The Enchanted World of Rick Goldschmidt: An Interview with the Rankin/Bass Historian

Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass. While those two names may not be immediately familiar to many, I can practically guarantee that you are aware of their work. They were the creative minds behind Rankin/Bass, a company responsible for stop-motion holiday classics like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Mad Monster Party and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. They also worked in traditional animation, producing more holiday specials like Frosty the Snowman and even the 1980’s animated series, Thundercats.

Despite their storied portfolio, most know little about the company behind these classics. Aside from their projects with immediate name recognition, Rankin/Bass has produced 13 feature films, 13 animated series and over 30 television specials. This includes lesser known projects like Willy McBean and His Magic Machine One, The Leprechaun’s Christmas Gold and The King Kong Show to name a few.

Well, luckily one man has undertaken the responsibility of researching, documenting and compiling everything a Rankin/Bass fanboy like me would ever want to know about his childhood heroes.

Dubbed the Rankin/Bass Historian, Mr. Rick Goldschmidt has published two lengthy books on the company (The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass, The Making of the Rankin/Bass Classic: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer), operates the official Rankin/Bass website and keeps fans in the loop with all things Rankin/Bass on his frequently updated blog . I was fortunate enough to snag a special interview with Mr.Goldschmidt at his home in Oak Lawn, Illinois, where we discussed how he obtained the title of Rankin/Bass historian, the influence that Rankin/Bass has had on modern media professionals, the status of current Rankin/Bass projects, as well as his thoughts on recent stop-motion films.

Goldschmidt never dreamed of becoming the Rankin/Bass historian. He started off as a casual fan of the company’s work. A graduate of Columbia College in Chicago with a degree in illustration, Goldschmidt began his professional career as an artist doing freelance work. Initially he adopted realism as his art style, but he became increasingly fascinated with cartoons and animation. Around this time he decided to contact established cartoonists Jack Davis (MAD Magazine, Mad Monster Party) and Paul Coker (MAD Magazine, Frosty the Snowman). Simultaneously, his visits to film conventions as a movie memorabilia collector yielded the discovery of obscure films and projects from Rankin/Bass. Goldschmidt noted the incredible volume of work Rankin/Bass had completed, and with this new-found knowledge he decided to write a comprehensive book on the company and all of their projects. Goldschmidt began contacting those associated with the company, including Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass themselves.

With the publication and success of The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass, Goldschmidt became the authority on all things related to the company. He is frequently interviewed for special features on Rankin/Bass DVD releases, he has developed a relationship with the collector website Time and Space Toys as a consultant on the creation of Rankin/Bass products and he even fields inquiries from Arthur Rankin himself. The company just has so much history and even Rankin needs clarification on when they released certain films and television specials.

In spite of their history of success, some may ask what relevancy does this company have now? Aside from some cheery Christmas nostalgia and Rankin/Bass marathons on ABC Family every December, cynics might assume that there is little left this company or its legacy has to offer. The reality could not be further from the truth.

I was initially overwhelmed by the incredible amount of movie, music and television memorabilia Goldschmidt has in his home. However, one piece in particular immediately caught my eye. On his living room wall is a framed photo of a mock Life Magazine from Toy Story 2. Everyone’s favorite pull-string cowboy Woody graces the cover with his trusty horse Bullseye. The photo is signed by John Lassester, Andrew Stanton and many other creative heads at Pixar. How did Goldschmidt acquire such a photo? The minds at Pixar actually cite Rankin/Bass as one of their major influences in terms of storytelling and character composition. Take a peep at a “Making Of” book from almost any Pixar film and you’ll find Goldschmidt’s book among the works cited. According to Goldschmidt, Buzz Lightyear’s nemesis Emperor Zurg’s transformation to a good-guy by the end of Toy Story 2 is an homage to Rankin/Bass’s philosophy of always reforming the story’s villain by the end of the film.

Aside from those at Pixar, other filmmakers such as Tim Burton, Henry Selick and even Rob Zombie cite Rankin/Bass as an influence on their work. And film isn’t the only realm of influence that Rankin/Bass permeates. Musicians such as The Misfits and Buckethead are all open fans of Rankin/Bass animation. The influence of this single company stretches generations and mediums, giving artists a solid foundation for strong storytelling, unique characters and memorable music.

