On April 20, we had another piece of bad news.
Director Jean Deeche died at the age of 95.
Speaking of his name, few people may know, but when it comes to the works he directed, China, the United States and even the world, it is estimated that everyone knows everyone - "Tom and Jerry".
Do you know? These two joyful enemies who are still active on the Internet, on TV and on the big screen, are 80 years old.
After years of precipitation, this animation has never lost its shine.
The Douban score of "Tom and Jerry" is still as high as 9.7.
From the beginning of the 1940s to the present, this cartoon has accompanied more than three generations of childhood - the post-80s, post-90s, post-00s and even post-10s, still watching "Tom and Jerry".
But we have to accept that their directors have passed away.
This has left many anime lovers, especially Tom and Jerry fans, heartbroken.
Jean Deech was the overseer of 13 Tom and Jerry films and was the director of the first season of Popeye.
Although he was a behind-the-scenes worker and his reputation was not as loud as that of masters such as Hayao Miyazaki, Gene Deich dedicated his life to the cause of animation.
On August 8, 1924, Deich was born in Chicago, and by coincidence, they moved to California, and Deech also began to study in Hollywood.
In 1942, Deich began his artistic career after graduating from high school, first drawing aircraft blueprints for North American Aviation, and then hiring him as an art assistant for CBS Radio.
During this time, illustration was his main business, and illustration brought him to the attention of the American Joint Production Company (UPA). Soon after, Deich jumped to the company and became one of the most recognized animated television commercial producers in the United States.
In August of the same year, he set up his own studio, and the studio's first project was a huge success, the animation "Munro", which won him the 1961 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
Since then, the studio has produced phenomenal output, and Deich has also directed hundreds of animated films over decades.
Most notably, from 1960 to 1963, he co-directed Popeye with Rembrandt and oversaw 13 parts of the animated tom and Jerry from 1961 to 1962.
Growing up, I always thought of Tom and Jerry as a comedy cartoon with a lot of laughter.
Growing up slowly, I realized that it was not simple.
The anime, which is only 7 minutes per episode and has almost zero lines, won 7 Oscars between 1940 and 1953.
Why?
First of all, because it is very ingeniously made.
The producer of "Tom and Jerry" is MGM, and due to the lack of dialogue, the progression and development of the entire plot of the play relies heavily on background music and body movements.
Every smile, every move, all have to be drawn. Under Deech's supervision, Tom and Jerry painted an astonishing amount.
Because the production process is frame by frame hand, only the play where Tom plays the piano,
It takes about 15,000 middle paintings.
In order to draw the most vivid and vivid expression, the animator irv spence looks at the mirror and looks at it.
Sometimes when the action is discussed, the screenwriter gets up and goes straight to the table to imitate.
It is precisely because of this production that every scene, every shot and even every detail of Tom and Jerry can stand up to scrutiny.
For example: the layout of Jerry and Tiffy's house, the small lamp, their respective names on the bed, the small carpet, the bed made of canned food, the chair made of teacups.
For example: The ups and downs of Tom's body while sleeping.
Another example: the shaping of the horror atmosphere on new York street corners.
Secondly, "Tom and Jerry" has the ultimate control over music.
Some netizens have counted that "Tom and Jerry" contains a lot of world-class classical music, and there are more than fifty classical music pieces, including works by Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Rossini, Mendelssohn, Bizet and many other musicians.
For example: Johann Strauss's "Blue Danube", Chopin's "The Great Round Dance", Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata"...
And the scene where We mentioned Tom playing the piano earlier, some music professional netizens found a surprising secret: when Tom and Jerry played the piano, each note corresponded exactly to the keys of the original song.
Tom played Liszt's famous song "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2", that is, every key was carefully drawn.
Put these moves in real life and you'll be able to play this tune!
It is precisely because of this production method that only one episode can be produced per year.
For one episode of Tom and Jerry, the longest production cycle is 18 months.
This degree of care may be the best way to interpret "ingenuity" in the world.
Finally, in addition to the production, "Tom and Jerry" has many "inappropriate children" in the story.
Don't look at it positioned as a children's animation, unveiling the "low" inside, full of ridicule of the adult world.
About love, the episode "Melancholy Cat" can be called a pioneering love licking dog lament.
On the way to courtship, the humble Tom does not know what dignity is and is toyed with.
He sent a flower,
The enemy sends a bunch.
He sent a bottle of perfume.
The enemy sent a car.
He gave everything he could to buy a diamond ring,
Almost blinded by the love enemy's diamond ring.
Signed the deed of sale "for twelve years as a slave", just to buy a car for her.
But still ruthlessly crushed by the enemy.
In the end, Tom is accompanied by his sworn enemy Jerry. Two men who were heartbroken by love almost chose to commit suicide together.
Regarding history, Tom and Jerry strips away the invasion and massacre of Indigenous Indians by British colonists.
Look at Jerry's dress in this episode,
Look at the British army in the 19th century.
Watch Tom dress up.
Look at the Indians again.
There is also a "peace agreement" between cats, rats and dogs.
At first the relationship was sweet as honey.
But once their own interests are violated, the agreement will be torn up immediately, and the brothers will turn against each other.
Isn't this the most accurate interpretation of "there are no eternal enemies, no eternal friends, only eternal interests"?
With details like this, Tom and Jerry has many, many more.
Some netizens said, why can't Tom catch Jerry forever? Because Tom is actually deeply in love with Jerry. (Is this the more I like you, the more I want to tease you?) ）
From childhood to adulthood, watching "Tom and Jerry" is really suitable for all ages, elegant and popular.
It tells the story of reality, dreams, utopias and even philosophies in the most relaxed way, with the most brain-hole plot.
And no matter what we look like, looking at Tom and Jerry, we may be able to find our own shadow.
This is the contribution that Mr. Jean Deach has given us, and it is also the most valuable asset he has left behind throughout his life.
As netizens said: Thank you for giving us childhood.
Tomato Jun also wanted to say: Thank you for letting us understand the cruelty of this world in the most witty way.
Old sir, go well.
(Rotten Tomatoes Editorial Board: Yang Yang)