Page 5 of 5

Re: Digital Dandy over?

Posted: 17 Jul 2013, 13:32
by Digifiend
Not at the time anyway. Dan's supporting cast (Aggie, Danny, Katie, Mayor, Sheriff) largely developed in the 1950s.

Re: Digital Dandy over?

Posted: 17 Jul 2013, 13:43
by Raven
Digifiend wrote:Not at the time anyway. Dan's supporting cast (Aggie, Danny, Katie, Mayor, Sheriff) largely developed in the 1950s.
Yes, and even then, I don't think they're quite as strong and appealing as Olive Oyl, Bluto, Wimpy, Swee'pea, Eugene The Jeep and co., who tended to play major supporting roles in Popeye's adventures. I think there's also something a little parochial about some of the character designs in those Dudley Watkins strips (though I do think the earlier strips are fantastic for their energy and invention).

Re: Digital Dandy over?

Posted: 17 Jul 2013, 14:42
by philcom55
...I'd quite like to see an animated version of the Broons!

- Phil R.

Re: Digital Dandy over?

Posted: 17 Jul 2013, 22:38
by ISPYSHHHGUY
I'd like to see a Broons animation done properly, Phil: using the 60s Watkins or 90s Harrison as a model guide.....a lot of work and detail to get it like that, obviously---way beyond TV animation budgets.

Just a shame that Hollywood wouldn't just shelve the next Shrek outing, and put the cash into an all-out BROONS animated feature!


On the subject of DCT TV animations, one of their editors informed me that Desperate Dan, the Bash Street Kids and Dennis the Menace were considered as TV properties as early as the late 70s, but D C T nixed it...


A live action version of Lord Snooty was also mooted by no less than David Putnam [one-time champion of British films] at a luncheon consisting of himself and assorted Thomson bigwigs up in bonnie Dundee.After drinks were quoffed, Putnams' motives became transparently clear: he was there with his begging-bowl, wanting DCT to fund the whole cinematic shebang. I understand the expressions on the DCT bigwigs' faces were described as 'priceless' at this brazen act, and the pleasentaries ended quite abruptly.

Re: Digital Dandy over?

Posted: 17 Jul 2013, 22:48
by Raven
ISPYSHHHGUY wrote: On the subject of DCT TV animations, one of their editors informed me that Desperate Dan, the Bash Street Kids and Dennis the Menace were considered as TV properties as early as the late 70s, but D C T nixed it...


That sounds a little unusual, considering the way comic sales had started to drop all over during this period, and how TV exposure would have provided a valuable boost, but it has been said that DCT, in the past, were very insular and not into licensing their characters, or expanding them into the wider world beyond the comics.
ISPYSHHHGUY wrote: A live action version of Lord Snooty was also mooted by no less than David Putnam [one-time champion of British films] at a luncheon consisting of himself and assorted Thomson bigwigs up in bonnie Dundee.After drinks were quoffed, Putnams' motives became transparently clear: he was there with his begging-bowl, wanting DCT to fund the whole cinematic shebang. I understand the expressions on the DCT bigwigs' faces were described as 'priceless' at this brazen act, and the pleasentaries ended quite abruptly.


Though bearing in mind the millions of pounds profit DCT made each year, suggesting they be executive producers - which often involves a considerable donation to the budget - for a Lord Snooty film isn't necessarily unreasonable.

Which year or decade was this?

Re: Digital Dandy over?

Posted: 18 Jul 2013, 00:22
by TwoHeadedBoy
philcom55 wrote:...I'd quite like to see an animated version of the Broons!

- Phil R.
I thought that Blunders cartoon from the 1980s (??) was a BIT like the Broons...

Re: Digital Dandy over?

Posted: 18 Jul 2013, 07:11
by ISPYSHHHGUY
Raven: All of the above [the proposed TV animation series featuring Dan, Bash Street, and Dennis] as well as Lord Putnams' Lord Snooty pitch to the Thomson top brass were all submitted for approval at some point in the 1970s, sorry I can't pinpoint this more accurately.

This was relayed to me by the Beano writer who created Gnasher, so it's likely true--he was very enthused by the idea of Gnashers' animation potential, believing the tripehound had what it took to become a global animation star, and was disappointed the series was turned down.

I do agree with you that if DCT had been brave enough to actually fund a film using their characters, the financial rewards could have been quite considerable, and if all went well, they could have become a player in the motion picture Industry, but it's all such an expensive gamble, and DCT are notorious for their caution [moreso during those days].

Re: Digital Dandy over?

Posted: 18 Jul 2013, 08:49
by Raven
ISPYSHHHGUY wrote:Raven: All of the above [the proposed TV animation series featuring Dan, Bash Street, and Dennis] as well as Lord Putnams' Lord Snooty pitch to the Thomson top brass were all submitted for approval at some point in the 1970s, sorry I can't pinpoint this more accurately.
Ah, well, that's a time when the British film industry was in dire straits and securing backing would have been one of the big issues. I expect DCT would have been very hands-on in licensing out the character, so suggesting they take an Executive Producer/budget contribution role wouldn't have been too outrageous.

I wouldn't see much potential for a Lord Snooty film at the time, though. One thing the Children's Film Foundation found in their extensive research was that young audiences didn't like posh characters, and I expect getting American distribution - the other big issue -would have been extremely difficult.

Re: Digital Dandy over?

Posted: 18 Jul 2013, 21:51
by ISPYSHHHGUY
Maybe the Snooty script was influenced by the runaway success of BUGSY MALONE [1976], an all-kid cinematic hit, Raven.....but no, a live-action Snooty film doesn't seem like the most obvious choice for a comics adaptation to me, either....

However, just imagine that DCT started putting out successful films of their characters and it had continued for decades: with today's technology, there could have been intruiging, big-budget adaptations of JELLYMEN or GENERAL JUMBO, with all the SPFX potential these properties can throw up.

Re: Digital Dandy over?

Posted: 18 Jul 2013, 22:51
by philcom55
Personally I'd really like to see a mock documentary on one of Thomson's sporting heroes such as Wilson or Pickford - with lots of suitably faked B&W footage from Pathé News, etc.

- Phil R.

Re: Digital Dandy over?

Posted: 18 Jul 2013, 23:59
by ISPYSHHHGUY
Remember in 1981/82, when the UK flick CHARIOTS of FIRE cleaned up at the USA Oscars?

---Well, just imagine if DCT 'Filmworks' [had they existed] had beaten Putnam, Colin Welland and co. to the punch, and released a live action ALF TUPPER--the Tough of the Track celuloid offering into cinemas in 1980, their much more intruiging character/story could have cemented their status as credible film producers.