Shakespeare in 5 minutes

[eregyrn]

Okay, everyone, stop what you're doing and WATCH THIS:

Called "Next!", this came out in 1989, directed by Barry Purves and made by Aardman Animations -- the same guys who did "Creature Comforts" and "Wallace & Gromit", etc. But this is a very different style and mood from those pieces. This isn't funny -- it's just sublime.

I got this in the early 90s on a VHS tape of various Aardman shorts, and have always loved it. The last time I looked for it on YouTube, it wasn't there -- I'm so glad that it is now.

I won't post the list of the order of the plays, in case folks want to play along and figure them out. :)

Comments

[unappropriate.livejournal.com]

oh, that is lovely (and not unlike something thoroughbass posted some time back)!

that said, Okay, everyone, stop what you're doing and WATCH THIS

and here i thought you were gonna ruin the image and the style i was used to. ;)

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

Now I'm imagining orca_girl with Humpty glasses and nose.

[unappropriate.livejournal.com]

what about the santa hat? :)

[eregyrn.livejournal.com]

What the hell are you two referencing?

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

We're referencing the Digital Underground MC Humpty Hump (alter ego of Shock G), and his song The Humpty Dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgohnTU9X0A

[eregyrn.livejournal.com]

Oh, right. Because it's *SO* likely that I was trying to reference that, on purpose.

(It would appear that the Humpty glasses and nose are your basic set of gag Groucho Glasses -- which, actually, I probably owned a set of at one time -- but with the nose done to match his skintone.)

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

Oh, you and telepresence are making me swoon with your old-school references.

[unappropriate.livejournal.com]

:)

[maxineofarc.livejournal.com]

I have GOT to get that on VHS. I've tried showing it to people on Youtube, and it loses so much on the itty bitty screen. I love it so much.

[paian]

Thanks for that! It's really cool, and I'd never seen it or heard about it.

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

For some reason, this is especially squinty for me. I think it's neat, though!

[xandra-lj.livejournal.com]

SQUEE!!!

I remember you and Jude showing me that way back in grad school, and I've ALWAYS wanted a copy! Now, thanks to YouTube, it can be mine, all mine!! *does happy dance*

Besides, I'm teaching a grad course in Shakespeare right now and this would be SO much fun to show them on the last night.

YAY!!

[hungrytiger]

I've been a fan of Barry Purves' work for years (not just 'Next' but some of his other stuff as well). A few years back, I went searching to see if any of his films were available on DVD. The answer was no, but I found his personal website where it turned out that he did occasionally burn DVDs of his short films that he sold out of his basement to folks who posted requests on his forum page (I have one).

Since you posted this, I went to check if he still did that. The answer is no, but a new DVD is available. Here are some exciting links for you.

Barry's page - http://www.barrypurves.com/
A french-made DVD of his short films - http://www.potemkine.fr/catalogue_barry.php
(I believe that the DVD is in english with french subtitles that can be turned off - He's also said that you have have the subtitles on Next say what play each bit is from).
A Book on his work - http://www.amazon.com/Stop-Motion-Passion-Process-Performance/dp/0240520602/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222286541&sr=8-1

Feel free to poke your other commenters with the links I've given you.