Comments on: Mole as Painter/Knowledge Rules http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:43:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: vivian http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-231716 vivian Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:35:57 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/#comment-231716 Most anything on the Noggin cable/satellite channel is great for kids under school age. Some of it is rather dull for the parents, at least the hundredth time, but it has no unpleasant surprises. Most shows are not as faux-sweet as disney fare or other moralizing crap (except for Franklin, Lazytown, Miss Spider, probably forgetting something else that is saccharine and very... suburban). Backyardigans is possibly most interesting to parents because of the song parodies and the dancing. But I'm not ashamed to have my kids watch these shows, even if I will introduce the clips y'all are recommending too. Most anything on the Noggin cable/satellite channel is great for kids under school age. Some of it is rather dull for the parents, at least the hundredth time, but it has no unpleasant surprises. Most shows are not as faux-sweet as disney fare or other moralizing crap (except for Franklin, Lazytown, Miss Spider, probably forgetting something else that is saccharine and very… suburban). Backyardigans is possibly most interesting to parents because of the song parodies and the dancing. But I’m not ashamed to have my kids watch these shows, even if I will introduce the clips y’all are recommending too.

]]> By: Cian http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-231702 Cian Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:33:51 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/#comment-231702 There's also a Moomins that was (I think) a US production using stop gap animation. Avoid - absolutely bloody terrible. Most of CBeebies shows are awful. Charlie & Lola is the only other show (other than "In the Night Garden) that is good. But presumably anybody with a toddler knows that show already... My kids like Len Lye, for what that's worth. There’s also a Moomins that was (I think) a US production using stop gap animation. Avoid – absolutely bloody terrible.

Most of CBeebies shows are awful. Charlie & Lola is the only other show (other than “In the Night Garden) that is good. But presumably anybody with a toddler knows that show already…

My kids like Len Lye, for what that’s worth.

]]> By: harry b http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-231676 harry b Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:32:11 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/#comment-231676 Yes it is -- and the youtube version is from the Japanese (I didn't check it till now). Very interesting. I had assumed that it was the same version we own (region 2 dvd, PAL) but its not -- the version we have is German (I think) and is from 1977. It is eerie and delightful, I can't imagine that it has been done better (but I may be wrong). Definitely, Henry, this one is too old for your toddler -- wait 3 years. Also, now, try The Woodentops, and Torchy the Battery Boy (bizarre). A friend told me that as soon as she saw there was a single comment under this post she knew it would be me. Pathetically predictable. Yes it is—and the youtube version is from the Japanese (I didn’t check it till now). Very interesting. I had assumed that it was the same version we own (region 2 dvd, PAL) but its not—the version we have is German (I think) and is from 1977. It is eerie and delightful, I can’t imagine that it has been done better (but I may be wrong). Definitely, Henry, this one is too old for your toddler—wait 3 years. Also, now, try The Woodentops, and Torchy the Battery Boy (bizarre).

A friend told me that as soon as she saw there was a single comment under this post she knew it would be me. Pathetically predictable.

]]> By: notsneaky http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-231663 notsneaky Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:47:53 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/#comment-231663 Ah. It's Japanese production. Ah. It’s Japanese production.

]]> By: Harry http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-231649 Harry Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:52:54 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/#comment-231649 Actually, the moomins are now available through amazon, in region 1 NTSC dvd. Fantastic. Actually, the moomins are now available through amazon, in region 1 NTSC dvd. Fantastic.

]]> By: notsneaky http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-231647 notsneaky Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:42:52 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/#comment-231647 And the Mummintrolls! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm_tJGxJh2I But here you need the dialogue which is in Polish (not sure if it's Polish or Finnish production). And the Mummintrolls!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm_tJGxJh2I

But here you need the dialogue which is in Polish (not sure if it’s Polish or Finnish production).

]]> By: notsneaky http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-231646 notsneaky Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:39:22 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/#comment-231646 For Polish cartoons, there's Bolek i Lolek: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=179FbqiP3z4 and Reksio (I, like many other kids, had a dog named Reksiu) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeV4YzfWkTk&feature=related The animation is much simpler than "Krecik" though. There's also some arty Russian animation somewhere that I remember that folks may like, but personally, clay-animation (which is what this was), still spooks the hell outta me. For Polish cartoons, there’s Bolek i Lolek:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=179FbqiP3z4

and Reksio (I, like many other kids, had a dog named Reksiu)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeV4YzfWkTk&feature=related

The animation is much simpler than “Krecik” though.
There’s also some arty Russian animation somewhere that I remember that folks may like, but personally, clay-animation (which is what this was), still spooks the hell outta me.

]]> By: harry b http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-231600 harry b Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:55:27 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/#comment-231600 Is this your "Did anyone see Casualty last night?" post? Is this your “Did anyone see Casualty last night?” post?

]]> By: Dingbat http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-231596 Dingbat Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:45:03 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/#comment-231596 Just a note of thanks from the parent of a 2-year-old. We'd been keeping the TV viewing largely in the realm of nature documentaries, but last week when Jr. informed us in the morning that "crocodile bite you--sharp teeth--owie!" I started to think that perhaps some lighter fare was in order (and the neighbor whom she likes to visit has a propensity for sharing Sesame Street, to which I am--probably excessively--opposed). Just a note of thanks from the parent of a 2-year-old. We’d been keeping the TV viewing largely in the realm of nature documentaries, but last week when Jr. informed us in the morning that “crocodile bite you—sharp teeth—owie!” I started to think that perhaps some lighter fare was in order (and the neighbor whom she likes to visit has a propensity for sharing Sesame Street, to which I am—probably excessively—opposed).

