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simplysparrow14 · 2 years ago

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The Lackadaisy Film-Pilot Review

Please note that all opinions are my own. No one is paying me to talk about the film. I'm just a fan with a few opinions.

So I just watched the long anticipated animated film-pilot, based on the massively popular anthropomorphic comic, Lackadiasy.

And it was good. Not perfect, by any means. but good.

As with any independently funded project, there are undoubtably mistakes and problems that, with a professionally backed project, wouldn't be an issue.

The first 5 minutes can be completely cut out. In this scene, the titular character Rocky Rickaby (played by) pronounces an incredibly gawdy, overblown, too-long-for-its-own-good poem about the Mississippi River. From his violin, he spews glitter sparkles and gilded daises. The entirely of that scene could have been cut as it truly doesn't serve anything to the overall plot or character. Its truly a long-drawn sequence that is meant to show off the animation budget, which is mostly squandered since all Rocky does in that scene is prance across the bridge while hanging from the scaffolding beams. It feels as though the film is trying to pad out time. Instead of having this egregious poem play out, the film could have used that 5 minutes to help fully flesh out the overall plot that the film tries to explain.

The plot itself doesnt make itself known naturally. Often times, characters will have to speak a few lines of exposition. (this is scene with the Lackadaisy practiconer, Mitzi May, who monologues about the glory-days of the speakeasy to the giant portrait of her dead husband). We get vague hints that there was a falling out between Mordecai Heller (Played by Songwoo Cho) and the Lackadaisy Speakeasy. We get a vague sense of a rival business' called Marigold, and Mitzi's want of "the good old days" of the lackadaisy. But because the film itself spends a good chunk of its time with very well coreographic action scenes and car chases, we never get a real feel for what the lackadaisy represents to these characters, why its survival is important outside of "i miss the good old days" and "we need money" and why Mitzi is so hell-bent on bringing its corpse back to life. The film itself does a decent job of trying to que newcomers into the story, but truly the film is for the fans.

There were a multitude of scenes where it was too silent for its own good. Multiple scenes were lacking in background music, and as such, a lot of times you could hear nothing but sound effects. While not too egregiously overplayed like Hazbin Hotel, where even the potted plants had sound effects, Lackadaisy keeps it to the minimum. However in scenes where it feels like it should be big bombastic music to put forth a sense of urgency and fear, it's mostly kept quiet and as a result, make several scenes in which there is nothing but slamming doors and shotgun blasts become too common. Because Lackadaisy's is independently funded, there not at the disposal of a orchestra, or the technical capacity for a prominent OST.

Throughout the short film, there were multiple shots where you could see the sketch lines beneath the animation. Often times you could see the face symmetry lines, and as a result, felt jarring for a piece of animated almost 3-4 years in the making. While most likely a stylistic choice, it often makes the film look too unfished, like they didn't have enough time to pass over the animation a second time. This is juxtapose by after-credit sketch animation akin to Fleisher-brothers/Steamboat willie

Some of the voice acting is a little hit and miss. While some VA do beautiful work with their characters (SungWon Cho's Mordechai, Malcom Ray and Benni Latham's Brother-Sister Duo, Serafine and Nicodeme, Belsheber Rusape and Michal Kovach's Chaos Cousins' Freckle and Rocky) others feel a little out of touch (Ashe Wager tries her hardest for a southern accent, but ultimately fails while also giving Mitzi the deepest southern bell voice I've heard in a long time, while Bradley Gareth's cadence for Sedgewick Sable makes him sound just a few steps below a more proud but deep Jimmy Stewart).

However, the animated itself (when you don't see the sketch lines) is beautiful. All of the sound effects feel purposeful and appropriate. The techno-swing jazz music that is played feels in sync with the aesthetic of the whole piece. But truly the action scenes in which Ivy, Freckle and Rocky must outrace Nicodeme, Serefine and Mordecai are truly the best parts. Fun, fast, and exciting!

Overall, for a short film, independent animated it's one of the best, and id still recommend it for anyone who's a fan of the comic as well as newcomers.

#lackadaisy #lackadiasy film

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rudnitskaia · 7 months ago

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I'm very impressed by the story, and it breaks my heart to know that their family divided after being so warm together. I genuinely hope Åse finds or rather builds her own safe haven one day. And I also hope she saved in her heart that spirit of the folk stories. I guess Åse would be the best storyteller on story nights, it must be really magical to listen to her.

Again, thank you for the historical references in footnotes, I'm very much into such things. ✨💖✨

Another question answered. thank you again for asking @rudnitskaia!

❤️ - What is one of your OC’s best memories?

Most of Ace's best memories are from his young childhood when he and his mom lived with his grandparents. Fairy tales and folk stories have been a big part of his upbringing, but usually only one person had enough time to sit down with him and tell stories. But there was this one evening in summer...

