Where the Wild Things Are animated short

Horrorphile

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Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are

December 3rd 2009 01:16

Where the Wild Things Are and other Maurice Sendak stories DVD cover art

I grew up with Maurice Sendak’s books. I recently bought a copy of Where the Wild Things Are for my own kids (when I have them), as my mama still owns the copy I grew up with. It’s a superb tale, ingeniously structured, simply written, with a compelling rhythm to the words, and a mesmerising series of illustrations. It was first published in 1963, and, of course, has just been released as a live action feature directed by Spike Jonze. However it was originally turned into an animated six-minute short in 1973 as an American-Czech co-production, adapted and directed by Gene Deitch, which followed Sendak’s original drawings religiously, with artwork recreations courtesy of Rudolf Holan.

Set to a delightful clarinet-driven score composed by Peter Schickle (who provided the narration for a 1988 re-release), it follows young Max in his wonderful white wolf suit, who is sent to bed without his supper. In his sulk he dreams up an alternate reality where a private sailing boat (named Max, of course) takes him across the ocean for a year and a day to where the wild things are. It is here that Max hypnotises the beasts by staring into their yellow eyes without blinking once. The wild things immediately crown Max King of the Wild Things, and Max responds by ordering for the wild rumpus to begin!

Maurice Sendak originally called the story Where the Wild Horses Are, until he discovered he couldn’t draw horses, and so went through various other creatures until settling on “things”, as that way he could conjure – and more importantly, illustrate – whatever he fancied. In this case he based his wild things on his uncles and aunts whom he saw as monsters when he was a young boy, with their bloodshot eyes, big noses, bad teeth, grabbing him by the cheek and pummeling him, saying “You look so good we could eat you up!”

Where the Wild Things Are wild things and Max

Where the Wild Things Are was Sendak’s first picture book and he was determined to get it just right. He knew capturing a child’s attention from the first page was paramount, because if a child was bored within two pages it was all over. Sendak knew he had the drawing power (so to speak), but he needed to make sure the writing was perfect; it was all about the rhythm and syncopation of the words. He needed to trap the kids … even if that meant frightening the odd one or two into submission.

Where the Wild Things Are King of the Wild Things

The book was a roaring success and has gone on to sell nearly twenty million copies worldwide. The animated short is beautifully evocative of the original book and Peter Schickle’s voicing is excellent (I’ve not heard the original 1973 narration by Allen Swift). The book literally comes alive with the elaborated illustrations which move more like a series of close-knit slides rather than more sophisticated cell animation. It’s the perfect phantasmogorical-fantasy where conquering your fears and presiding over all can strangely lead to loneliness, but it's all in the richness of your imagination and you can slide in and out whenever you like ... and best of all your supper is still hot when you return from your hairy dreamscape.

Umbrella Entertainment has put together a half-hour collection called Where the Wild Things Are … and other Maurice Sendak stories. Also included are four of Sendak’s most famous poems, under the title The Nutsell Kids,set to the charming voice and music of popular folk artist Carole King: Alligators All Around, Pierre, One Was Johnny and Chicken Soup with Rice, which is edited from a half-hour musical written and directed by Sendak called Really Rosie from 1975.

The other inclusion is a personal favourite of mine: In the Night Kitchen. This animated short was also adapted and directed by Gene Deitch and narrated by Peter Schickle. The jazzy score was by Angelo Michajlov and his Kitchen Sink-o-Pators. Released in 1987 it pays close very attention to Sendak’s original picture book, first published in 1970; a surreal journey where young Mickey falls asleep, but is awakened by noises in the night, and subsequently dream-travels nude into the heart of an alternate NYC to discover why all the good things happen when children go to bed. Thanks to Mickey we have cake for breakfast … well, I presume Maurice Sendak does.

