Thunderbean Classic Animation Blu-rays

[TheJasbre202]

Originally Posted by ParamountCartoons

But Arnie put a unique content disclaimer for the Jaspers in Puppetoons Vol 2, even if it was only collectors who got it.


This is the official TV distributor release so I want Steve to treat it like one. Maybe wait for the ComiColors.....

the whole reason Warner put 'intended for the adult collector' on most of their sets was because they were sold in stores. Thunderbean's blu-rays are different as only the dedicated collectors and fans know about them, no soccer mom or kid will know what 'Flip the Frog' is and will probably watch a short on youtube before ever buying the set. I can go on, it's just an unneeded thing to put on them unless he decides to sell them in stores and that's not the direction it's going.

Also another thing, consider the amounts of public domain compilation sets in stores without this disclaimer and some of them contain risky Betty Boops and Looney Tunes shorts, kids likely got exposed to that without realizing it. I just disagree with a disclaimer on the packaging, maybe in the product description on thunderbean and amazon, but not on the packaging when it's not being sold in stores.

[Leviathan]

It's similar to Steve removing the NRA logo from the packaging. A disclaimer is a good thing to have. Anything that might stave off negative PR or lower sales is a good thing.

[Steve Stanchfield]

Originally Posted by schristy

One of the things I find fascinating about the Flip cartoons are the variations. I remember a while back when Steve posted the comparison of Funny Face with the different animation of the girl. Steve, once The Circus is assembled, you should consider a commentary track discussing the restoration of the short, if you or even David Gerstein would be willing.

I'm hoping so too! I've found I've been so busy just rushing around trying to get things done that I haven't had a chance to do a deeper dive into the bonus materials as of yet. I have some plans and some things have started, but I'm hoping to get them all figured out within the month- but probably won't be executed until June..

[SpankiePigs]

Hey,
I was just curious if there had been any updates on “Aesop Fables?” I don’t remember it being mentioned in while. Thanks in advance.

[phrankenstign]

It may be hard to believe, but some DVDs and Blu-rays end up being sold in ebay, flea markets, conventions, and pawn shops no matter where they were sold initially. How do I know that? That's where I get a lot of my own discs---and I'm sure I'm not the only one!

I don't understand the objection to putting ONE LINE and at most TWO LINES of text on the packaging to warn responsible parents/guardians of content they may not want to expose to minors. I've never seen the disclaimer dominate everything else on the packaging, and that's not what anybody is asking for---certainly not me.

The argument that not every other manufacturer puts disclaimers on their public domain offerings doesn't matter. YOU, Steve, have authority over what YOU produce. YOU decide what the standards are for YOUR company. If you feel NO responsibility at all for trying to keep what may be construed as adult content from kids, then don't add a disclaimer. Let parents/guardians be surprised when racial bigotry, sexual situations, and other objectionable content is laughingly portrayed as normal to young minds who haven't yet formed the capacity to understand the full context of what they're seeing.

As adults, we can separate the humor from the actual values shown in the historical context of what we're watching. Kids don't have that ability, nor do many even understand the cartoons they watch may have been made in another time altogether. It's up to responsible people to help one another shield the young from that stuff.

[milojthatch]

Originally Posted by TheJasbre202

the whole reason Warner put 'intended for the adult collector' on most of their sets was because they were sold in stores. Thunderbean's blu-rays are different as only the dedicated collectors and fans know about them, no soccer mom or kid will know what 'Flip the Frog' is and will probably watch a short on youtube before ever buying the set. I can go on, it's just an unneeded thing to put on them unless he decides to sell them in stores and that's not the direction it's going.

Also another thing, consider the amounts of public domain compilation sets in stores without this disclaimer and some of them contain risky Betty Boops and Looney Tunes shorts, kids likely got exposed to that without realizing it. I just disagree with a disclaimer on the packaging, maybe in the product description on thunderbean and amazon, but not on the packaging when it's not being sold in stores.

You might not agree with disclaimers on these vintage cartoons, but I fully agree with your points about why they were added by major studios or why they are annoying.

Originally Posted by Leviathan

It's similar to Steve removing the NRA logo from the packaging. A disclaimer is a good thing to have. Anything that might stave off negative PR or lower sales is a good thing.

I seriously doubt lower sales is an issue here, when we are talking about the kind of people that probably wouldn't be interested in vintage cartoons in the first place. This is a large problem with entertainment today via the internet and social media. Lots of people who are not customers of said product complaining and dictating what actual customers get to do or not. It's annoying.

Originally Posted by phrankenstign

It may be hard to believe, but some DVDs and Blu-rays end up being sold in ebay, flea markets, conventions, and pawn shops no matter where they were sold initially. How do I know that? That's where I get a lot of my own discs---and I'm sure I'm not the only one!