With Burton and Selick still having their hand in the world stop-motion, I asked Goldschmidt about his thoughts on the current state of stop-motion films. He said that he generallyfinds that they look too clean, too polished. Goldschmidt argues that part of stop-motion’s charm is it’s inherent stutter; it’s a quality that gives a it a distinct personality. Without it, what’s to separate it from the barrage of computer animation flicks released every year? It is interesting to note that Selick had this problem with Coraline. In an interview I conducted with Selick last year, he stated that he frequently told his animators to make things, “less pretty” so that the film would not lose its charm. In a time where it seems as if cutting-edge technology is slowly killing this unique art form, Goldschmidt and his work helps us understand its lasting importance and wide-stretching influence.

So what projects do Goldschmidt and Rankin/Bass have on their plate for the future? This September features a special edition DVD release of Mad Monster Party that includes a remastered print of the film as well as three informative documentaries included in the special features. Goldschmidt gave me the opportunity to take a gander at the documentaries prior to their release and they are sure to be a treat for Rankin/Bass fans, as well as those interested in stop-motion as an art form.

Goldschmidt has plans to publish a second edition of his book, The Enchanted World or Rankin/Bass, for the 2010 holiday season. This new edition will include all the new information he’s amassed about the company in their last ten years as well as the inclusion of several new, full-color photos.

I have always loved Rankin/Bass and I probably always will. It wouldn’t be Christmas to me if I didn’t watch their television specials every December. My interview with Goldschmidt left me with a greater understanding and appreciation of the company’s work. Their simple, yet classic approaches to storytelling, as well as their utilization of the stop-motion medium, have left their mark on many of today’s most influential artists. Yes, I know I am a fanboy, but Goldschmidt works to make others aware of the company’s influence, not just in the interests of nostalgic man-children like myself.

Be sure to check out Goldschmidt’s blog for updates on the world of Rankin/Bass and keep an eye out for the Mad Monster Party DVD come September 8, 2009.

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What Makes Pixar So Damn Special?

What Makes Pixar So Damn Special?

Typically, the story of a crotchety old man moving to South America by attaching thousands of colorful balloons to his chimney wouldn’t equal cinematic gold. However, there is very little about Pixar that people would refer to as typical. And yet, the studio has seen nothing but success.

Mark this summer’s Up as another smash hit for the northern California-based studio. The film is an absolute wonder to behold and holds its place as one of the studio’s best. This makes Pixar’s record 10 for 10. Each of the studio’s films showcase memorable characters, a strong sense of storytelling and oh yeah, breathtaking animation. Toy Story paved the way and the studio has maintained consistent quality through fourteen years.

So what’s the secret? I recently attended a talk with Pixar producer Lindsey Collins (Finding Nemo, Wall-E) at none other than my alma mater, Occidental College. It turns out Ms. Collins is an alum (’94). During her presentation she mentioned that one of the most frequent questions she fields about her work at Pixar is what the company does in order to consistently turn-out quality product.

She went through the Pixar philosophy of placing the film’s story at the forefront of all other production concerns. Collins also mentioned the way in which Pixar does not try to duplicate success by following a cookie cutter formula or business model. While she admitted that this drives some of the business execs at Pixar and Disney a little crazy, I believe this set of priorities is responsible for the company’s unparalleled success.

Pixar represents what movie making SHOULD be about. They focus on plot, not profit. The studio assumes that if they create a film that meets their quality standards, the public will enjoy it as well. Pixar makes movies for themselves and hopes that you’ll come along for the ride. So far they’ve proven that audiences are willing to have them in the driver seat.

Folks, I’ve interned in Hollywood and believe me, plot is not a top priority in the So Cal business model. Getting your ass to fork over $12.00 and watch a movie is. Studio execs care about getting you in there and could care less what you think of the film when it’s over, as long as you’ll give your friend’s a casual thumbs up so that they can get their ass in the theater too.

Hollywood assumes that we moviegoers are stupid. Flashy lights, low cut shirts and endless explosions are a sure fire way into our wallets. I have noticed that the only wide-release animated films that avoid some sort of fart or poop joke are Pixar movies. Scatological humor is a cheap and easy laugh, Pixar doesn’t take that route. Pixar proves that people really want to be engaged, and while traits mentioned above can provide a means of entertainment, nothing makes a connection with audiences like an engaging story with characters they can relate to. Why doesn’t the rest of Hollywood take a lesson from Pixar and focus on what really matters in film?

