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Author Topic: BBC Two - I Am Not An Animal...  (Read 974 times)
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Stuart B

Starship Captain
****
« on: 05-19-2004 13:13 »

Has anyone been watching this? I must say, it's been tremendously good so far, I shall look forward to Episode 3 next Monday at 10 on BBC2 </plug>

Here's an overview:

 
Quote
I Am Not An Animal
UK, BBC / Baby Cow Animation, Animated sitcom, colour, 2004
Starring: Steve Coogan, Julia Davis, Amelia Bulmore
 

I Am Not An Animal is an animated comedy series about the only six talking animals in the world, whose cosseted existence in a vivisection unit is turned upside down when they are liberated by animal rights activists.

A horse, cat, monkey, sparrow, rat and a dog all live together luxurious waterside apartment. They are contented. Designer clothes, modern European cuisine and a cellar full of Chianti are just a few of the perks of this pampered menagerie.

But it's all a sham: the apartment stands at the heart of a vivisection laboratory; the stunning lakeside view is a video loop on a flat screen monitor. When they're set free by activists they face all the hardships of the outside world. Can these poor, deluded freaks possibly survive?


This is the first production from Baby Cow Animation.


And if you missed the first couple of eps, or are somewhere that's not the UK, the first two eps are already up on *cough*Suprnova*cough*
Mouse On Venus

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #1 on: 05-19-2004 14:59 »
« Last Edit on: 05-19-2004 14:59 »

I love it. Shades of The Animals Of Farthing Wood, but much funnier and somewhat nastier. The character voices are cool, particularly the sparrow's, but who does it? That's what I wanna know.

 It's great that finally there seems to have been a produced a quality British animated sitcom that isn't either a Brit attempt to jump on the animated sitcom bandwagon (hello "Stressed Eric" ) or an overyly off-the-wall sketchshow (greetings "Mr. Hell" and "Monkey Dust" ). But with Peter Baynham at the helm, quality is generally assured.  :)
Davey

Starship Captain
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« Reply #2 on: 05-19-2004 15:06 »

I think its ace! Brilliantly animated too. And Steve Coogans Hilarious!
Stuart B

Starship Captain
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« Reply #3 on: 05-19-2004 15:17 »

I have to say, there is a genuinely touching moment in the second episode, where Philip loses his glasses down the drain...


And this bit just had me in stitches:


The delivery is excellent, and Steve Coogan is genuinely charming as Phillip

Yaaaaay!
Impossible

Urban Legend
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« Reply #4 on: 05-19-2004 15:29 »

I've watched both episodes so far, and it's excellent. The animation is done in such an awesome style. I love the sparrow!
Juliet

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #5 on: 05-19-2004 16:00 »
« Last Edit on: 05-19-2004 16:00 »

I like this show. I think it is very funny.

The Horse and the Cat are my fave characters so far.
aslate

Space Pope
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« Reply #6 on: 05-20-2004 12:36 »

I downloaded the first two episodes, i can't see my parents wanting to watch it! It is very, very strange...
cyba

Bending Unit
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« Reply #7 on: 05-21-2004 03:30 »

I'm going to have to be the dissenting voice here -  I caught the ep on monday night and thought it really sucked. The premise and plot were unoriginal, and script was lacklustre, although I did find the sparrow that was trying to get a record deal was mildly funny. ish.

What really annoyed me the most was the blatant ripping-off of Joel Veitch's animation style http://www.rathergood,com  , which I've already seen in that annoying penguin masterard ad, and (i think) and anchor butter ad.
My verdict - depressing!
Stuart B

Starship Captain
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« Reply #8 on: 05-21-2004 09:00 »

I don't think it's ripping off Joel's style especially... it's just an animated collage kinda thing.

If you can argue that IANAA ripped off Joel Vietch, you could argue that Joel Vietch ripped of the animated sequences that Python used.
Mr Fuzzywuvems

Bending Unit
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« Reply #9 on: 05-21-2004 14:00 »

The animation was alot better than Joel Vietch who makes pointless, baddly animated, unfunny cartoons.
 
cyba

Bending Unit
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« Reply #10 on: 05-21-2004 17:18 »

Oh come on! He is one of the funniest original talents around. Ok, it might be better executed on BBC2, but I think the who point of that style is to look kind of rough. At least JV was the first person in 30 years to "copy" Gilliam. Anyway, If I thought that the animation style was the only weak thing about the show I wouldn't be quite so riled. I can't think of one original thing about it. I didn't laugh once. By the way, did anyone else see "Fur TV"?
Mouse On Venus

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #11 on: 05-21-2004 17:27 »
« Last Edit on: 05-21-2004 17:27 »

So where else have you seen a group of animals who were experimented on and given personalities akin to that of your average celeb obsessed, middle class British oaf and socialised to believe that London, rather than the great outdoors, is the promised land then?

