The Tune

I've been a fan of Bill Plympton for a very long time and I just had to own this movie. It's sort of about a tune-writer whose stuck on some lyrics and up against a deadline for his tyrannical boss, but it's really just an excuse to illustrate strange and humourous situations to jingles that are guaranteed to get stuck in your head (I'll just say two words: "Flooby nooby").

If you've only watched this movie once then you haven't experienced it. You need to watch it again because it is then when you'll discover its brilliance. Believe me, the first time I hated it, then I was forced to watch it again, and it now is one of my favorite movies of all times. Great songs, great story, great animation. Plympton and McElheron are geniouses! Please appreciate this movie as much as I do.

This full length film is highly recommended for Bill Plympton fans or fans of edgy animation. A solid effort from one of America's most distinctive animation artists.For the most part "The Tune seems to be a collection of Bill Plympton's shorter animations strung together with the aid of a thin storyline. The story is a sweet one, of love and what it means to give someone a song. But the main character is a little cloying, and it's hard to care much about what happens to him and his girl. That being said, the peripheral characters, who star in the musical numbers, are much more interesting. The animations are outstanding and easily stand on their own. They seem to have been done at different times, in different styles, and it seems like not all these bits were aware they were gonna become a part of this movie. As a result each has a slightly different look, and color palette, which adds to the interest of the film.Plympton's signature pencil sketch style is jumpy, wierd, disorienting and hilarious. Heads fold in half, split in two, and turn inside out. Characters morph into representations of the lyrics while they sing. The Wiseman's bald head grows funny hats by the dozens while a twangy countrified guitar does speed-solos. Serious tango partners share dumb jokes.Each scene (for the most part) is based on a song, and the music is very catchy. I bought the soundtrack and still sing "Isn't It Good Again" and "Dance All Day" to myself frequently.This is not your standard animated movie. It's intended audience is adults, though it's certainly not "dirty" and kids could enjoy most sections of this. At most, sex is hinted at, as when a hotdog enthusiastically leaps into a hotdog bun. Pretty obvious, and amusing, but at the same time fairly innocuous. Also, we get to see a moment of naked animated bums at the end of "Dance All Day." Nothing your average kid can't handle.In fullscreen, about an hour long. Regrettably, the sound is slightly muddy, and like most of Plmyptons releases, it's short on special features (there are none) and DVD production values aren't the highest. But this flick is certainly worth seeing on it's own merits.

Celebrated cartoonist Bill Plympton's first feature film is a surreal musical fantasy with some inspired animation. He financed it entirely by himself, raising extra money by doing work for a few television commercials (see "Plymptoons: Complete Works" on DVD). He also released early portions of the film as shorts to help generate funds ("Dig My Do" in 1990, "Push Comes To Shove" and "The Wiseman" in 1991), even winning the 1991 Prix du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival for "Push Comes To Shove." Working again with Maureen McElheron (she scored his 1988 Oscar-nominated short "Your Face"), Plympton pieces together the story of a songwriter who, after receiving a 47-minute deadline to deliver a hit song or get fired, finds himself lost in the town of Flooby Nooby. Through the course of ten musical numbers (touching on various popular music genres) and some outstanding animation sequences, he learns to pen songs from the heart rather than by the book. This film is classic Plympton, but the light-hearted theme and often silly songs contrast greatly with the bizarre sex and violence of his second feature-length film "I Married A Strange Person."

okay-like if anyone has ever tripped before or is like wanting to this is the movie for you. This movie is sooo weird! there's like stuff-people coming out of a dude's head-and like the dude that the movie is based on, well he gets lost in this weird town called flooby nooby and he has like 45 min. to write a song. Honestly if you aren't on anything it will kinda make you feel like you are--I'd say this movie is for(well i'll be nice)people experienced with physecidelic-uh..things! over all it was kinda trippy!

Funny

The Tune is one of my favorite movies ever. I cannot tire of it. What talent Bill Plympton has!

Classic Plympton Animation! Great "tunes" and a great "tune." Don't miss it! The wise sage Gus might change your life. Your kids will like it too.

This is a truly outstanding film. A crayon feel to the animation, it runs from one set piece to another, telling the story of Del, trying to find inspiration to write the perfect song. This process draws him to his true love, and a fantastical journey on the way.It has some great songs, some funny, some beautiful. The animation is at times fast moving, other times atmospheric. I don't know anything about this animator, but this film really does bear repeated viewing.I'm going to show it to my 2 1/2 yr old daughter, and I think she's going to love it.