Happy Happy Joy Joy Redux

This was a real treat. For my latest article for LA Alternative, "Happy Happy Joy Joy Redux," I interviewed John Kricfalusi (aka John K.), the creator of Ren and Stimpy. John K. has a new DVD, Ren and Stimpy: The Lost Episodes, coming out on July 18, so it was a great opportunity to ask him about his creations, his influences, and his thoughts on the current state of animation.

Here's a tease:

“There’s no such thing as a writer-driven cartoon,” says Kricfalusi. “There’s only the non-artist-driven cartoon. The big misconception about animation is that if it’s drawn poorly then it must be written well. And I say ‘no.’ It’s written poorly and it’s drawn poorly. [Cartoons] are a visual storytelling medium.”

Image: A still from "Ren Seeks Help" from the new Ren and Stimpy: The Lost Episodes DVD.

Sexy Beast

Here's "Sexy Beast," an article on Godzilla that I wrote for LA Alternative. Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1956), Godzilla 2000 (1999), and Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack! (2001) are all being screened as part of the American Cinematheque's "Giant Monsters on the Loose!" film festival.

For this story I interviewed the festival's co-organizer and editor of SciFiJapan.com Keith Aiken; journalist and film historian Steve Ryfle; and editor of G-Fan Magazine J.D. Lees.

Here's an appetizer:

“With Gojira, you’re watching a film made by people who experienced a nuclear holocaust,” says Aiken. “The film was made nine years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was very fresh in people’s minds.” A visit to the aftermath of Hiroshima left a powerful impression on Gojira director Ishiro Honda, adding an unexpected gravitas to scenes of crowds running for their lives, children being measured for radioactivity, and the injured masses suffering in hospitals.

Image: Still from Gojira (1954), which Classic Media is releasing on DVD on September 5.

Los Angeles Plays Itself

Here's "Los Angeles Plays Itself," an article I wrote for LA Alternative on the Electronic Entertainment Expo (aka E3), which takes place every year in downtown Los Angeles.

Here's a sampling:

As if the rising cost of gasoline and housing weren’t enough, Sony announced at a pre-E3 conference that their fully loaded Playstation 3 would be released in November at a jaw-dropping cost of $599. Now comes a difficult choice: send your kid to preschool or be the first on your block to play Final Fantasy XIII.

Image: Squatting may become the next big thing when Nintendo releases Wario Ware: Smooth Moves for the Wii.