The Pink Panther: “Pinky and the Golden Fleece” (1994)

10 min.; Season 2, Episode 13; English

In 1993, MGM/UA rebooted the Pink Panther franchise with a new TV series that lasted two seasons. In this series, unlike in previous ones, the Panther was a speaking character, which was apparently a controversial change.

This episode blends quintessential elements from the epic stories of Jason, Odysseus, Theseus and Perseus to create a silly adventure for Pinky (the Pink Panther), a shepherd who is tending to two sheep, one white and one gold. A burly soldier who identifies himself as Jason appears when Pinky is grooming the pair. He demands the golden fleece for his wife, but is refused, as the sheep belongs to the king.

The two sheep participate in a fashion show and the queen demands that a stole be made for her from the golden fleece. Jason steals the fleece and flees but a strand of its wool leaves a clue, much like Ariadne’s ball of thread, for Pinky and his sheep sidekick to pursue.

Jason escapes by boat and throws food in the water to rouse a sea serpent who tries and fails to eat the pursuing pair. He then retreats to an island where he order some “babes on a half-shell” to sing and seduce his pursuers. These apparent Sirens do slow the two down, but they themselves are seduced by the false offer or a recording contract by Pinky in disguise. Next Pinky and the sheep are lured to a cave where a doofy Cyclops lives. He places them on a rotisserie, but they escape by distracting him with a Viewfinder (which he can’t figure out how to use). [A Cyclops also appears in the episode “Pinkus Pantherus” from the show’s first season.]

Finally they catch up to Jason as he reaches home, only to find that all of the golden sheep’s fleece has unraveled. Jason’s wife grows enraged at this and reveals herself as Medusa. She transforms various things to stone with her zapping gaze, including her husband. Pinky is able to avoid this fate by quickly weaving a wig from the golden fleece for her, which she welcomes with pleasure. He then returns home and tricks the queen by making her stole from his sidekick’s fleece and painting it gold.

More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pink_Panther_(TV_series)

Wheel of Fortune [Колесо фортуны] (1980)

17 min; no dialog; dir. Anatoly Solin / Multelefilm

A humorous history of the Olympic games, made in the context of the 1980 Moscow Olympics (see also Khitruk’s film Olympians and  I. S. Aksenchuk’s The Grand Relay for other Russian treatments of this topic).

As Georgy Borodin notes, “Due to the time required to rework the script, the film’s production schedule was greatly compressed. This prompted Solin and Pshenichnaya to abandon backgrounds and celluloid and choose an unusual technology: the entire film was shot on sheets of “tracing paper” (the outline was drawn with a pen and colored with colored pencils), while the set design was simplified to a minimum and reduced to a few details that were drawn anew at every phase of movement.”

The film begins with an overview of the ancient Greek world: we see Poseidon in the water, Icarus attempting to fly, a temple surrounded by ruins and statues. The main narrative of the film is the rivalry between Ares and Hercules, who challenge each other to compete in a series of sporting events which Zeus sanctions by laughing at the pair. First up is a wrestling match, then a discus throwing competition, an archery competition, a chariot race, the long jump, a running race, a weight-lifting contest, and finally a boxing match. Funny things happen during each event – for example, the horses win the chariot race after Ares pushes Hercules then falls down himself. Zeus gets angry at Ares for cheating and throws lightning bolts at him at one point. Hercules wins the final event fair and square and Zeus awards him the victory. The film ends with Nike placing a victory wreath on his head and the spectators cheering, then erecting statues in his honor.

More: https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BE_%D0%A4%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D1%83%D0%BD%D1%8B_(%D0%BC%D1%83%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%82%D1%84%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BC)

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Orpheus and Eurydice (1984)

7 min.; no dialog; dir. Lesley Keen

An absolutely stunning rendering of this quintessential myth of love and loss by independent Scottish animator Lesley Keen. Keen’s work has often engaged with mythical themes (see also her short film, “Invocation” and her feature film “Ra: Path of the Sun God”). Her website comments on this tendency in her work: “Animation has been a means to an end for Lesley, whose personal work has explored many aspects of non-narrative film making, frequently using mythology as subject matter. It is all about bringing to life concepts that could not be made visible by any other means.”

“Orpheus and Eurydice” was one of a number of films she was commissioned to create for the British public broadcast Channel 4 in the 1980s. In it, Keen uses dynamic line animation inspired by Greek red-figure vase painting to tell the story of Orpheus’ descent to the underworld to retrieve his beloved. The “long take sequence” and sidescrolling movement of the film recalls the action of turning a vase around to view the art on all its sides. The hero Orpheus encounters famous figures of the underworld including Cerberus, the sinners Sisyphus, Tantalus and Ixion, as well as Persephone and Hades himself.

