Wednesday, April 24, 2002
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Wednesday, April 24, 2002 |
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It's a cartoon world out there By BILLY MURPHY
With the immense popularity of "The Cartoon Network," it is obvious that people today are interested in simple stories that make a simple point. The Cartoon Network even has an offshoot network starting called "Boomerang," with the tag line, "It's all coming back to you." This network will feature some of the lesser known, but equally loved cartoons from our past, including the likes of "Atom Ant," "Johnny Quest," and "Huckleberry Hound." We need such nonsense in these complicated times. The world is more complicated and that is a fact. Many tasks that have typically been simple suddenly have become rather confusing. You used to just pump your gas and go and pay the attendant. Now we have prepay pumps that require inserting and retrieving your credit card with the deftness of David Copperfield performing sleight of hand. What was once an easy act of dialing an operator to make a phone call has now become an intricate foray into the world of numeric entry voice recognition technology. So in these intense and complicated days, I suggest more cartoons teaching us the lessons of life. "Scooby Dooby Doo and the Secret of Life" This would make a great feature-length movie with Shaggy, Fred, Thelma and Daphne learning about the "big picture." The zany gang of kids, with Scooby in tow, would search all over The Amusement Park trying to discover what is really important in this world. Finally, Mr. Templeton would gather all the kids and tell them how the key to happiness is to work hard and buy only American products. Then at the last minute Scooby Dooby Doo would jump on Mr. Templeton, tear off his mask and reveal his true identity Pat Buchanan. Somehow, I don't think you will see this plot line this summer in the real Scooby movie. "Underdog Comes Out of the Cape." This story would show the dilemma Underdog faces when he has to choose between trying to live up to the world's expectations and views concerning a superhero or "coming out of the cape" and revealing his true orientation. Also known to insiders as "The Growling Game," this tale (no pun intended) would follow Underdog's passage from doghood to personal identity. This movie would dramatically end with Underdog revealing he was not, in fact, a registered, pure breed. "Wile E. Coyote's Field of Dreams." This Road Runner feature-length film would chronicle the coyote's personal quest to catch the Road Runner. With a persistent voice telling him, "If you build it, he will come." The coyote orders device after device from the Acme Company. He builds a catapult, a bomb, a rocket, and a giant mallet before realizing the voice is telling him to build a baseball field. After Coyote builds the stadium, the Road Runner shows up to play catch with the great runners of old, including his idol, "Shoeless Joe Jackrabbit." Coyote proceeds to make a great feast out of his hapless prey, trapped inside the stadium. By posing as infamous shortstop, "Woolly Mays," the coyote eats Roadrunner when he slides trying to steal second base. Much to his dismay Wile E. wakes from his slumber to the sound of "Beep, beep," only to realize this was all just a dream. There are lots more cartoons that teach us lessons on life, but for now, "That's all folks."
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