flamelitface
15-02-2006, 07:03 PM
A childs mind is a queer one. It has not yet succombed to the influences of the media and society, and the imagination is still at large, summoning wild ideas which are normally thought bizarre.
It is this complexity, that makes the creation of childrens books, toys and other forms of entertainment so interesting.
At first you may think that a childrens programme requires some sort of surrealism. There is good evidence to support that view. Take the Teletubbies for example. Brightly colourful beings who have been fused with a television in such a crude way that the aerial sticks out from their head. Their house is what looks to be a high tech underground base yet its only capabilities are to make custard and some toast, both under the brand they call "tubby".
But then you get a programme such as Thomas the Tank Engine. Possibly the most realistic representation of British rail. Painfully slow trains that break down at an embarrasing rate. The only strange thing to be seen on this programme is that the ageing rock star (Ringo Starr) is doing the narration. I say narration, it is more of a low pitched tinitus that is only understandable to those who know morse code.
Now we move onto the phenomenon that is the Kinder Egg. A measly scrumptious piece of chocolate with what claims to be a toy inside. Now I realise that after so many years they must be running out of ideas. But the toy I saw the other day was ridiculous.
It consisted of a small plastic tree, with two umbrellas protruding from the top of it. And that was it. I just want to see the thought processes going on in the Kinder Egg Toy Creation department. It may have looked a little like this:
Chief Executive: Ok, we need something new and dashing for our toys. We'll try the quick fire method. You! Give me an idea!
Worker 1: Um....uh....a...a....TREE!
Chief Executive: Yes that could work, now you, quickly think of something.
Worker 2: Oh, a......an UMBRELLA!
Chief Executive: What are you stupid? That's never going to work.
Worker 2: Well, what about two umbrellas?
Chief Executive: Now you're talking.
And thus, this marvellous toy is brought into the world. I even managed to find a photo of it.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a200/flamelitface/Kindereggtoy.jpg
(Some of you may have noticed that the umbrellas deprive the tree of two life necessities. Sun and rain.)
So what is it that makes a good childrens anything? Is it a surreal outlook on life? Is it trying to interpret life realistically? Or is it just producing whatever you can and force feeding the rubbish you create down their throats?
I'll leave it up to you.
It is this complexity, that makes the creation of childrens books, toys and other forms of entertainment so interesting.
At first you may think that a childrens programme requires some sort of surrealism. There is good evidence to support that view. Take the Teletubbies for example. Brightly colourful beings who have been fused with a television in such a crude way that the aerial sticks out from their head. Their house is what looks to be a high tech underground base yet its only capabilities are to make custard and some toast, both under the brand they call "tubby".
But then you get a programme such as Thomas the Tank Engine. Possibly the most realistic representation of British rail. Painfully slow trains that break down at an embarrasing rate. The only strange thing to be seen on this programme is that the ageing rock star (Ringo Starr) is doing the narration. I say narration, it is more of a low pitched tinitus that is only understandable to those who know morse code.
Now we move onto the phenomenon that is the Kinder Egg. A measly scrumptious piece of chocolate with what claims to be a toy inside. Now I realise that after so many years they must be running out of ideas. But the toy I saw the other day was ridiculous.
It consisted of a small plastic tree, with two umbrellas protruding from the top of it. And that was it. I just want to see the thought processes going on in the Kinder Egg Toy Creation department. It may have looked a little like this:
Chief Executive: Ok, we need something new and dashing for our toys. We'll try the quick fire method. You! Give me an idea!
Worker 1: Um....uh....a...a....TREE!
Chief Executive: Yes that could work, now you, quickly think of something.
Worker 2: Oh, a......an UMBRELLA!
Chief Executive: What are you stupid? That's never going to work.
Worker 2: Well, what about two umbrellas?
Chief Executive: Now you're talking.
And thus, this marvellous toy is brought into the world. I even managed to find a photo of it.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a200/flamelitface/Kindereggtoy.jpg
(Some of you may have noticed that the umbrellas deprive the tree of two life necessities. Sun and rain.)
So what is it that makes a good childrens anything? Is it a surreal outlook on life? Is it trying to interpret life realistically? Or is it just producing whatever you can and force feeding the rubbish you create down their throats?
I'll leave it up to you.