Animation &Commentary 20 Sep 2007 09:29 am
Really Rosie minutes
- Really Rosie was produced in NY back in 1975. It was an uncom-fortable fusion of Maurice Sendak‘s artwork, Carole King‘s songs and performing, and some real story and design problems. Somehow this trifling show has had very positive reviews and a good reputation, but I was never able to get through the whole thing in one sitting. I do have some of the animation drawings from it, and at another time I’ll post a bit of it.
It was supposedly directed by Maurice Sendak, but in reality the artwork was supervised by Ron Fritz and Dan Hunn who received the credit of “Animation Director.” It was done out of their studio, D&R Productions, for CBS television.
The animation was good, but the composition always seemed off, to me. I remember back in 1975 (I was still in college at the time) thinking that the show looked like it was done in one long shot on 12 fld artwork. Then they seemed to move the camera in tight for all the poorly executed camera moves. The line work got unpleasantly large in close ups and the detail wasn’t good. The film just isn’t smooth.
Animation for the show is credited to:
Lu Guarnier, Marty Taras, Willis Pyle, Doug Crane, Jack Schnerk, Cosmo Anzilotti, and John Svochak.
Asst animators included:
Jim Logan, Gerry Dvorak, Helen Komar, and Joe Gray
Here are some frame grabs from the first few minutes of the show.
(Click any image to enlarge.)
The Maurice Sendak credit fades off and the image gets lighter, then pans across to
the guy leaning over the rooftop.
After a bit, the camera pans across the other windows visually introducing some of the
other cameras. After it hits the end, the camera moves down to a lower window where . . .
. . . Rosie appears again and continues to sing.
They soon move the cast to the front stoop to sing endlessly. Unfortunately, Carole King – as talented as she is – sings and speaks for “Rosie.” It’s hard to accept her as a child when she has a woman’s voice.
Lots and lots of back and forth and back and forth. It couldn’t be less creative or less interesting to watch. Very flat despite the hard working animation. It all gets to look the same.
Look at the framing of the image on the right. How can you cut off the head of the lead character? Maybe Maurice Sendak did direct it.
Sendak is a brilliant illustrator who loves animation. There are times when you have to assume you’re not all-knowing and look for help from professionals you respect. Either he didn’t get good help on this show or his ego got in the way.
___________________________I’ll return to this film again. There’s a lot to look at here.
on 20 Sep 2007 at 10:12 am 1.DH. said …
Hey, Michael–
I love all the posts! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I found a YouTube link for the opening of the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj7PmIoCkn8
on 20 Sep 2007 at 11:38 am 2.Tom Minton said …
I remember watching this special when CBS originally aired it. I thought Sendak deserved better and couldn’t believe he actually directed it – thanks for clearing that up. The animators were skilled artists but Sendak’s designs beg for less flatness in the execution. The ultra-tight fields on what look like xeroxed lines wreck the elegance of what should’ve been an ode to Sendak’s illustration style. And you’re right about Carole King voicing a child. That was jarring, to say the least. The most faithful filmic adaptation of Sendak that I’ve seen remains the Gene Deitch/Weston Woods “Where the Wild Things Are,” which caught the spirit of the book.
on 20 Sep 2007 at 12:22 pm 3.Fred Sparrman said …
Deitch’s “Wild Things” is excellent visually…but OUCH!, the Peter Schickele soundtrack! It completely destroys the film for me. I don’t know which is harder on the ears, his voice or his music.
Michael, is this Really Rosie special what the “Pierre/I Don’t Care” animated segment is from? I really like that.
on 20 Sep 2007 at 12:28 pm 4.Ward said …
This has been one of those “fallen through the cracks of my brain” memories — I saw this when it aired when I was a kid and I always thought about it from time to time. I remember how odd it was to feature Carole King’s music with kids (yes, I really thought that at that time because I thought that her music was “for adults”). Thanks for highlighting this show for me, warts and all!
on 20 Sep 2007 at 2:03 pm 5.Brian Kolm said …
The songs were great. As a kid I loved the songs and we listen to that album over and over again. ‘Chicken Soup with Rice’ was the favorite of course. Just so catchy and fun. I have the album on CD as well.
Brian
http://www.atomicbearpress.com/comics/log
on 20 Sep 2007 at 2:47 pm 6.Ken Priebe said …
This show was a good memory from my childhood as well. I used to have a book with stills from the film, and it had flipbook drawings in the corners. I remember seeing it at the Grosse Pointe library on 16mm at a special kids’ screening, including the ‘I Don’t Care’ song.
I found it at my local library on VHS not too long ago, and watched it again. Still holds up as a worthy effort with a funky style.
on 24 Sep 2007 at 1:02 am 7.Dagan said …
very, VERY interesting!
Thank you for sharing this… I would love to
learn even more about this production. Gonna hafta’ find a way to see this film now, you’ve piqued my interest!
on 26 Dec 2007 at 7:29 pm 8.Peg Banzai said …
Interesting article. One of the animators- Doug Crane- is my grandfather. I believe he worked mainly on the “Chicken Soup with Rice” segment.
on 23 Oct 2008 at 5:50 pm 9.The Mama Crane said …
to Peg Banzai…..You are The granddaughter of Doug Crane??????the animator…of Realy Rosie????Who…what…when…where …how????
Very interesting.
Check your geneology again…..your are NOT one of the famous 13.
on 25 Jan 2014 at 6:13 pm 10.Maureen said …
To Peg Banzai….You seriously need to retract or correct your statement. I will give you the benefit of saying that you are mistaken, rather than calling you a liar on a public forum. You ABSOLUTELY are NOT a granddaughter of Doug Crane who was an animator on “Really Rosie”. Shame on you.
I am the oldest of his 8 children and you 100% are NOT, for a fact, a child of any one of my siblings. You are NO relation to our family at all.
Your public apology will be graciously accepted once you post it.