Twisted Toons

I'm not sure what you would call the first person to single-handedly draw a feature-length animated film. Ambitious? Definitely. Crazy? Possibly. Bill Plympton? For sure. The film, currently making the art theater rounds, is called The Tune, and Twisted Toons features a number of clips from the film as well as some scenes of the "making of" The Tune. Filmmaker Anthony Arcidi mixes interview footage with Plympton's parents, Simpsons' creator Matt Groening, Sody Clampett (wife of animator Bob Clampett of Beany & Cecil fame), and Maureen McElheron who wrote the music for The Tune and lent her talents to other Plympton shorts, with the commentary of Plympton himself to set a context in which to view Plympton's work. Film buffs will already be familiar with a few of the classic Plympton shorts (One of Those Days, How to Kiss, 25 Ways to Quit Smoking, and the Oscar-nominated Your Face), all of which are profiled here, and newcomers will have a chance to see an admittedly warped cartoon genius in operation. Twisted Toons would have benefited from a little tighter editing. The testimonials from Groening and company aren't half as interesting as listening to Plympton, himself, and some of the real time drawings which Plympton produces will be of great interest to fellow artists but tend to be a little boring for the general public. Still, Twisted Toons is a good introduction to the work of America's premier cutting-edge independent animator, and it's being made available at a very affordable price. Recommended. (Available from: Renegade Films, 747 Main St., Concord, MA 01742; (508) 371-1916.)