To be honest I’m not all that interested in seeing Spike Jonze wildly loose interpretation of Where the Wild Things Are (2009). The movie has been in post-production hell, and word on the street is the movie has suffered terribly because of all the tampering, not to mention trying to turn a ten-sentence book into a 100-minute live-action feature. I don’t like the trailer, and I don’t think the kid cast as Max conjures up the Max from the book at all. One could even argue the essence of Maurice Sendak’s book has become lost in the forest …

Here's the animated short Where the Wild Things Are:

Where the Wild Things Are … and other Maurice Sendak stories DVD (including a lovely and insightful featurette Getting to Know Maurice Sendak) is courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment, many thanks!

NB: On a recent trip to San Francisco my wife and I were lucky enough to visit a Maurice Sendak exhibition in the Contemporary Jewish Museum, a thoroughly enchanting and enlightening display of Sendak's artwork, and curious insight into his life and career. Did you know Maurice Sendak was gay and had a lover for the past fifty years? He has no kids, so I suppose he lived as a father vicariously through his own children's books.

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

12 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Mr Nice Guy

December 3rd 2009 03:21

Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory

Hey

Did you ever get a chance to pick up Seven Little Monsters or Outside Over There?

Nice post . . .

Comment by Bryn

December 3rd 2009 03:32

Horrorphile

Nice Guy, not sure what you're referring to? Are they children's movies??

Comment by Linh

December 3rd 2009 04:15

Celluloid Fun

Hi Bryn,

I can understand your reluctance to see the film adaptation of the book, but I still am eager to see it despite mixed reviews and a dull-looking trailer.

The only thing I noticed was they may have altered the story slightly to include the adults more in the film.

Cheers!

Comment by Quin Goot

December 3rd 2009 04:16

Cinema Banana

Hey Bryn, I enjoyed that, very informative. I have heard a lot about Sendak's story, but stil haven't managed to have a look, as it somehow skipped my childhood. I'm even more keen now.

Just wondering, did you write this now just to spite the big production version? Hehe.

Comment by Bryn

December 3rd 2009 05:08

Horrorphile

Quin, as to your question, let's just say, I've been known to act facetiously from time to time

Comment by Bryn

December 3rd 2009 05:10

Horrorphile

Linh, I'm curious myself at my own reluctance to see the movie ... I'll probably see it on DVD further down the track.

Comment by JohnDoe

December 3rd 2009 23:58

Film & TV on DVD

Hi Bryn,

Great little post this one. i still remember being unable to getthe book from the school library because it was always reserved. Good thing too because it meant mum/mom had to buy it for me at the store.

Where the Wild Things Are was so fascinating as a kid and I have to admit being optimistically curious about Spike Jonze's film. have heard good things from a few budies who equally worship the book.

Monster's Inc was a nice shiny take on it for me too, that's probably why i like it so much.

Comment by Bryn

December 4th 2009 00:09

Horrorphile

cheers JD ... I'm really in two minds about the feature ... I've heard from a group that it's a steaming pile of dog turd!

Comment by wandererlain

December 4th 2009 06:18

I'll be damned. I remember seeing similiar illustrations in some book about trolls or something as a kid! Might have been the same book or maybe Billy Goats Gruff? Looks somewhat pagan and Boschian, now. This just unlocked a latent memory! Thanks.

Comment by Where the wild things are DVD Cover

December 18th 2009 09:33

After having seen the film and read the book I can say the film does a pretty good job, as film covers go.

Yes the book is betterm but that is because I read it first and what you read / see first tends to always hold a certain grip over you. But its great that the story is now accessible to more people.

I wonder if, people having seen the film, would then read the book and if they did what their opinion would be?

Comment by wandererlain

December 18th 2009 11:15

True. Its like with Stephen King.I saw The Shining movie and later read the book but much preferred the movie. The book is not as entertaining! Then again, I read Nightmares and Dreamscapes and thought it much better than the TV series. Kind of first impressions last, I guess.
Take the Dan Brown adaptations. Read them first and all the details and intrigue are there but watch the movies after and they seem kind of rushed and somewhat shallow.
Those trolls in Where The Wild Things Are spooked me as a child but look all wrong in the movie. Then again, I've grown up, too!

Comment by Bryn

December 18th 2009 16:14

Horrorphile

I saw The Shining first, then read the novel. I actually rate the novel as one of Stephen King's best, and one of his scariest too.

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