]]> By: harry b http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-231583 harry b Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:55:49 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/#comment-231583 gosh, gabe has a long memory. He is too young for Oliver Postgate, but only, I'd say, by a year or so (The Clangers come first). Its worth getting Noggin the Nog on dvd (not at amazon uk, but at sendit.com) and dedicating a computer to playing region 1 discs. Noggin the Nog is brilliant. I really hate to say this, but there's a lot to be said for the Wiggles (Play School in colour, basically). magistra is right about Cbeebies. And it is true there's nothing pro-social about them (I am working on a post about this, oddly). BUT, I would advise against Pingu, who is evil incarnate. gosh, gabe has a long memory.

He is too young for Oliver Postgate, but only, I’d say, by a year or so (The Clangers come first). Its worth getting Noggin the Nog on dvd (not at amazon uk, but at sendit.com) and dedicating a computer to playing region 1 discs. Noggin the Nog is brilliant.

I really hate to say this, but there’s a lot to be said for the Wiggles (Play School in colour, basically).

magistra is right about Cbeebies. And it is true there’s nothing pro-social about them (I am working on a post about this, oddly). BUT, I would advise against Pingu, who is evil incarnate.

]]> By: Sumana Harihareswara http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-231573 Sumana Harihareswara Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:45:19 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/#comment-231573 Parents: the Miro video viewer/podcast catcher is a great tool for grabbing YouTube clips to save on your computer. <a href="http://www.getmiro.com" rel="nofollow">It's free and open source and runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux.</a> Parents: the Miro video viewer/podcast catcher is a great tool for grabbing YouTube clips to save on your computer. It’s free and open source and runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux.

]]> By: Matt McIrvin http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-231566 Matt McIrvin Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:40:47 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/#comment-231566 I have bad associations with that cartoon: I remember an elementary-school "Back to School Night" (the annual open house for parents) for which my parents couldn't get a babysitter, and took my sister and me to the school with them, where we ended up parked in the gymnasium with a crowd of rowdy kids, supervised for at least part of that time by older children who wouldn't let us go to the bathroom for some reason, while they showed whatever ancient movies they could dig out of the vault for what seemed like twenty hours. "The Mole as Painter" was one of them. At least it was in color. I have bad associations with that cartoon: I remember an elementary-school “Back to School Night” (the annual open house for parents) for which my parents couldn’t get a babysitter, and took my sister and me to the school with them, where we ended up parked in the gymnasium with a crowd of rowdy kids, supervised for at least part of that time by older children who wouldn’t let us go to the bathroom for some reason, while they showed whatever ancient movies they could dig out of the vault for what seemed like twenty hours. “The Mole as Painter” was one of them. At least it was in color.

]]> By: Martin Wisse http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-231562 Martin Wisse Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:05:53 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/#comment-231562 Czech animation series Pat and Mat (better known in holland as "Buurman en Buurman") might be interesting: two d.i.y. neighbours who together create the most impossible cackhanded jerryrigged solutions to simple problems like building a bookcase. Great fun and can largely be followed without dialogue. Czech animation series Pat and Mat (better known in holland as “Buurman en Buurman”) might be interesting: two d.i.y. neighbours who together create the most impossible cackhanded jerryrigged solutions to simple problems like building a bookcase. Great fun and can largely be followed without dialogue.

]]> By: magistra http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-231552 magistra Mon, 10 Mar 2008 07:44:21 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/#comment-231552 Your son may not be quite ready for it yet, but the classic name in British children's TV is Oliver Postgate, who wrote Ivor the Engine, the Clangers, Noggin the Nog and Bagpuss, all of which are wonderful and deeply imaginative. (The first book I ever read myself was about Noggin the Nog, who I have recently learned was inspired by the Lewis Chessmen). For a good idea of what is currently being produced in toddlers' TV, see the <a>CBeebies website</a>, which is for the BBC channel for preschoolers and which has some clips from the shows. It depends a bit on your child's taste, but there is a lot of UK material on this channel which doesn't have the same relentless prosocial moralising of US shows. This includes things like In the Night Garden (now I believe the adult trippy-hippy programme of choice), Balamory, Pingu, Big Barn Farm etc. If anything does appeal, most of this is available on DVD. Your son may not be quite ready for it yet, but the classic name in British children’s TV is Oliver Postgate, who wrote Ivor the Engine, the Clangers, Noggin the Nog and Bagpuss, all of which are wonderful and deeply imaginative. (The first book I ever read myself was about Noggin the Nog, who I have recently learned was inspired by the Lewis Chessmen).

For a good idea of what is currently being produced in toddlers’ TV, see the CBeebies website, which is for the BBC channel for preschoolers and which has some clips from the shows. It depends a bit on your child’s taste, but there is a lot of UK material on this channel which doesn’t have the same relentless prosocial moralising of US shows. This includes things like In the Night Garden (now I believe the adult trippy-hippy programme of choice), Balamory, Pingu, Big Barn Farm etc. If anything does appeal, most of this is available on DVD.

]]> By: gabe http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-231547 gabe Mon, 10 Mar 2008 06:00:34 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/03/10/mole-as-painterknowledge-rules/#comment-231547 Belgian favourite <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nA0JTQ6y1I" rel="nofollow">Bumba</a>. If you insist on vintage E.European, my vote for beautiful animation is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8isElZlKRWA" rel="nofollow">Colargol-Jeremy-Barnaby</a> Regarding comment 3, this reminds me of my <a href="http://crookedtimber.org/2004/02/10/good-childhood/" rel="nofollow"> all time favourite thread at CT</a> (the one where Timothy Burke rips into "veggie tales"). Happy times. Belgian favourite Bumba.

If you insist on vintage E.European, my vote for beautiful animation is Colargol-Jeremy-Barnaby

Regarding comment 3, this reminds me of my all time favourite thread at CT (the one where Timothy Burke rips into “veggie tales”). Happy times.

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