 Oh, and in response to what you said in your short lived other thread on the subject, this show has been mostly written by Peter Baynham, not Steve Coogan.
cyba

Bending Unit
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« Reply #12 on: 05-22-2004 05:23 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by  Mouse On Venus:
So where else have you seen a group of animals who were experimented on and given personalities akin to that of your average celeb obsessed, middle class British oaf and socialised to believe that London, rather than the great outdoors, is the promised land then?

Oh, and in response to what you said in your short lived other thread on the subject, this show has been mostly written by Peter Baynham, not Steve Coogan.
Ok - I'm sorry I misattributed the writing, but  the listings and publicity I saw really only credited SC (Blame the Brighton Argus). Regarding your first point though, I meant the wider theme of taking an individual or a group of innocents, putting them outside their usual environs, and having them misunderstand the nature of everyday objects and situations and exploiting that for comic effect. Lots of shows/movies use this premise - Crocodile Dundee, comedy alien shows etc. I found I could just see the "jokes" being set up a mile off , and they weren't that funny when they arrived.

Personally (and of course this is just a personal opinion) I have found other UK animation shows much funnier and original. For example I did like Mr Hell, 2DTV is superb (satire - slightly different category) Rex The Runt .....

I was disappointed in IANAA as I was hoping to see British animation/comedy doing unusual, ground-breaking and hilarious stuff, and, well, you've read my opinion. I shall watch the show again, maybe it'll pick up?
Stuart B

Starship Captain
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« Reply #13 on: 05-22-2004 06:31 »

You're perfectly entitled, different strokes and all that. Personally, I thought a lot of the Mr. Hell Show didn't seem to work, though Bob Monkhouse was (of course) great.

As for 2DTV, 95% of the time it seems to go for a cheap laugh (OMG! Leslie Ash's lips! Egad! etc), with only the occasional chuckle thrown in.

Just my tuppenny worth  ;)
cyba

Bending Unit
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« Reply #14 on: 05-22-2004 06:37 »
« Last Edit on: 05-22-2004 06:37 »

Yup, I'm a big fan of Bob (may he rest in peace) and yup, some of the running gags on 2DTV were lame. Especially that lips one.      :rolleyes: I'm quite into politics so loved all the George Bush, Tony Blair, John Prescott stuff.
(edit) - So Stuart B - you are a Pratchett fan? Me too! I've met him quite a few times. Presuming you're a Zim fan too?
Seen the DVDs yet?     :D
------------------
ride the walrus! 
SixByNine
Starship Captain
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« Reply #15 on: 05-22-2004 06:39 »

I watched the first episode (after hearing all the talents involeved) and was not impressed at all. I didn't really find it funny, which I guess was kind of the point.

The seccond episode (which I watched because I was bored) was much much better. There were plenty of jokes which were in fact funny, and I think it will be a hit from now on. Well I cirtainly hope so anyway.
Juliet

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #16 on: 05-22-2004 20:49 »

I watched the first episode of I am not an animal on computer before and I thought it was really good. I learned more about the cat (Pegg) about how he got his head rip of and that why he had a new body. The dog is turn out to be a new fave character of mine. I love her obsession with Tim Robbins and she was well into the celebrity gossip by reading some magazines. The sparrow cranks me up on him wanting to be a singing superstar and I love it when he sings.
Juliet

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #17 on: 05-24-2004 18:13 »

BUMP

Here is my review on today's episode:

Today’s episode was really funny where they have to find their way to make money, Hue the monkey and Mark the Sparrow were brilliant in it. In fact Mark is turning out to be my favourite character from this show. It had some funny scenes like Claire the Rat on the sex phone and the animal told Hue to drowned himself in the kitchen sink.

and here is a gudie on next week's episode

hopie4ever

Bending Unit
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« Reply #18 on: 05-24-2004 19:14 »

not impressed with it really - would have preferred coupling series four in the same slot (even though geoff has left... sob)
Stuart B

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #19 on: 05-31-2004 17:50 »

*bump*

Well, I thought tonights was the best yet! Choice moments:

"Tim Robins!", "You're bloody lovely you are....", "Bloody hell! I didn't know he was going to do that!", "Please love these rats (because I don't)", "I know you can't grasp the concept of a budget airline", "BEIGEY!"

