Cartoon Sunday: Watership Down {DisturbingTrailer}

How's it going my gumdrops? As a quick reminder, I will NOT  be publishing any blogs for Song Saturday or Cartoon Sunday next weekend. For Easter, I will be taking a break. 

Sometimes it is amazing how March can be about Saint Patrick's Day, then suddenly switch to being about Easter within a matter of days. 

During the last part of last week, I had the hardest time deciding what to share for today's Cartoon Sunday. I wanted to share a creepy animated short. After all the searching I did, it appears that I found something, that actually creeped ME out. It left me with the feeling of "What the FUCK did I just watch?!" 

Have you ever watched, much less heard of Watership Down? It was an animated film from 1978 named after Richard Adams' Fantasy Thriller novel of the same name. Never in all my years of living have I ever seen, much less heard of this G-rated movie. 

Watching 3 1/2 minutes of Watership Down's trailer felt as if I was in the middle of watching a darkly humored, animated prank aimed at children. However, I don't believe Watership Down was meant for younger viewers. 

You may ask "Anna, why do you think Watership Down is 'darkly humored'?" 

You could say I am in disbelief, that such a movie was marketed for children to go see in movie theaters, 4 decades ago. Watching the trailer was like a horrific, animated trailer of Animal Farm except the movie is about rabbits.

It has been said that Watership Down was popular among adults, who attended late-night screenings in 1978. In addition, it is considered to be the most VIOLENT animated G-rated film to have EVER been made.  

The British Board of Film Classification still receives complaints, 40 years after the release of Watership Down. 

It is understandable that the late filmmaker, John Hubley (He died in 1977.) and Martin Rosen wanted Watership Down to personify and give their anthropomorphic depiction of Richard Adams' novel. All the while, the BBFC and MPAA really did NOT  take their target demographic more seriously. 

Watership Down released literally 6 years before the United Kingdom and States began enforcing censorship, and before the launching of the PG-13 rating. In 1978, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) passed Watership Down with a 'U' certificate. 

A 'U' certificate in the United Kingdom is similar to a Rated-G film in America. 

I cannot speak for everyone else. Although, I find this to be not only hypocritical, but also appalling. 

The BBFC, MPAA, media watchdog groups, and Christian zealots spent YEARS demonizing the Slasher Horror sub-genre and browbeating Slasher Horror filmmakers during the 1980's. It was to the extent, that more films went directly to video to avoid persecution. 

And yet the BBFC and MPAA saw NOTHING wrong with Watership Down being an animated film meant for children?! That's outrageous!

That 40-year-old trailer was and still is too disturbing for younger viewers. Had I been alive to see the movie trailer for Watership Down, I probably would've been traumatized. This is coming from a Horror fan and a 35-year-old single woman with no children. 

Watching the 1978 movie trailer made me feel disturbed. I can only imagine how incredibly disturbing the actual movie was for children and why it still causes so much controversy, 40 years later. 

If Watership Down was going to be marketed towards minors, it should've been marketed towards teenagers. They would've been able to handle both the novel and film as opposed to traumatizing younger children in 1978. 

It is understandable that children in other countries mature faster than American children. Anytime other people still have major problems with Watership Down supposedly being meant for children, that should say something. 

Considering that I have been anti-censorship, since my youth during the 1990's, you may be wondering why I feel so strongly about Watership Down. Allow me to clarify. 

I am NOT  trying to demonize the filmmakers. If anything, I am confronting the double standards and hypocrisy, that the BBFC, MPAA, and media watchdog groups set into motion decades ago. 

More parents should use better judgment, when it comes to graphic content. Knowing their children's interest in entertainment should go without saying. 

Maybe when I have more time out of my hectic schedule, I will try watching Watership Down. In the meantime, here is the disturbing movie trailer from 1978 for today's Cartoon Sunday.

Watership Down Trailer (1978)

Thank you my gumdrops! Don't forget to like, subscribe, share, +1 on Google Plus, and leave your feedback in the comments section below!

