Like I could pass on this thread? ROFL god, love it. A bit of Ralph Bakshi… I met him in Philly, in 1981. He was touring with a print of “Heavy Metal”- and did a screening just for college film reviewers, etc. I got two tickets, because I was writing reviews of movies for the college paper. EXCELLENT way to get press kits and free screening passes !
His passion for the film was daunting. I learned more about Rotoscoping that night than I had ever imagined. Aside from talking about HIS movies, he touched on other famous films that have used the technique. ( Snow White, for one). He simply elevated it to a new height. He also made a physical pass at the Columbia Pictures Rep in the elevator while I was in there. Gross. Pig. Asshole. But, a brilliant one.
The tongue in cheek feeling of “Mighty Heroes” felt a LOT like Mad Magazine meets Saturday Morning Cartooniverse ( heh, heh ). Since I got to see it in reruns only ) born in 1962), I felt there was some Jay Ward influence there as well, humor wise. Pity it didn’t last. If it had hit in 1970, it might have had a serious run.
I’ve never even heard of this cartoon (and I’m 24), but I just had to say to this: Holy Flashback, Batman! I think that little hunk of memory has been safely buried away for at least 15 years until just now.
I remember seeing it in syndication (I was born in 63). It got played with other short cartoons in one show. I’m not exactly sure, maybe Tennessee Tuxedo or that french mouse (Sam Voifare? is everywhere!!) that two army dogs could never catch. Actually, I think Krazy Kat was with it too.
The French-Canadian mouse was named Savoir Faire, and it was Klondike Cat who was after him (he was always threatening to “make mincemeat” out of the ever-elusive rodent). Krazy Kat is entirely different…
…until you vicious bastards mentioned Willie Whistle. (Who, by the way, was on WSBK-38 Boston, not WLVI-56.)
I got assaulted by that freak of nature! Man, talk about dredging memories up from the bottom of your conscious.
Actually it wasn’t much. My folks had taken me and my sister to some Christmas event in Boston way back in the early 70s - big crowds, lotsa decorations, etc. I’m just walking along minding my own business when Willie pops outta nowhere, hand extended, and says “Hey, what’s your name?”
Blew my little mind to pieces. I had just enough composure to actually answer him/her (seems to me Willie was played by a woman, but I don’t remember) and s/he did that freaky squeaky laugh thang and walked off.
So that’s why I remember the Mighty Heroes so well. I avoided Channel 38 like the plague and rotted my mind on the weekday afternoon cartoon fest on 56 with Uncle Dale Dorman.
When I’m dancin’ a hoedown
and my boots kinda slow down
I hanker for a hunka cheese…
Yeah, thanks loads, Olent. Now I got the COOL McCOOL theme in my head good and proper and I can’t get rid of it.
Bob “Batman” Kane was behind McCOOL? How bizarre. And shit, where did they come UP with those villains? Jack in the Box? Madcap? The Rattler? Hurricane Harry?
If you guys are fans of old school saturday morning animation, you should check out **Saturday Morning Fever**. It’s a great book about the history and sub-culture of 60’s, 70’s, and to a lesser extent 80’s saturday morning cartoons.
Are you sure it wasn’t Lord of the Rings? It was made in 1979 and used a lot of rotoscoping. Ralph Bakshi wasn’t involved in the making of Heavy Metal at all. It also could’ve been American Pop which was made in 1981 and also used rotoscoping extensively.
Anyway, I knew the OP was about The Mighty Heroes when I saw it. Man, I loved that cartoon!
Tim Burke is a professor here at Swat. Pretty cool guy all around. He did a display in the library last year (the very same library i’m typing in right now) of some of his memorabilia. A cel of Shredder, backs of comic books showing the premier saturday morning cartoons, an ad for Happy Days the cartoon (they went time-traveling!), a lot of Mr. T shit, etc.
I remember that Fonzie cartoon…BLECH!!! But I did watch it…that stupid dog and all, how horrid. It wasn’t as bad as the Rubik’s cube cartoon, or (shudder) the one with Gary Coleman as an angel. I have to go purge my brain of that now…