Personally, I find modern children's cartoons that lack said disclaimers as more offensive than vintage cartoons, but I digress. If a modern parent who actually cares about such things doesn't know the difference between a modern cartoon with modern sensibilities verse an older cartoons from 50+ years ago, they deserve what they get.

I don't understand why it's so hard for a person today to realize that a cartoon from the 1960's or 1920's might have different sensibilities than today. That was not an issue 20-30 years ago the way it is today. But since so many are so easily offended by vintage content, you'd think they could at least use their God-given sense of reason to realize that content made decades ago is going to possibly be filled with content they find objectionable. But, the easily offended crowd today does tend to need a lot of hand holding, so there you go, I guess I answered my own question.

[ParamountCartoons]

Me and Steve joke about adult collector warnings, kids will buy zee blu-ray and laugh at the outdated and naughty stuff, unless they cry because of the news

[phrankenstign]

Originally Posted by milojthatch

If a modern parent who actually cares about such things doesn't know the difference between a modern cartoon with modern sensibilities verse an older cartoons from 50+ years ago, they deserve what they get.

I don't understand why it's so hard for a person today to realize that a cartoon from the 1960's or 1920's might have different sensibilities than today. That was not an issue 20-30 years ago the way it is today. But since so many are so easily offended by vintage content, you'd think they could at least use their God-given sense of reason to realize that content made decades ago is going to possibly be filled with content they find objectionable. But, the easily offended crowd today does tend to need a lot of hand holding, so there you go, I guess I answered my own question.

Your points are faulty. There are many early cartoons that aren't controversial. That's why the "Censored Eleven" came into being. The problem was dealt with years ago by creating that list, so broadcasters wouldn't have to deal with customer complaints. Parents were somewhat assured their kids could watch "safe" cartoons without having to check TV Guide for the ratings of each cartoon. In those days, there was no way to record anything. Parents/guardians weren't able to preview anything first before allowing their kids to watch.

Since that "Censored Eleven" list hasn't been updated, and the home video market bypasses it entirely, a new way to alert parents/guardians had to be developed. As the home video age has continued, distributors of content are constantly seeking more and more sources. Formerly "lost" films/shorts are being dusted off and looked through for possible release. This is where Thunderbean releases come into the picture. Steve is trying to preserve the history, warts and all, with the best materials available. In many cases, formerly obscure content is brought to prominence with Thunderbean's releases. The average consumer isn't an animation expert. They don't need "hand holding". All they need is guidance on whether they need to view it first to determine whether it is something they may not want their kids to see, or whether it's safe to let the young ones watch without scrutinizing it first. A simple warning on the package is enough. It doesn't detract from any enjoyment of the cartoons on the discs, but it provides a suitable alert.

[phrankenstign]

Originally Posted by ParamountCartoons

Me and Steve joke about adult collector warnings, kids will buy zee blu-ray and laugh at the outdated and naughty stuff, unless they cry because of the news

If kids are buying Blu-rays, then they're a little bit older than the very young, impressionable ones that the adult collector warnings are meant to shield.

[ParamountCartoons]

Originally Posted by phrankenstign

If kids are buying Blu-rays, then they're a little bit older than the very young, impressionable ones that the adult collector warnings are meant to shield.

Mommy! I want to pwe owrder fwip twhe fwog! Pwease pwease pwease sigwn iwn two pawy pawl awnd ewnter yow cwedit cawd iwnfwomawtiown two twhundwbeawn? Pwease pwease pweaseeeee!

Mom: Alright I'll buy this movie. I like dancing frogs, and it's fun to see another frog besides Kermit for once......

*A Few Clicks Later*

Mom: Done and done. Remember, the guy who formed the company is working VERY hard on this set so you'll have to wait till Infinity.

[phrankenstign]

Posting that inane situation with an irresponsible adult is not the reason for putting alerts on the packaging.

The alerts are meant to assist the RESPONSIBLE adults who take their roles seriously.

[Leviathan]

Not only that, not even all adults are as jaded as certain animation historians. Trigger warnings are a thing.

[RandCanuck]

Doesn't everyone know by now that attitudes have changed over the years? Are that many folks that naïve? Maybe. Personally, I find all those content warnings annoying. I'm not against them, but they seem utterly unnecessary to me, and certainly way overdone. I'm pretty liberal, educated, and middle-aged, and not easily offended, so obviously I can't speak for everyone.

Still, a standard, tiny "Intended for the adult collector" type of notice (I don't like the term "warning") isn't a terrible idea, given the climate today.

[Regulas314]

Originally Posted by RandCanuck

Doesn't everyone know by now that attitudes have changed over the years? Are that many folks that naïve? Maybe. Personally, I find all those content warnings annoying. I'm not against them, but they seem utterly unnecessary to me, and certainly way overdone. I'm pretty liberal, educated, and middle-aged, and not easily offended, so obviously I can't speak for everyone.

