For comparison, here are the matching frames from the finished episode, seen at ca. 16:15. Go here to see them in motion.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Original Inspector Gadget Animation Drawings from "A Bad Altitude"
Today, a couple of 1983 animation drawings that I found a long time ago on Rubberslug. Animation frame drawings from the original Inspector Gadget series are quite hard to come by -- a number of drawings are for sale on Ebay right now, but they're all from either Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas or Inspector Gadget's Field Trip (despite many of the sellers claiming otherwise). These two drawings, however, are sourced from the vintage Season 1 episode "A Bad Altitude":
"A Bad Altitude" has several standout sequences with great-looking animation, and the extended action scene with Brain on top of a M.A.D. cab is one of 'em. Even by themselves, these two still drawings from the scene have a real dynamic feel. I also enjoy seeing the hand-written Japanese notes on the first one, which I'm guessing are instructions from the key animator to the inbetweener (I believe both of these drawings are key frames).
For comparison, here are the matching frames from the finished episode, seen at ca. 16:15. Go here to see them in motion.
For comparison, here are the matching frames from the finished episode, seen at ca. 16:15. Go here to see them in motion.
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Ah yes; this is like one of the best episodes of the first season. Great animation, and great music choices too.
ReplyDeleteI agree. :) Some great action sequences with Penny too. I'd say the animation quality is a little bit uneven when looking at the episode as a whole, but even the less-than-great bits are very competent. And the best animated sequences are terrific -- very solidly done, and at the same time full of funny, cartoony exaggeration.
DeleteHi Mesterius. First of all, as a big fan of "Inspector Gadget", I enjoy reading your blog. Anyway, after you mentioned the hand-written notes, I decided to see if I could read them. The one on the right was a bit challenging, but I think I worked out what it is. In Japanese it reads "A3以降カゲつけないで下さい", which means "Please don't add a shadow after A3". The one on the left is simply "ブラシ", which is "Brush". I guess this refers to the smoke coming out of the car's exhaust pipe.
ReplyDeleteHi! Thank you for the compliment, it's always nice to hear from another reader. :)
DeleteAlso very cool to learn what the Japanese notes mean... thanks for the translation. :) Your theory about "Brush" referring to the smoke sounds right on the money. As for the right-hand note, it's interesting because I just freeze-framed through the scene... and the A3 frame above is actually followed by two more drawings where parts of the car's shadow is still visible, but getting reduced to less and less as the car leaps off the ground. (Of course, by the time it's completely off, there is no more shadow to be seen for the rest of the shot.)
Totally off topic, but my son just got I to the reboot on Netflix here in the US, can we expect a season 2 anytime soon?
ReplyDeleteHi there! The proper Season 2 (i.e. not what Netflix calls Season 2, which is in reality the last part of Season 1) is in production at DHX Halifax as we speak -- but as far as I know, no specific release date has been announced yet. The latest I heard regarding the second season's production can be read here: http://nexttime-gadget.blogspot.no/2015/11/season-2-of-new-inspector-gadget-series.html
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