: Re: SWAT Kats: Better Than You Think
Message-ID: <1995Apr2.104448.16008_at_rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu>
Date: Sun, 2 Apr 1995 10:44:48 GMT
Organization: Illinois State University
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2]
Lines: 47

    I don't think very many people realize just how good SWAT Kats: The Radical
Squadron really is. You see, not all SWAT Kats episodes are the same, and I
don't simply mean that certain episodes are slighty better than others. I mean
the best episodes absolutely crush the worst and grind them underfoot, and this
is almost entirely due to one thing: The animation.
    SWAT Kats is conditionally the best animated American animated series ever.
I say conditionally because that honor cannot be bestowed upon every episode.
Here's the deal. In the first season of SWAT Kats, there were, of course, 13
episodes. 9 were animated by Hanho Heung-up Company Ltd., and the other 4 were
animated by Mook. While the level of writing, directing, and music for all
those episodes were about at the same level (There were a few standouts), the
animation by Hanho Heung-up sucked big time. The animation by Mook, however,
was consistently excellent, even stunning in moments. I was first exposed to
SWAT Kats through one of the Mook episodes, and if it hadn't have been for such
a good first impression, I might not be the fan that I am now.
    When it came time for the second season to premeire, I was very nervous. I
was wondering if the second season was going to be animated by Mook or Hanho
Heung-up. I was overjoyed to learn that it was animated by Mook. The second
season premeire blew me away with animation superior to anything in the first
season (Mook episodes included), and so has every second season episode since
(There are 10).
     Unfortunately, TBS has been rerunning every episode of SWAT Kats rather
than just the Mook epsidoes. While this does assure less repeat showings, it
also creates too many bad first impressions with viewers. My advice is to set
your VCR for TBS at 6:35 a.m. Sundays, 4:05 p.m. Sundays, and 6:35 a.m.
Fridays. You should be warned that SWAT Kats is not always shown at Sundays at
4:05 p.m. and Fridays at 6:35 a.m. If you want to be certain that you will
see one of the better animated episodes, rewind the tape to the end of the
credits and check the animation company. If it's by Mook, then rewind all the
way to beginning and enjoy. If it's by Hanho Heung-Up, only watch with the
understanding that what you are seeing is not SWAT Kats at its best (Far from
it.). You will probably want to watch the opening no matter what. It's the
same for every episode and features some very impresive animation by Mook (More
specifically, there are 2 openings. The first season opening features a few
seconds of original Mook animation and the rest is made of clips from
assorted episodes by both Mook and Hanho Heung-Up. The second sesason opening
is entirely original animation by Mook.)
    If you do eventually catch some of the Mook animated episodes
(especially from the second season), then I think you will agree with me that
this is as good as Television animation has ever been, and realize what a
tragedy it was that the series has been canceled.

                Kevin L. Knoles klknole_at_rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu





--
*************************************************************************
        "They say a smile, will do the trick....
         with a little charm, laid on thick;
         but listen folks, forget those strokes -
         'cause 'KATS always gets the short end of the stick!"
         (Rita - Animaniacs "Icebreakers" AN148)
************************************************************************
  


Received on Fri Apr 07 1995 - 10:26:57 PDT