Still, a standard, tiny "Intended for the adult collector" type of notice (I don't like the term "warning") isn't a terrible idea, given the climate today.

You get it, like you understand it perfectly. I mean lots of kids grew up watching stuff like Popeye and the Looney Tunes which sometimes had risqué content. We can get away with SO MUCH WORSE today! Even in shows meant for kids. But for Flip the Frog, a Pre-Code cartoon? I wouldn’t be adverse to a content sticker. I remember you digging up that Buried Treasure short… Flip has nothing that extreme I’m sure but that clip you posted Steve, I’m actually impressed.

[StuPod]

Originally Posted by Regulas314

You get it, like you understand it perfectly. I mean lots of kids grew up watching stuff like Popeye and the Looney Tunes which sometimes had risqué content. We can get away with SO MUCH WORSE today! Even in shows meant for kids. But for Flip the Frog, a Pre-Code cartoon? I wouldn’t be adverse to a content sticker. I remember you digging up that Buried Treasure short… Flip has nothing that extreme I’m sure but that clip you posted Steve, I’m actually impressed.

*kids grew up watching the edited-for-TV versions of Looney Tunes cartoons

[DawnShadow]

^Not really, a huge amount watched the uncut versions on public domain DVDs.

[Steve Stanchfield]

I think I'm going to put a warning that these cartoons will make you talk about whether there should be a warning!

A ton of the last set of special discs have gone over these past handful of days- with almost all of the rest with Dave as he gets though postage on them. Looking forward to Rainbow Parades coming back in the coming days as we finish off the booklet and back of the package.

Becca has been working overtime on dubbing, organizing and packing all this stuff, while Dave and Becky have been taking care of all the Amazon orders along with organizing and printing all the shop orders.

The Snappy Video "Bury Me an Angel" is now finished and we'll be dubbing the pre-orders tomorrow and Monday. I've been getting a lot of emails wanting the title, so we've put it up in the shop, noting that the last reel is from a standard def source. It's limited to 100 copies beyond the original pre-order. We'll ship this week along with a few other things.

In the 'Special Discs' section, we've put up 'The other 1940 Feature' since we were lucky and able to get the scan in the last few days- so if you missed that one it's there for a week or two right now.

Finally, there's also a new 'Special' set- Lost and Found! It's a BDR disc of things I've come across on the cartoon parade reels, stuff I've bought and forgot I had, and other cool things. The stacks you see on the table there are the other films we're about to scan-- some for special sets, some for this one! Black and White things, IB technicolor prints, Ansco, Kodachrome, complete, incomplete... but I bet all stuff you've either never seen or wanted to!

I'll be headed on the rod trip again to get this next batch entirely done as well as do some Tom and Jerrys, some things for More Technicolor Dreams and Aesop's Fables. Aesops is getting closer to done...

All of these are at the Thunderbean shop- and sales will help cover all that postage from this week and scanning! Thanks to everyone for your support through these years... it's a small but nighty group of collectors here.

[phrankenstign]

Originally Posted by StuPod

*kids grew up watching the edited-for-TV versions of Looney Tunes cartoons

I agree. My kids and their friends mainly watched cartoons on cable and/or satellite offerings like DirecTV and DISH.

Originally Posted by DawnShadow

^Not really, a huge amount watched the uncut versions on public domain DVDs.

Once in a big while, I'd buy a dollar store public domain DVD. However I found they were the worst in quality with faded prints, many cuts and sometimes missing the titles either at the beginning and/or the end. I don't remember watching any uncensored cartoons. In fact, many were recorded off of networks with Nickelodeon, Boomerang, and/or local TV station logos visible in the corners. I usually stayed away from them unless an unusual or unfamiliar title popped up.

[bigshot]

I remember when Pick n Save had dollar DVDs in cardboard cases. I bought them all, even the live action ones. There was some amazing stuff in there. Some of them had quality issues, but what do you want for a buck? I still have a stack of those with titles that I've never seen anywhere else since.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by bigshot

I remember when Pick n Save had dollar DVDs in cardboard cases. I bought them all, even the live action ones. There was some amazing stuff in there. Some of them had quality issues, but what do you want for a buck? I still have a stack of those with titles that I've never seen anywhere else since.

I remember those ... loved them! I found (and still have) many of Ray Harryhausen's early animated fairy tales that way ... long before they made it to any blu-rays. (But they weren't advertised as Harryhausen works ... only as fairy tales). I also bought a few that had Rocky and Bullwinkle themes ... maybe some Davey and Goliath (?) ... although I'd have to check to make sure. Great stuff!