Pixar’s success proves that audiences are smart and want more than farts and flashing lights. While the animation in their films is continuously at the cutting-edge, it is hardly ever the first thing people talk about when discussing their movies. Conversations pertaining to Pixar films usually involve people talking about how much they loved the story and characters. Woody, Sully, Remy, Wall-E, Mr. Fredricksen, etc. have extended their lives beyond the silver-screen and audiences have developed sentimental attachments to them. Like I’ve said before, technology is a tool, not the sole means to an end.

Collins told an interesting story in regards to the production of Toy Story 2. About nine months before release the studio finished production. However, the directors and creative heads hated the finished product. They took a two week retreat and completely rewrote the film from square one. When they returned, they began the laborious process of reanimating and rerecording the voice overs as both animators and actors had a completely new film to make. While at the time it probably seemed suicidal for the company to attempt such an endeavor, Toy Story 2 currently holds a 100% positive rating on film review website Rotten Tomatoes. Several reviewers even make the bold, but seldom used claim that the sequel was better than the original.The film’s success proves that the creative minds at Pixar know what they are doing and showcases Pixar’s dedication to quality.

I will acknowledge that it is easy to praise Pixar and their philosophy. They have stuck with their principles and they seemingly haven’t made any sacrifices to meet the needs of the almighty dollar. However, they haven’t really had any reason to. How true the company sticks to their ideals in the face of a box-office disaster remains to be seen.

For now, Pixar continues to grow and is even branching out into live-action films. Will this larger, more ambitious Pixar keep with the studio’s traditions? After her talk, Collins convinced me that they will. The studio’s dedication to high quality filmmaking hasn’t wavered and it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. Here’s to counting down the days until Toy Story 3.

The 10 Best Films of 2008 – One College Student Sounds Off

Last week I set my crosshairs on the out of touch Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences and I decided (arrogantly) that I truly had the best picks for the top films of 2008. Celebrating my last summer and winter breaks as a college student, I spent as much time as possible in movie theaters gorging on popcorn and hoping the latest from Hollywood could entertain me, enlighten me or, hopefully, do both.

Up until recently, I found the majority of 2008 to be largely a boring year for movies. Last year, No Country For Old Men, Michael Clayton, and especially There Will Be Blood, blew me away, inspiring me to create films with complex moralities and well-developed characters. It was not until my last ditch efforts these last couple weeks that I found films that I truly felt were worthy of the word “inspiring.”

Therefore, I present to you, for the approval of The Midnight Society (and those old people of the Academy who resemble Statler and Waldorf of Muppets fame) the truly best films of 2008.

10. Forgetting Sarah Marshall

While I generally find the Apatow Productions a tad overrated, I thought this one was their best since The 40-Year Old Virgin. This film spoke to its audience honestly about break-ups and didn’t sugarcoat the truth: you can’t be happy in a relationship until you are happy by yourself. It also managed to make me laugh a lot: a worthy entry in the “Romantic Comedy for Guys” genre. I love Jason Segel’s admiration of the Muppets. I really hope he writes the next Muppet film.

9. Hellboy II – The Golden Army

This film is visually stimulating, fun to watch, and displays top-notch fantasy storytelling. I am so glad Guillermo Del Toro is directing The Hobbit. I also loved the fact that Hellboy and Abe Sapien get trashed on Tecate of all beers.

8. Slumdog Millionaire

While I think this movie is, as a rule, generally overrated, it is a very good film. I just don’t think it’s the second coming. I will say that this film displays a traditional Hollywood story-arc, applied to a new setting for American audiences. It features incredible cinematography and an amazing score. I also think that the children who play the protagonists deserve Academy Awards. Go see it, but don’t go in expecting a masterpiece that people are hyping it up to be. It is just good, classic, storytelling.

7. Frost/Nixon

While I think that Ron Howard should exclusively focus his time on the Arrested Development film, I enjoyed Frost/Nixon. Frank Langella’s delivers a great performance as the 37th President of the United States of America. The most interesting part of this film was the way it explored our desire as a society to view our leaders with unrealistic expectations. They are neither super heroes nor super villains, they are just humans. This means that they are capable of the same temptations and flaws as the rest of us. That is something I think we all need to keep in mind as we think about our last and current president.