What Are Anna H's Thoughts About The Real O'Neals?

How's it going lurkers? Last night, I watched The Real O'Neals.  

Throughout the last month or so, ABC constantly advertised, that this Irish American Catholic sitcom was supposed to be premiering March 8, 2016.

The Real O'Neals Promo (2016)

It was NOT  until signing back online, that I discovered that ABC already premiered its first 2 episodes LAST WEDNESDAY, on March 2nd. I never saw any TV promo about The Real O'Neals premiering, last Wednesday. So, I missed the pilot AND episode 2.

You may be thinking, "Well, you can always watch it online." 

That's not always the case anymore with certain primetime shows. Normally, I watched missed episodes of other shows on Hulu or ABC.com.

Over the last few months, certain online streaming sites have changed their layouts and are now restricting outside viewers from watching their shows, UNLESS we're paying subscribers. That in itself is really annoying.

Otherwise, those companies want us to sign in using a social media account. Then, they can track and expose whatever we choose to watch with EVERYONE. It's not that we necessarily have any shows to hide. However, this somewhat feels like an invasion of our privacy.

Aside from those issues, I really like watching The Real O'Neals. It gives me another primetime show to watch, during the week. This is especially on ABC.

Shortly after Desperate Housewives ended 4 years ago, I stopped watching the network. It was NOT  until Fresh Off The Boat premiered last year, that I started watching ABC again.

Now, that The Real O'Neals airs right after Fresh Off The Boat, ABC gave me a full hour of their programming. ABC is NOT  a regular channel, that I watch unless I am watching the local news. 

I barely stay awake to watch Dr. Oz anymore because his show airs, during what I like to call, "My Vampire Sleeping Hours."

As I was saying earlier, I really like watching The Real O'Neals for the humor about Irish American Catholics.

Speaking of Catholics, some are butt-hurt viewers ranting about the show. Their media watchdog groups tried getting The Real O'Neals canceled, before it could premiere on TV.

In fact, I stumbled upon this YouTube vlog condemning and demonizing The Real O'Neals because the vlogger CANNOT  handle any jokes about Irish Catholic Americans.

The Real O'Neals EXPOSED MOCKING CHRISTIANS! (2016)

In a way, I can somewhat understand why certain people would be EXTREMELY offended. ABC mostly has political propaganda on it, which panders to a certain political party. Also, Eileen O'Neal on The Real O'Neals is THE stereotypical and extremely judgmental Catholic Christian Mother with a dysfunctional family. Despite all of those issues, The Real O'Neals is a funny show. 

For a while, I have been waiting to see it. After listening to the preceding vlogger, it only shows that he lives up to all those negative stereotypes about Christian zealots. THAT  YouTube vlogger makes other Christians, who ARE decent people, look ridiculous and brainwashed.

Yesterday, I saw the cast of The Real O'Neals defending their show.

The Real O'Neals Cast Stands By The Show After Criticism From Some Catholics (2016)

Honestly, I agree with the cast. Something that I found to be really interesting and convenient was that The Real O'Neals premiered in March because of Saint Patrick's Day being in March. 

Last night, ABC pre-aired the show's Saint Patrick's Day episode. 

Staring at The O'Neals' Saint Patrick's Day float was the hilarious scene, in last night's episode. At least it was for me, personally. 

They dressed Satan like a leprechaun and put clovers around his eyes. If I had access to a clip or a photograph of Satan dressed for Saint Patrick's Day, I would gladly share it with you all.

As you already know, I enjoyed watching The Real O'Neals, last night after Fresh Off The Boat. 

I can understand why some people would be offended. At the same time, the zealots should put on their big boy and girl pants and stop getting offended about EVERYTHING by learning how to take a joke.

Hopefully, ABC will NOT  cancel The Real O'Neals only to pander to tantrum throwing extremist groups.

Cartoon Sunday: Beavis and Butt-Head Shorts

How's it going lurkers? I happened to find 2 Beavis And Butt-Head shorts from 1992. I had no idea until now, that Beavis And Butt-Head had any shorts.

