Clearly the number one influence for Return to Labyrinth is the film its following up, but aside from Henson’s fantasy classic, what other movie memories, long stewed in my brain, contributed to the creation of the series? Over the course of the series, I’ve planted easter egg references to a number of books and movies, but emotionally, my biggest inspirations were probably the animated version of The Last Unicorn (this is practically Moppet’s theme in volume 4) and other 80s fantasy animation whose beautiful worlds and nightmare visions, fused with folk soundtracks, forever changed my destiny. Maybe that’s overstating things a little, but there’s something about the tone and tenor of these films that I do hope to recreate in my work, be it Return to Labyrinth or stories to come. It’s not my only palate, and I’m far from the only one inspired by these films, but it still warms my heart to see these movies, even as clips, and know that they are still warping young minds.

Anyway, here are a few particularly influential movie memories. What are some of yours?

This nightmarish sequence from Dot and the Kangaroo still haunts me from time to time. Mostly though, I remember this wonderful bit of advice:

You can travel by boat, you can travel by train
You can walk if you like, and get stuck in the rain
But the best way to travel, the smart thing to do
Is to ride in the pouch of a red kangaroo

I’ve linked to Watership Down before, but there’s nothing that I remember more clearly than the bright-eyed death bunny.

The Thief and the Cobbler didn’t come out till I was in highschool, but it was largely animated much earlier and it definitely has the flavor of an earlier time. The finished movie is a bit of a mish-mash of the brilliant and blah, but the original silent animated sequences are incredible:

The 2010 blockbuster movie season is officially underway with Tim Burton’s take on Alice breaking records and celebrating all things mad and fantastical. Alice is only tangentially related to Labyrinth, but this movie has long been on the radar of gobblin readers, so I thought I’d open up a thread to talk about it.

My mini review: I really enjoyed it! There were moments I felt a little giddy excitement about being swept away to someplace truly wonderful. I absolutely loved the Cheshire Cat, Red and White queens and the colors and fashions. I thought Alice herself was wonderfully cast and played, but in the middle part of the movie, I would have liked to see her assert herself more, as Alice the girl from the original story, was rather precocious and not one to just step in line with heroics. The one element that didn’t work for me at all was the Mad Hatter. (Sorry, Mandy!) He didn’t strike me as particular mad, just quirky, and those quirks I found more annoying than endearing.  I really liked the ending in the real world, which might have been anachronistic, but felt right. The movie is clearly not an adaptation, but even though it takes place 13 years later with a young adult Alice, it isn’t exactly a sequel either. Really, the story feels more like a Narnia or Oz book with the clear good guys and bad guys and the Hatter cast as more of a Scarecrow like “dear friend” role. It’s not necessarily the update to Alice in Wonderland I would have imagined, but it works and I was glad to go along for the adventure.

Okay, that’s my “short” take. What did you guys think? I’m also curious what you guys thought about the importance of 3D for this movie. I watched it in 3D, but in retrospect, I’d rather have saved the $3 and awkwardness of wearing double glasses to see it flat.  Let the Frabjous comments commence!

We’re well into December, so you know what that means — it’s time for bloggers to rank things and make lists! I used to be a big fan of lists, but this year, I’m having a hard time mustering the armchair entertainment critic spirit. Are these lists really a way to reflect on the year that was, or are we retconning our experiences to step in line with our peers or preferred taste makers? After all, baring one’s tastes with unfiltered honesty can be quite an act of vulnerability (or is it hubris?). Is it a chance to evangelize our passions or an invitation for trolls to nit pick over omissions? And for movies in particular, is it fair to start this process when it’s impossible to have watched all the talking point movies of the season unless you live in NY or LA and go to the movies thrice a week?

But in spite of my doubts, I have to admit, I enjoy this time of year. For all the safe and obvious picks, there are the truly personal gems that show up on lists that can lead us to discover new things, or better yet, gain new insights about the list-maker. Lists from people writing about media other than the one their known for can be particularly enlightening (favorite books of film critics, favorite bands of filmmakers). And at the end of the day, lists like these really are a good icebreaker for discussion.

In that spirit, here’s my 2009 movie roundup. I’ll move on to books, music and games next. I’d love to hear about your own highs (and lows!) in the comments.

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So back in June I proposed this “Gobblin Gab” concept of creating themed discussion forums for all things Labyrinth and Return to Labyrinth. Most Labyrinth discussions usually end up debating nuances of the Jareth/Sarah relationship, but I’d like to put the spotlight on an aspect of the film that has nothing to do with either of the human leads  – the other stars of Labyrinth, the puppets. I’m not talking about Hoggle’s klepto proclivities or the goblin techniques for the breeding of chickens. I mean the actual art of puppetry that went into bringing the non-human characters of Labyrinth to life.

Throughout his career, and in the eighties especially, Jim Henson pushed the boundaries of what puppetry could achieve like no other artist before or since, and  Labyrinth was no exception. From cutting edge technology, like the radio controlled animatronic face of Hoggle or the record-breaking size of “Humongous,” to the decidedly analogy whimsy of the Helping Hands and the Fire Gang, Labyrinth pushed the envelope.

Please use the comments here to discuss your favorite puppet-centric moments of Labyrinth, or to reflect on the art of puppetry in general.

Today I want to test a new format on Gobblin.net – the “Gobblin Gab” post. In these posts, I’ll set up a topic for discussion related to Labyrinth the film or manga where readers can share their thoughts as a freeform conversation. In this way, we can keep the Labyrinth discussions alive without having a single thread grow ever more unwieldy, plus, by having a rotating topic, we can keep the discussions fresh. It will also help me to post more about Labyrinth without getting into volume 4 teasing too early or often. What do you think?

For the first installment of Gobblin Gab, let’s talk about the unsung heroes of the Labyrinth–the Goblins! While it is undoubtedly Jareth and Sarah who stir the most passions in Labyrinth fandom, there’s no doubt that the Goblin King wouldn’t be nearly as interesting without his subjects. I have three editions of the Goblins of Labyrinth art book/guide, which matches Terry Jones’ witty prose with Brian Froud’s gorgeous concept art, and while I don’t treat them as story bibles for Return to Labyrinth, they certain serve as inspiration for all things goblinesque. What wonderful creatures of illogic and grotesquerie goblins are! (And a little creepy at times, I must confess — especially the way their lower lips flap!)

To get the discussion started, I am curious, how to readers relate the Goblins of Labyrinth art books to the film? Do you consider Jones’ goblin history to be canon, or just a silly supplement with no real bearing on how you view the film? And when it comes to goblins, which ones are people’s favorites from the movie, manga or art book? Discuss!