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Author
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Comment
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isthmus
nekoi
Registered User
(8/8/03 2:57 pm)
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disney redeems itself ^_~ (the brave little toaster)
I don't know if anyone's seen The Brave Little Toaster, but I loved this little Disney flick as a kid, and was blown away when I watched it again recently. It's not exactly a fairy tale, but definetely has fantastical elements; 5 appliances residing in a summer cottage go out in search of their old 'master' who now lives in the city.
Sounds very sweet, but in fact, upon rewatching it, saw it as a very complex examination (criticism actually, would be more accurate) of postmodernity, late capitalism and generally, the relationship b/w humans and their resources...
While on its surface it seems to be in keeping w/the Disney formula, what w/the song numbers, cutesy characters, G rating and all, it actually deviates *a lot* from the usual Disney fare.
There are some really interesting scenes that just wouldn't cut it in a blockbuster Disney flick. In one scene, the toaster finds herself (or himself, I couldn't tell) w/a flower. The flower 'sees' itself reflected in the toaster's chrome, and reaches out towards its own image. The toaster shies away saying something like: no, I'm not a flower... s/he turns to look back and sees that the flower is now dead and wilted. The scene does not further the narrative (*big* no no in Hollywood), but it's a beautiful image despite the low production values of the film, and underlined (for me), this relationship b/w nature/technology and ppl; the shared function of nature/tech as resources for human consumption, objects whose worth are measured by their usefulness to humans and the consequences of that relationship. That's only one way to look at it though, I think.....
I remember I really liked the song w/the junkyard cars (reference to a disposable culture?). I liked it so much I recorded it onto a cassette lol... Watching that again I see how this film goes beyond the simplified notion that 'bad' American pop culture goes about destroying other cultures while propagating itself via consumerism. In this song, where old abandoned cars share their narratives of their own experiences of America, only to be crushed into identical compact metal cubes after doing so - we see diversity *w/i* the dominant culture being leached out b/c it is "worthless". This naturally, includes the narrative of the First Nations ppl...
A good paper I found on this: www.chapman.edu/animation/harryb.html
Anyone else like this movie?
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RBrunea
Registered User
(8/10/03 11:16 am)
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Brave Little Toaster
I think I remember reading this as a short story when I was a teenager. I almost skipped it, thinking, "How interesting can a story about appliances be?" Not only did I finish it, but it must have left an impression, because when I saw it on TV many years later I immediately popped a tape in to record it "for the kids". We all love it. It's definitely not fluff entertainment. There are the moments of pain and disillusionment, but it's also fulfilling in the end. I didn't realize it was Disney! There are many messages you can draw from any good story. I think the one that stands out to me the most at this point in life is not letting seemingly impossible circumstances stop you from following your heart to where you MUST be. It shows absolute determination in spite of many discouragements. I think it does function a lot like a fairy tale in that it allows for the drawing out of meaningful lessons.
Blessings,
Rhonda
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Meurglys
Registered User
(8/11/03 8:02 am)
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Re: Brave Little Toaster
It was originally a Tom Disch short story... I understand
he eventually wrote a sequel (BLT
Goes to Mars, IIRC)
At the time the animation was meant to be some of the best; the reflective surface of the Toaster was new to animation, I'm sure I remember reading.
It's shown here occasionally; I remember it was shown early on New Year's Day a couple of years running, maybe 5 years ago, or so, which was when I first saw it.
Thoroughly enjoyed it both times, although it took ages to realise that one of the objects was an electric blanket!
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isthmus
nekoi
Registered User
(8/11/03 12:41 pm)
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Re: Brave Little Toaster
I think Disney produced the film, but not sure if their studios animated it. The character designs and backgrounds are very un-Disney for the time. Same goes for the score.
Oh that's right about the sequel, I'd forgotten about that - there was also an animated sequel (by Disney too I think) but I haven't seen it. I think the books are now out of print too.
Edited by: isthmus nekoi at: 8/11/03 12:42 pm
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tlchang37
Registered User
(8/11/03 9:30 pm)
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re: Brave Little Toaster
Actually, Hyperion Pictures produced BLT. Disney has only been in charge of distribution of it's home video incarnation. Hyperion hasn't done much else that is recognizable - a 2000 straight to video version of Hansel and Gretel, as well as straight video BLT Goes to Mars and BLT to the Rescue. (None of which I have seen). I very much enjoyed the original BLT though. It took me awhile to place the voice of Kirby (the vacuum cleaner) - it's the guy who does Tony the Tiger!
Tara
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