During middle school, I was that "weird girl," who watched this controversial cartoon. It was taboo in the 1990's for any girl to watch Beavis And Butt-Head because the characters were stupid, perverted, politically incorrect, violent, disgusting, had low IQ's, etc. 

After conducting some research as a woman in her early 30's, I recently discovered that Beavis And Butt-Head was actually an adult cartoon much like Æon Flux and a few others. 

They were adult cartoons on MTV's Liquid Television Animation block. Said MTV animation block was literally a decade before the launching of Adult Swim.

In 1993, I remember Pat Robertson from The 700 Club and media watchdog groups demonizing Beavis And Butt-Head for their violent behaviors and dangerous stunts. 

Supposedly, a negligent mother used the cartoon as a scapegoat for why her 5-year-old arsonist sat their mobile home on fire. The fire resulted in his 2-year-old sister's death.

It was terrible what happened to that toddler. All the while, their neighbors said the family did NOT own any cable TV. Therefore, the dead toddler's careless mother not only smeared MTV's Beavis And Butt-Head, but she also wanted to act like she and her precious arsonist were victims.

Anytime a kindergartener intentionally sat his own house and baby sister on fire, chances were highly great, that he was NOT going to be any asset to society. 

Careless parents and media watchdog groups' tendencies to demonize MTV's adult cartoon led to 2 different TV disclaimers.

Beavis And Butt-Head Disclaimer #1 

Beavis And Butt-Head Disclaimer #2

During Beavis And Butt-Head's 5th season, the writers of the cartoon mocked media watchdog groups by making episode 114, "Lightning Strikes." 

Beavis And Butt-Head's "Lightning Strikes" illustrated exactly how media watchdog groups smear, condemn, and demonize entertainment, in order to have something newsworthy and/or "trendy."

These media watchdog groups and Christian zealots can smear, condemn, and demonize Beavis And Butt-Head all they want. 

The creator/voice actor, Mike Judge helped influence both South Park's Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Beavis And Butt-Head helped pave the way for most adult animation that exists on local AND cable networks today.

During the glory days of MTV, which was when the network still predominantly aired music television, most MTV viewers like moi LOVED Beavis And Butt-Head. 

The characters were 2 illiterate, socially incompetent, juvenile delinquents that usually sat on a couch watching TV, while criticizing music videos.

My family sometimes watched Beavis And Butt-Head and laughed at their low IQ'ed antics with me. 

There was an episode, which showed Butt-Head throwing a garbage can and it knocked Beavis unconscious, in his back yard. My mom laughed so hard, she cried tears that night. It was that hilarious.

As I became older, I met some teenagers, who sometimes made Beavis and Butt-Head look like complete geniuses. This is something appalling to believe but it is the awful truth. 

Anytime 2 stupid cartoons characters appear to have higher IQ's than real life people, we CANNOT help rolling our eyes and face palming, while simultaneously laughing at them. Even though I am a 32-year-old woman, I still enjoy Beavis And Butt-Head 2 decades later. 

If a man my age or a little older than me dares to say, "I'm so over this show. That was from years ago," you have my permission to pimp slap him across the face. That guy is acting like an absolutely pompous, piece of shit.

Beavis and Butt-Head could also out twerk Miley Cyrus. Come to think about it, Miley was only shitting in her diapers, when this adult cartoon premiered on MTV in 1993.

BTW:  Twerking was supposedly founded in 1982. It didn't become more popular, until the '90s and early 21st Century.

In the original Beavis And Butt-Head shorts from Liquid Television, there weren't any music videos. Music videos were only added to the cartoon, once it moved to MTV. 

So, here are the 2 Beavis And Butt-Head shorts, "Frog Baseball" and "Peace, Love and Understanding" for Cartoon Sunday.

1) Beavis And Butt-Head "Frog Baseball" (1992)

2) Beavis And Butt-Head "Peace, Love and Understanding" (1992)