Tremendous  :D
Mouse On Venus

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #20 on: 05-31-2004 18:02 »

Episode 4:
One of my favourite installments in the series so far, this episode seemed to be the most consistently funny so far. What I also like is the number of different stories running at the same time, what with Philip's doomed relationship with 'Beigey', Claire's birth, Hugh's paternal nature and Winona's pining for Philip. The only disappointing thing is that Simon Pegg, who played Keiron the Cat and that vivisectionist guy in the first episode, seems to have almost completely disappeared from the roster...unless he was doing a voice that I couldn't indentify. Besides that, brilliant, and I hope it gets a DVD release.  :D
Juliet

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #21 on: 05-31-2004 18:42 »

Yeah the episode was really cool. Beigey and Tim Robbin are cute. Awww Mark is not in the episode much.
Juliet

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #22 on: 06-14-2004 18:07 »

Bump

Today’s episode I believe was the last one in the series. I thought it was really good and I hope that there will be a second series to this show. Here is my little review:

Mouse On Venus

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #23 on: 06-15-2004 11:31 »

In my opinion, overall then I would say that the series had a lot of good ideas in it, but the one problem it had was it wasn't consistently funny. There were only a few lol moments per episode, which is a shame. If Peter Baynham gets another series of the show, he might be best advised to get a few more writers involved.
cyba

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #24 on: 06-16-2004 06:21 »

Well, I have to admit that I laughed *FOUR* times during the episode where Mark  got his big number one. I also did like the bunny who was trained to be a call centre worker. [Ben Elton voice] ooh...bit of social commentary there, bit of politics, bit of politics [/Ben Elton voice] I agree with venus/mouse - inconsistant, and failed to deliver what it promised. I sort of hope it gets a second series, though, as sometimes these things take a while to warm up.
User_names_suck
Professor
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« Reply #25 on: 06-16-2004 15:30 »
« Last Edit on: 06-16-2004 15:30 »

Well I only saw the last 2 and a half episodes but yes it was very good very weird but very good.
I'm very curious as to the voices  Their's Kevin Eldon (Big Train, the guy that laughs at everything in I'm Alan Partridge.) and theirs Arthur Matthews (Father ted writer appeared in a episode or two of it, was also in an episode of I'm Alan partridge (The Irish guy with the blond wig)
but I just cant figure out who does what voice. except with Coogans obviously.

The other co-writer appears to be someone named Sarah Smith a new talent I guess.
I was just thinking the other day their doesn't appear to be many female comedy writers in the U.K their mostly just actors.

The Show definatley does have great potential and variety of intresting characters (Their a lot more belivable than the ones on Big Brother)
Mouse On Venus

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #26 on: 06-16-2004 15:36 »

The voices are:
 Amelia Bullmore - Winona The Dog
 Steve Coogan - Philip The Horse, Mark The Sparrow, the animal rights activist guy
 Julia Davis - Claire The Rat
 Kevin Eldon - Hugh The Monkey (believe it or not)
 Arthur Matthews - Nils The Rabbit
 Simon Pegg - Kieron The Cat
User_names_suck
Professor
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« Reply #27 on: 06-16-2004 15:49 »

Wow Steve Coogan as the Sparrow  thats very Impressive.
Mouse On Venus

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #28 on: 06-16-2004 15:50 »

I actually was more impressed by Kevin Eldon as the monkey, as it sounds nothing like any Eldon voice I've ever heard before.
Juliet

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #29 on: 06-16-2004 19:29 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by User_names_suck:
Wow Steve Coogan as the Sparrow  thats very Impressive.

Oh my god that is well Impressive!

 
Quote
Originally posted by cyba:
Well, I have to admit that I laughed *FOUR* times during the episode where Mark  got his big number one.

Oh I forgot to to review that episode. This have to be my best episode ever and I find it really funny.
Stuart B

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #30 on: 06-17-2004 06:04 »

Well, I really enjoyed the final episode, though I would have liked to have seen Simon Pegg's scientist back again as well as finding out what happened to Kieran/ApeCat.

On the whole the series was Really Good, I thought. It did feel hampered every now and then when it wasn't sure what direction to take the humour and plumped for the base gags (eg, Phillip's Sugar-Puffs trouble in the first episode)

I hope it gets a second series, even if it's shuttled over to BBC3 it would replace pap like The Mighty Boosh...
User_names_suck
Professor
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« Reply #31 on: 06-17-2004 14:54 »

Its very dissapointing about The Mighty Boosh, I didn't have any expectations for it. but Noel Fielding one of the actors does some very good stand up comedy.

MOV I guess I can hear a bit of coogan in the sparrow now I think about it but I do find it a  more intresting voice.
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