The film features a haunting synthesizer score by Lyell Creswell and was nominated for the Palme d’Or for Best Short Film at Cannes in 1984.

More: www.totallyimmersed.com/

The Simpsons: “I, Carumbus” (2020)

22 min. / English / Season 32, Episode 2 / dir. Rob Oliver

The Simpsons revisit the ancient world again in this episode focused on ancient Rome (for their retelling of Homer’s Odyssey, see the episode, “Tales from the Public Domain”).

The episode is framed as a story told by a museum curator to the family as they visit an exhibit on ancient Rome. The story told is of Obesus the Wide (played by Homer), a poor man who is sold into slavery by his father. He becomes a gladiator (with nods to the Ridley Scott film) and catches the eye of Marjora (Marge), his master’s daughter, whom he impregnates (there’s a fun Spartacus reference here as each gladiator claims “I had sexicus” when interrogated about it). He is freed so that they can be married, and her father then puts him in charge of his laundry business.

The pair have twins, Bartigula and Lisandra. Obesus becomes wealthy after he comes up with a clever way to collect the urine needed to clean clothing – by placing pots to collect it outside of taverns. Marjora then urges him to climb the rungs of power. He is made a Senator after he assassinates Emperor Quimbus at the behest of his adopted father Senator Mortimus (aka Mr. Burns). Marjora then urges Bartigula to assassinate Mortimus (now emperor) in a quest to gain even more power and influence. Bartigula does so and then promptly goes on a megalomaniacal spree much like his namesake Caligula: he declares war on Neptune, builds a wall to keep out foreign invaders, and proclaims himself a god. Finally, Obesus insists on putting an end to his son’s reign and the two duke it out in the arena where they both meet their end (again, a la Gladiator). The episode ends with the museum curator summing up the lesson of his tale: “stop letting stupid people into museums.”

The historical references and cultural cliches fly thick and fast in this episode. As Den of Geek reviewer Tony Sokol notes, “It is one of the many episodes which will get funnier on repeated viewings. It won’t produce more laughs, but the references will seem more clever.”

Fun facts: The theme song from the short-lived animated Hanna-Barbera show “The Roman Holidays” appears twice in this episode.

The Roman gods appear at the end of the episode and make fun of the show as if they’ve just watched it. They speculate that the series will be coming to an end soon.

A set of five Funko Pop! figurines was created featuring the family in their Roman guises, as well as Mr. Burns.

Mike Duncan, creator of The History of Rome podcast, served as historical consultant for the episode.

Writer Cesar Mazariegos was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Animation for this episode.

More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Carumbus

https://tvshowtranscripts.ourboard.org/viewtopic.php?f=431&t=39366

Icarus [Ikarosz] (1996)

5 min; no dialog; Hungary; dir. Géza M. Tóth ; KEDD Animation Studio

This dramatic adaptation of the story of Icarus and his flight is a delightful example of sand animation, and well suited to the subject matter. The film opens with serene images of the beach, shells and waves crashing. Suddenly a human figure made out of a jumble of metal parts appears and scares away the birds as he sprouts wings and attempts to fly. He falls to the ground and shatters on the beach. He then re-composes himself and ascends the cliff to try again, but again he fails in his flight. The waves crash over him and he is revealed to be a human man. All of the metallic parts have disappeared and again he begins his ascent in a swimming/flying motion. The film ends on an ambiguous but seemingly positive note. With its focus on technology and perseverence, it is similar to 1976’s Icarus and the Wise Men by Fyodor Khitruk.

Ikarosz was nominated for the Golden-Bear at Berlin International Film Festival. Other awards include Augsburg International Independent Film Festival, 1997, (Grand Prix); Dresden Animation and Short Film Festival, 1998, (Special Prize); “KROK-97” Film Festival, Kiev, 1997, (Special Prize).

More: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283398/?ref_=tt_rvi_tt_t_6

Diogenes from Sinope [Диоген из Синопа] (1970)

5 min. / Russian: no subtitles / dir. David Cherkassky / Kievnauchfilm

This is a funny little film about the Cynic philosopher Diogenes of Sinope who allegedly lived in a barrel. We first observe him in the barrel, avidly scribbling down his thoughts. Two men appear and seem to argue outside the barrel about wine and war, but this doesn’t distract him from his work. Then the words “But Diogenes purchased an apartment” flash on the screen. He aims to continue writing but gets distracted with the furnishing of the apartment. We see him acquiring more furniture, cleaning and arranging all his possessions, becoming too tired to write. As he goes to buy another new table, he passes by the old barrel and recalls how productive he used to be. He decides to return to the barrel, but he has become too fat and wealthy, and as he enters the barrel it breaks into pieces.

