Return To The Planet Of The Apes Intro

This is a tough one. The animation is really sparse and uninteresting, but the background plates are lush and detailed. The show plays off the movies and and in some cases, ties directly into them. Sometimes it completely disregards what has come before. The apes have jeeps, tanks, and motorcycles; the architecture is Roman - not "apelike" as in the movies. If you are an "Apes" fan, it is worth watching, but it just isn't very good. This is the only incarnation of the "Apes" series that Roddy McDowall did not participate in. The show aired on Saturday mornings from '75 to '76.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• classic
• movie
• 70's
• action
• science
• fiction
• apes
• spears
• fox
• tv
• saturday
• morning
• cartoons

[sevendram]

This is one of the best examples of what Great Cartooning looks like. The cartoons of today are horrible. This definitely sets the bar along with the original Johnny Quest.

[SeekerNine]

What a blast from the past! I was so young then, but I totally remember this. Very cool.

[whitewolfwithblackSP]

@Actionguy1 Yes indeed. Lol I was JUST watching my dvd documentary of the planet of the apes and he mentioned that (roddy narrates it) and they showed a clip of cornelius talking in the second film, and I noticed his voice was not the same at all, but that was only because it was pointed out to me. Otherwise I didn't even notice, both men did a great job at playing cornelius.

[Actionguy1]

@whitewolfwithblackSP It seems that McDowell was already commited to another project when "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" went into production. I didn't realize it was another actor in the role of Cornelius until I read someting about it several years afterward. David Watson obviously did a great job because I thought it was McDowell too.

[whitewolfwithblackSP]

@Actionguy1 Seriously? I never knew that! I wonder why he didn't reprise Cornelius in that one...hmmm

[RewardHerDouble]

Some one going into Slavery, after the Thermal  Nuclear War world 3, Us Monkey's ,and Gorillas are coming for pay back. I love the Hide Symbolism , and Metaphor of this Movie.

[AllRequired]

@ickybob666 I also grew up in the late 1960s and 1970s. There is much much more to the quality of animation than aesthetics. In those days, animation was hand-drawn, with almost no shortcuts. It took heart and substance to make it all work. Today's animation is almost entirely CG, which makes for lovely aesthetics but virtually devoid of depth. Give me the 1970s crap you talk of any day of the week over today's rotting carcasses.

[ickybob666]

@AllRequired I grew up in the late 1960s and 1970s. I'm well versed in animation of the time. I'm also a working professional artist in the entertainment industry (20 years now) so I think I'm qualified to make aesthetic observations on the quality of animation then vs now. Cartoon network has a ton of great shows. Venture Bros, Flapjack, Adventure time, Hellboy (Animated) -lots more. the only reason you are not finding quality animation is because you are not looking for it.

[AllRequired]

@ickybob666 Raised on a diet of Spongebob Squarepants and Family Guy?

At least the animators of the 70s had standards.

[Actionguy1]

Roddy McDowell was not involved in "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" either. Actor David Watson portrayed Cornelius in that film.

[OroborusFMA]

The 1970s were the nadir of cartoon animation. Compared to, say, the original Johnny Quest that aired in the early 60s, or the animation renaissance that began around the time of Batman, the stuff from the early to late 70s was just half-animated cheesy junk. I will agree that the animation renaissance ended by about 2005 when the Cartoon Network began canceling all the great shows in favor of frat-house bathroom humor and endless re-runs of Fox Network garbage.

[ickybob666]

"cartoons of today are horrible"

uh, no. there is more quality animation today than ever before. this and a few other animated nuggets were floating on a sea of 1970s crap. the statement "cartoons of today are horrible" shows your ignorance.