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seeksstaronmewni · 6 years

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Bryan Andrews and The Powerpuff Girls: Heating up the City of Townsville!

A week ago I decided to get screencaps from The Powerpuff Girls episode “Live and Let Dynamo” to reference and study the action, explosions, designs, all of that cool stuff. They really went all out on the action--so many explosions, so much destruction, such bright glows all over the place--and I’d like to thank storyboard artist & writer Bryan Andrews (Samurai Jack, Marvel flicks) for doing some pretty nice choreography. The episode itself may very well be an excuse to test out their action, extremes and direction on the show.

Often, when I study explosions in cartoons, particularly those of Genndy Tartakovsky or Don Bluth, I reference key frames of the explosion. In the pics above, I note the very short, specific shots of the explosion’s beginning as a missile sets off next to Bubbles, where there’re shots of extreme flashes, strong bursts of energy and whatnot as the missile explodes. Following the flash are 2 main shots of the explosions--one is in good view of the flash surrounding it and the other is the explosion filling the screen.

Another important part to note is how the action is displayed and portrayed. In this shot, the angles aren’t parallel to the ground--they’re very specific. Also, the background is composed of buildings that’re CGI props (probably done by Savage Frog!) to make background panning be easier and smoother, namely with how many directions the camera seems to go. This isn’t too common in the series, but it’s certainly something we currently see not in the Nick Jennings & Bob Boyle episodes. Compare the shots below from Live and Let Dynamo vs. Toy Ploy:

In my opinion, designs in the 2002-2005 episodes’ are far better, which’re very detailed, threatening-looking and firey with dynamic, sharp light streaks, whereas the current designs are mostly colored dust clouds (similar, perhaps, to explosions in PPG episodes from 1998-2001)--simpler detail with rounder-edged light streaks, which convey less energy in the explosion.

Now, this explosion from the episode Power of Four act 1, “Find Your Bliss”, in the segment “Space Towtruck vs. Judge Tread”, is a big improvement. (Props and Effects Designer: Nathan Rico; Storyboarded by @chanimations & @gracekraft)

Also, like many current Cartoon Network Studios projects, though Robert Alvarez & Randy Myers still direct animation, the timing/animation appears to be pervasively slow-paced, excluding Samurai Jack Season 5.

Glow effects, as I said before, are highly emphasized in this episode, occasionally greatly poignant. Stephen Jennings did the “Digital Effects”.

In some shots, of course, the glows are used for the atmosphere, similar to the glow effects in Star Wars: Clone Wars CHAPTER 23.

(picture reveal regarding the below coming eventually)

One of the coolest weapons in Live and Let Dynamo are the 2 missiles that explode to release hundreds or more of mini, bee-striped explosives all over the city. That kind of weapon is a very realistic representation of highly dangerous, violent explosives--in a kids’ show. The result is high-octane and all over the place.

(Better picture comparison regarding the below coming eventually)

Another cool thing about Live and Let Dynamo is a more or less subtle reference to Star Wars: Clone Wars CHAPTER II, where Blossom flies toward Dynamo’s missiles and calls for “evasive action!” Obi-Wan did the same thing in Clone Wars, and both episodes were storyboarded and written by Bryan Andrews. Like I tweeted before: Coincidence, Cartoon Network?

It’s worthy to note that Roque Ballesteros storyboarded on Star Wars: Forces of Destiny, the most recent 2D Star Wars cartoon, and storyboarded and wrote The Powerpuff Girls episode “Power-Up Puff”. I compare this to Bryan Andrews storyboarding and writing Star Wars: Clone Wars and The Powerpuff Girls, so, though I’d love to see Bryan work on PPGs again, Roque may be the future “Bryan Andrews” of action in animation. Likewise, David Krentz (Hotel Transylvania 2, Marvel flicks) storyboarded for Samurai Jack EPISODE XCIV with Genndy Tartakovsky in place of Bryan, so Krentz could be another future “Bryan Andrews” of action in animation.

Speaking of action in animation, what this episode of The Powerpuff Girls has that the current ones don’t is well-timed animation. While most everything in CN shows these days are slow-paced throughout in animation, most cartoons like Samurai Jack and Star vs. the Forces of Evil have well-balanced animation that is occasionally slow in pace, but the action movements usually have faster-paced animation. I know not if Robert Alvarez or SMIP is responsible for the pervasive slow-pace, but it seems obvious.

Lastly, I feel that uncredited sound designer/editor Joel Valentine and his team deserve credit. That was probably a whole LOT of sound to cut for this action-packed 11-minute episode, and certainly compared to his recent sound design work on Disney’s Big City Greens. Also, props to @chrisbattleart @serapiocalm and Charlie Bean for the prop design!

Share this post if you agree! It’s one thing we need to see in The Powerpuff Girls again--more action and better explosions, with faster-paced, well-balanced animation timing.

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