6. Wall-E

Pixar does it again. Is anyone surprised? While this movie does not surpass Toy Story, The Incredibles, or Ratatouille as my favorite film by the studio, it is definitely an achievement in animation and storytelling. Plus, Wall-E is just so damn cute.

5. Gran Torino

While Sles cites my interpretation of the films ultimate message as, “interesting.”I really feel Eastwood is communicating some very direct and different ways of looking at race relations in our country, especially the way they effect social mobility. Maybe I’ve just been in college too long…either way, I love seeing Eastwood back in the role of a badass, even if it is for the last time.

4. Revolutionary Road

Let me preface by saying that I have not read the book that the film was based on. My impressions of the material are based solely on the film. Now that we have that bit of bureaucracy out of the way, I have to say that this film spoke to me in a very personal way. The film questions the way in which our country’s history has almost mandated that we all pair up and retire to a life in suburbia with children. Whether or not this actually leads to the happiness of fulfillment we all are promised doesn’t seem to dawn on most of us until it feels too late.

Dicaprio and Winslet are spot in their performances. Both give you moments in which you empathize and despise each of them. You can view the film differently each time you see it by watching it through either his or her eyes. Then of course there is Michael Shannon, who manages to put normal, everyday situations in such a cold and calculated. His character cuts through everyone’s delusions and rationality for shortchanging their ambitions.

I can’t forget to mention Thomas Newman’s incredible score. This movie has definitely stuck with me in ways I did not expect it to. It is worth your time if you’ve ever been in a difficult relationship or questioned your current station in life.

3. Speed Racer

Fuck you. If you haven’t seen it, don’t say a damn word. If you’ve seen it and don’t understand how it could have possibly made this list, it is because you don’t get it. You are either too old or too stubborn.

I don’t mean to sound so incredibly hostile or confrontational about this, but I assumed this film would be meaningless and mindless trash. I was wrong and found it to be so much more. This movie is ahead of its time and someday it will be appreciated for its incredible achievements in visual effects, as well as its fusion of video games, movies, new media and Japanese anime. Give it a chance. I will defend it to the death.

2. The Dark Knight

It happens so rarely that I go into a film with incredibly high expectations and find them not only met, but also surpassed. Christopher Nolan is one of my favorite directors and he, along with his cast and crew, constructed one of cinema’s greatest crime thrillers. The film would be great even if it did not include the Batman and Joker characters.

Heath Ledger has already been praised for his terrific contribution to the film, so I really don’t think I can say anything new that hasn’t been said before. I can however talk about Aaron Eckhart’s stellar and overlooked performance. Playing the only character that undergoes any real change in the script, Eckhart’s character Harvey Dent is able to perform a complete 180-degree turn in character and is yet still able to garner empathy from the audience for his decisions. Watching Dent’s fall from Gotham’s White Knight DA to the horribly disfigured and emotionally cold Two-Face is the equivalent of reading the best Greek or Shakespearean tragedy. While Ledger’s Joker may initially bring audiences to the Dark Knight, Eckhart brought me back to the film for multiple viewings.

The film pleases on both the intellectual and visual levels. While the characters were well developed, let’s not forget the semi truck being flipped by the Bat-Pod in IMAX. Awesome.

1. The Wrestler

If you read my article from last week, it is no surprise that is my pick for the best film of 2008. Everyone who was apart of this film brings his or her best. I love character pieces and Mickey Rourke drives this one home. I kept trying to think of a better way to put this than I did in my last article, but I really can’t so I am just going to repeat myself. Watching this film is like watching the most beautiful car wreck you have ever seen: incredibly tragic, but you cannot take your eyes away from it.

The Wrestler is a definite must-see. It reminded me of why I want to make films in the first place. Truly worthy of the word “inspiring.”

Honorable Mentions:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – “Sunrise on Lake Pontchartrain” Google it, this song made the movie for me

Milk – Well made Biopic featuring a great performance from Sean Penn, an actor I generally dislike

The Incredible Hulk – Just fun.

Don’t Even Talk To Me About:

Hancock, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Punisher: War Zone