Dear Mr. Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes documentary) | Nov. 15, 2013

[CaptainJackSparrow]

I don't see anything wrong with happy meal toys. I wonder how many kids have been disappointed that there are no Hobbes toys they can get for Christmas.

[Plain Old Tele]

I wish he could at least spend time on the internet answering questions fans have. He just seems like an old, grumpy, douche to me whenever I think of him

 

Well, look at it from his perspective. He believes the collective works are his answer, and he'd rather enjoy life with his family than spend endless amounts of time answering the same questions over and over. Moreover, he's not trying to have it both ways; he's happy not being a celebrity, and he's turned away literally tens of millions of dollars to avoid corporatizing his characters.

[CaptainJackSparrow]

Well, look at it from his perspective. He believes the collective works are his answer, and he'd rather enjoy life with his family than spend endless amounts of time answering the same questions over and over. Moreover, he's not trying to have it both ways; he's happy not being a celebrity, and he's turned away literally tens of millions of dollars to avoid corporatizing his characters.

I suppose, but a shout out to fans at least every year wouldn't hurt.

[Plain Old Tele]

I suppose, but a shout out to fans at least every year wouldn't hurt.

 

But why do it?

[CaptainJackSparrow]

But why do it?

Just to acknowledge them and thank them for liking his comics.

[grey ghost]

I think everything he wanted to say to the world he put into the comic strip.Adding anything extra would ruin them by exposing their secrets.and commercializing the characters would cheapen them. They would become corporate mascots that no longer belonged to the readers.

[CaptainJackSparrow]

Yet Snoopy is still adored by millions, even though he was commercialized.

[grey ghost]

Yet Snoopy is still adored by millions, even though he was commercialized.

It's always risky to sell your characters to faceless corporations.They could try and keep the characters' dignity or they could squeeze them dry until they no longer resemble their former selves.Snoopy got lucky. Edited November 12, 2013 by grey ghost

[CaptainJackSparrow]

Garfield (besides the movies) Is also adored character. Same goes to Daffy, Tweety, Spongebob, Bugs, Mickey, and countless others.Heck, Disney would have taken good care of the characters.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Tarzan

[grey ghost]

I think when you dillute the market with so many versions of the characters it's easy to overlook and ignore what made it special in the first place.but if people want their Calvin and Hobbes they will be forced to read the timeless comic strips and that's ty he way it should be.

Edited November 12, 2013 by grey ghost

[CaptainJackSparrow]

Oh oh... Look at the score...http://m.imdb.com/title/tt2222206/

Edited November 12, 2013 by Tarzan

[CaptainJackSparrow]

I think when you dillute the market with so many versions of the characters it's easy to overlook and ignore what made it special in the first place.but if people want their Calvin and Hobbes they will be forced to read the timeless comic strips and that's ty he way it should be.

We need evidence whether or not it's true.

[grey ghost]

Oh oh... Look at the score...http://m.imdb.com/title/tt2222206/

Wait, it hasn't been released yet.How can it be rated by over one hundred IMDB users already?

[Fancyarcher]

Wait, it hasn't been released yet.How can it be rated by over one hundred IMDB users already?

 

This is IMDB we're talking about. People vote without seeing the film all the time.

[CaptainJackSparrow]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_Mr._WattersonIt premiered at a Cleveland film festival. This is not good news.

[Plain Old Tele]

Garfield (besides the movies) Is also adored character. Same goes to Daffy, Tweety, Spongebob, Bugs, Mickey, and countless others.Heck, Disney would have taken good care of the characters.

 

Disney does a horrible job of staying true to original characters. In fact, they're well known for trampling, rebuilding, rebooting, rebranding, and heavily corporatizing much of what they took from original fairy tales or other sources... and then trademarking and copyrighting the entire brand so that others can't do the same.

 

The creator of Garfield is well known for taking the exact opposite approach of Watterson. He sold the character for as much as he could possibly get, and then hired additional teams of cartoonists to crank out endless swaths of Garfield and Garfield-related items.

 

I applaud Watterson for staying true to what he believes in, and in his protection of his creation. I wish more people were like him.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Telemachos

[CaptainJackSparrow]

I love Garfield, and I love buying the plush dollar of him. And sales show that Garfield is insanely popular, and people like buying the plush dolls.

[Plain Old Tele]

I love Garfield, and I love buying the plush dollar of him. And sales show that Garfield is insanely popular, and people like buying the plush dolls.

 

Yes, but the whole point Watterson is making is that sales are not everything.

[CaptainJackSparrow]

But come on, Garfield plush dolls are awesome. They help you sleep at night, and it feels like Garfield is actually there with you.

[CaptainJackSparrow]

BTW, Tele, what is your opinion on the low IMDB score?