The film was inspired by a 1967 poem entitled “Diogenes of Sinope” by Felix Krivin: https://rupoem.ru/krivin/diogen-poluchil-kvartiru.aspx

This short is part of a film called “Short Stories” (Короткие истории) that also featured the short ” How Panurge drowned the merchant and his rams in the sea” , an episode from Rabelais’ Gargantua and Pantagruel (You can watch in full here: https://mults.info/mults/?id=2221).

Popeye the Sailor: “Golden-Type Fleece” (1960)

5 min. / English / Season 1, Episode 6

In this rhyming riff on the Argonauts’ adventure, Popeye tells Swee’Pea the story of the golden fleece. The queen of Greece (Sea Hag) complains to the king (Wimpy) that she wants a golden fleece. He summons “Jason the Sailorman” to retrieve it. He sails the seas and sings while being attacked by Jupiter and Neptune (both played by Brutus/Bluto). He then withstands the alluring song of the Siren-like “Lorelei Loons” by putting two empty spinach cans over his ears. He finally reaches an island where Olive Oyl requests that he buy a ticket to see the golden fleece, which actually turns out to be the “Golden Fleas Circus,” a sideshow attraction. After one last battle with a Centaur (also played by Brutus/Bluto), he takes the box of fleas and returns to Greece, where he gifts them to the queen. The short ends with her scratching herself and King Wimpy thanking Jason for his efforts.

More: https://popeye.fandom.com/wiki/Golden-Type_Fleece

60s Popeye: Popeye goes after the Golden-Type Fleece

Mickey Mouse Funhouse: “Minnie’s Big Delivery” (2021)

5 min. / English

Mickey, Donald and Goofy are in a chariot race with Minnie and Daisy to see who can deliver pizza the fast to Pizzamides’ palace, but none of them are sure of the way there. Along the way the encounter a Gorgon, a Minotaur and a Centaur who help them find their way. As the climb the hill to the palace their chariots come unhitched and they slide backwards down the hill. Luckily a Pegasus or two is there to help them with a ride to the top, just in time for lunch. But the pizza toppings are all mixed up, and Pizzamides is angry! Minnie persuades him to try the pizza as it is and he finds out its delicious. In the end, everyone enjoys a pizza not-so-perfect party together.

This very simple CGI short, which is the first segment of the show’s eighth episode, offers the youngest of viewers the opportunity to become familiar with some of the most essential mythological creatures of ancient Greece.

More: https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Minnie%27s_Big_Delivery!

Antigone: A Marionette Staging (2005)

Watch in full here: https://www.macmillanfilms.com/programs/antigone/ or https://search.alexanderstreet.com/view/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cvideo_work%7C3392812

76 min. / English / dir. James Thomas

This marionette-style puppet staging of Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone was produced as an educational film by Macmillan Films, which also produced a puppet Oedipus Rex and a puppet version of Euripides’ satyr play, Cyclops. All the plays are based on the translations of Peter Arnott, who also provides voicework to the production.

Animaniacs: “Warners Unbound” (2020)

Season 1, Episode 2; English; 8 min.

In this episode, Wakko, Yakko and Dot (aka Wakkicus, Yakkicus and Dotticus) are Greek gods who decide to take a vacation from Mt. Olympus and get some rest from all the smiting of mortals they’ve been doing. They slide down and get settled in relaxing on a Greek island, when suddenly a boastful Odysseus and his crew appear and decide to “soak those nerds” with their ship. His antics provoke the trio to return to Olympus and set in motion a plan to punish him by keeping him from reaching Ithaca. They agree to plague him with monsters and thereby break him down, starting with the Sirens. These Sirens are Justin Bieber lookalikes that sing a song called “I’m Gonna Eat’cha,” which the sailors seem to enjoy. The gods then smash them down to the Underworld, which Odysseus mistakes for “Aegean Ninja Warrior,” a show he loves and attempts to compete in. The gods then transport him to the island of the Cyclops, a huge Donald Trump inspired monster who turns Odysseus into his new loofah. Odysseus finally surrenders to the gods, begs for forgiveness and gets flushed back home. The trio want to destroy the Cyclops but say they cannot, because the Romans meddled and made him a demigod, “Or was it a demagogue?”

More:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7833880/

https://animaniacs.fandom.com/wiki/Episode_2_(Reboot):_Warners_Unbound/How_to_Brain_Your_Dragon/Suffragette_City