In this series, one man—a professor of digital culture and a professional cultural critic—assesses TV shows, films, novels, comics, video games, installation art, and more.
As a 1950s child, Saturday morning sitting in front of the latest black and white tv watching cartoons got us hooked on animation. (It also got us hooked on constantly asking our parents to buy whatever the commercials were trying to push on us kids.) Then the '60s gave us after school cartoons. Seeing the older Disney animated films on tv primed us for longer animation beyond cartoons.
But there is one animated short I saw on tv in 1959 as a 7 yr old that would chart my Life. Donald Duck in Mathmagic Land gave me a passion for mathematics. I didn't care how my classmates (or teachers!) felt about math, but I loved it. Actually, in high school, I did have one teacher who loved math.
Fast forward to the time to select a college major. Math actually became my fallback major (for reasons both funny and pragmatic), and I ended up w a BS in Mathematics. Then, my life took a sudden turn away from an aerospace job I was looking forward to, putting me into a job I at first believed I would hate, teaching math in high school.
I had some excellent fellow math teachers but soon learned that these top teachers hated to teach any class below Algebra. I had to take a leave for a year, but when I returned I was determined to teach only those older students who were in the "undesirable student" group. I had a good friend angrily ask me why, w a math deg I wasn't teaching calculus! I told her that, to my students, fractions were abstract and difficult. They needed and wanted someone to explain the basics to them, which is what I ended up doing for 30 years; it went from being the furthest thing in my mind after college to being the closest thing to my heart.
Although my students were content w being able to pass my classes and graduate w/o needing to replicate my passion for the subject, once in a while I would find a student who had an interest beyond the syllabus. One day, a young lady entered my class, returned the next two days, and at the end of the third day raised her hand to ask a question. Being prepared for the usual questions, I was stunned when she said seriously, "Mrs. B, what's the biggest number?" Wow! The dismissal bell was about to ring, so I said we could talk about that tomorrow. Well, as it turned out, she never returned but had gone on to the continuation school. I always hoped she would find someone who helped her answer her question.
So I just wanted to say that animation can be not just entertaining but also serve a powerful role. That animation short 6 decades ago impacted my Life, taking me to where I never thought I would end up but grateful that I did.
Oh, one more thing, because 1959 was at the beginning of America's space program, the nation had a need to develop a scientific and technical workforce. Donald Duck in Mathmagic Land became a way to generate student interest in math.
I’ve seen all of these movies more than 10 times. The joy of having grandchildren. I am jappy to see Song of the Sea and Isle of Dogs high on the list. You did a great job with this list. Perfection!!
Land Before Time has continually been my 7 grandkids favorite. All around the age of 4. It was my daughter’s favorite too. Cute movie with a great message.
As a 1950s child, Saturday morning sitting in front of the latest black and white tv watching cartoons got us hooked on animation. (It also got us hooked on constantly asking our parents to buy whatever the commercials were trying to push on us kids.) Then the '60s gave us after school cartoons. Seeing the older Disney animated films on tv primed us for longer animation beyond cartoons.
But there is one animated short I saw on tv in 1959 as a 7 yr old that would chart my Life. Donald Duck in Mathmagic Land gave me a passion for mathematics. I didn't care how my classmates (or teachers!) felt about math, but I loved it. Actually, in high school, I did have one teacher who loved math.
Fast forward to the time to select a college major. Math actually became my fallback major (for reasons both funny and pragmatic), and I ended up w a BS in Mathematics. Then, my life took a sudden turn away from an aerospace job I was looking forward to, putting me into a job I at first believed I would hate, teaching math in high school.
I had some excellent fellow math teachers but soon learned that these top teachers hated to teach any class below Algebra. I had to take a leave for a year, but when I returned I was determined to teach only those older students who were in the "undesirable student" group. I had a good friend angrily ask me why, w a math deg I wasn't teaching calculus! I told her that, to my students, fractions were abstract and difficult. They needed and wanted someone to explain the basics to them, which is what I ended up doing for 30 years; it went from being the furthest thing in my mind after college to being the closest thing to my heart.
Although my students were content w being able to pass my classes and graduate w/o needing to replicate my passion for the subject, once in a while I would find a student who had an interest beyond the syllabus. One day, a young lady entered my class, returned the next two days, and at the end of the third day raised her hand to ask a question. Being prepared for the usual questions, I was stunned when she said seriously, "Mrs. B, what's the biggest number?" Wow! The dismissal bell was about to ring, so I said we could talk about that tomorrow. Well, as it turned out, she never returned but had gone on to the continuation school. I always hoped she would find someone who helped her answer her question.
So I just wanted to say that animation can be not just entertaining but also serve a powerful role. That animation short 6 decades ago impacted my Life, taking me to where I never thought I would end up but grateful that I did.
Oh, one more thing, because 1959 was at the beginning of America's space program, the nation had a need to develop a scientific and technical workforce. Donald Duck in Mathmagic Land became a way to generate student interest in math.
What, no Box Trolls??
The Aristocats at #96? Deeply controversial!
Your Name and Ghost in the Shell absolutely belong on this list.
Richard Linklater's "Waking Life" and "A Scanner Darkly"
Titan A.E., starring Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore, and Bill Pullman
I’ve seen all of these movies more than 10 times. The joy of having grandchildren. I am jappy to see Song of the Sea and Isle of Dogs high on the list. You did a great job with this list. Perfection!!
Land Before Time has continually been my 7 grandkids favorite. All around the age of 4. It was my daughter’s favorite too. Cute movie with a great message.