The bantam lord at last doth strike!

[imomus]

One has a tendency to think of the man—nay, the phenomenon!—the world knows as Lord Whimsy as an end in himself, a work of performance art, an "affected provincial" about whom articles are written, films made and books published; a dandy, an avid horticulturalist and eminent apian. But Whimsy contains multitudes; he's also a partner in graphic design company Plankton Art, where he goes by the Clark-Kentish name of Allen Crawford.



Whimsy's design work is perfectly wonderful; as optimistic, baroque and colourful as his dandy persona. That's why, when he announced back in February that he was working on a Flash animation for my song "Bantam Boys" (from the award-winning "Otto Spooky" album, one of the Chicago Reader's Top 10 albums of 2005, apparently!), my heart fluttered like the song's heavily-filtered madrigal guitar chords. It's been fluttering for ten months now, and might have killed me had Whimsy not, yesterday, delivered his masterpiece. Yes, the animation of "Bantam Boys" has now arrived! It turns out to be the most spectacular safari since Rex Harrison talked to the animals in "Dr Dolittle" or Cousteau flipped off the deck of the Calypso kitted out in flippers and snorkel. Click the picture above to embark on an extraordinary journey! (Flash media, 1.2 MB.)

Lord Whimsy's colourful and beautifully-curved extravaganza (it reminds me of a Matthew Barney film) joins the Flash pieces made earlier in the year by The Lady Pat (Your Fat Friend) and Blayne Greiner (The Artist Overwhelmed), both still available for your viewing enjoyment.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Mary! What part of CRAP don't you people understand? This is not innovative -- Mondo Media was doing more advanced stuff with Flash in the freakin' "Happy Tree Friends" cartoon four years ago and more -- it's not particularly challenging (where's the beef, Whimsy? Oh that's right: as usual, there isn't any) and it tells us nothing of interest or verity about either its author or its ostensible subject. Fat lot of onanistic fluff is what it is. No more.

[bifteck.livejournal.com]

Oh, boo, you crybaby. It's pretty to look at, evokes curious thoughts and feelings, and there isn't much more that's necessary. Besides, no one said it had to be particularly innovative in the first place.

Could you do something like that? I surely couldn't. Therefore, I may marvel at it. You're the onanist around these parts, sir.

[imomus.livejournal.com]

Having watched "Happy Tree Friends" to see if there was anything in what you say, I'm afraid I found its pastel color scheme and wacky violence pretty yuk. I was perfectly serious with my Matthew Barney comparison; Whimsy's piece really does compare with some of the Cremaster films, specifically Cremaster 4 (set underwater on the Isle of Man) and Cremaster 1 (set in a goodyear blimp, and containing some grape play which corresponds to the eye and bubble play in Whimsy's work).

Of course, if you prefer Barney the Dinosaur to Matthew Barney, that's your business. De gustibus nihil disputandem est.

[lord-whimsy.livejournal.com]

Ranting against me for failing to make something I had never intended to make seems strange. I understand that the kids like their bells and whistles, and that they seem to think that the literal, "kitchen sink" aesthetic is somehow more "advanced" than stylized work that shows restraint when it comes to the boyish urge to show off one's technical proficiency--but how a rabbit with a screwdriver in its neck is somehow "challenging" escapes me. Must be a hormonal flux/Whimsy-hater thing.

[stanleylieber.livejournal.com]

Surely the screwdrive makes it challenging for the rabbit to breathe!

Whimsy, wonderful work. If I had ever stopped listening to Otto Spooky it would have pulled me back in.

[lord-whimsy.livejournal.com]

Thank you, my young padawan ;)

[lord-whimsy.livejournal.com]

Fat lot of onanistic fluff is what it is. No more.

Exactly!

[imomus.livejournal.com]

Pistols at dawn, Whimsy! I must fight you on a point of honour; your own!

[lord-whimsy.livejournal.com]

I respectfully submit to your superior firepower, as I only have a popsicle stick in hand at the moment.

[lord-whimsy.livejournal.com]

We really should compare hate mail sometime, actually.

[imomus.livejournal.com]

I can think of better ways to spend dinner!

[lord-whimsy.livejournal.com]

Other people's hate mail?

[stanleylieber.livejournal.com]

Good lord man -- it's an appealing clip!