Here is a post that gives some background info on Aces family for those interested.

Answer under the cut

Åse fought against mom’s constrictive grasp as she cleaned the jam and breadcrumbs off her face with a wet rag. The water was uncomfortable and almost stung, since Åse didn't like having water on her face. When she’d go swimming she’d always make sure to keep her head above the surface, in the summer when the water was warmer it didn't bother her as much though. Her cousin would often push her head below the water. He knew she hated it, which is why she’d started swimming by herself. She shook her head to get the icky feeling off.

“I don't understand why she gets like that,’’ Mom said as she sat down with grandpa at the kitchen table.

Grandma grabbed a cup from the cupboard as she said, “When they're her age they tend to be fussy, she'll grow out of it.’’

Åse didn’t like it when adults spoke like she wasn't in the room. Grandma took a can of sweetened condensed milk from the window sill and poured it into a cup. She was already standing with her hands out, waiting impatiently. It was her favorite. Grandpa and uncle Vetle would sometimes bring some from the factory¹ .Åse thought it must be fun working there if you got to make something that tasted so great. She asked mom once if she could work there when she grew up but got a very discouraging answer.

Mom looked out the window and saw that the sun was still above the horizon but steadily declining. “Åse dear, when you finish we need to get ready for bed.’’

Åse sat down on the kitchen floor defiantly. Mom sighed, knowing bedtime was going to be a struggle again, she didn't know why but she had been avoiding sleeping lately, making a fuss when it got dark.² Grandpa thought for a moment and sat up. He knelt down to his granddaughter and whispered something in her ear. She grumbled but after a nudge she finished her milk in one hasty gulp. The pitter patter of bare feet could be heard stumbling up the stairs to the bedroom. She came down with a blue book in one hand and a small doll the size of her palm in the other. Gnomes in red hats were drawn on the cover along with the title ‘’fairytale book for children.’’ She sat down on the floor in front of grandpa as they flipped through the book looking for a story, angling her dolls head so she could read as well.

Mom leaned over their shoulders. ‘’It can't be a long one.’’

Grandpa grunted absentmindedly. He stopped at a page and smiled. ‘’Once upon a time there was a man with only one son, and this boy was weak-’’³

‘’No! NOT that one.’’ Mom said sternly as grandma snickered behind her.

Åse peaked up from behind the top of the book. ‘’I like this one…’’ she mumbled.

Crossing her arms, mom sighed and eventually relented sitting down with them, motioning for grandpa to continue.

‘’His name was Frikk, and he was small as well.’’

Grandma joined the rest on the floor leaning on grandpa's shoulder

‘’And so it was that his father took him and they traveled to find him work. No one would take him until he came to the sheriff.’’ Mom tried her best to relax despite herself ‘’When the boy had worked for three years he decided to leave, and the sheriff paid his salary for the three years. He was given three shillings for his three years of work.’’

grandma piped up. ‘’You have been given more than you ought to.’’

grandpa responded ‘’Won’t I get anything for clothing then?’’.

They kept going like so, both seeming quite dedicated to their roles. ‘’When he came up to the highest point of the mountain, he sat down to count his shillings. But before he knew it a poorman had come up to him. And he was so large and long that the boy began to scream when he truly saw how tall the beggar was.’’

The group paused for a bit and looked at mom. She was sitting next to the fireplace tending it. She looked at her family exasperated. Mom motioned to the doll sitting on Åse's lap. She hesitated for a moment but gingerly handed the little felt kitten to her mom. Mom sat the doll up close to the wall so that the shadow was clearly visible. She angled her hands so that it seemed a big hunched figure was standing opposite the doll's shadow.

‘’Do not be not afraid boy, I will do you no harm’’ Åse descended into fits of giggles at mom's attempt at a low gruff voice.

A weight seems to have been lifted at mom’s participation and the story played out with shadow puppets and silly voices. Åse joined in puppeteering her doll to react to mom’s shadow figures.

There was only one slight hiccup. ‘’And so I wish for a fiddle, one that makes it so that every living thing will dance when I play it. Said Frikk’’

mom slumped at the mention of the fiddle. Åse knew mom had a fiddle case in the shed but she'd never heard her play. She once heard uncle Vetle say she'd stopped after she had Åse. Whenever she’d think about it too long she'd get this feeling in her throat like something was stuck in it and poking around. She got the same feeling anytime aunt Marie looked at her. Like she wanted to scold her but Åse never knew what she could have done wrong.

Mom shook her head trying her best to get back into the story. ‘’You shall have your fiddle but it is a poor wish.’’

Åse liked Frikk. He was small and weak but he did many cool things and he escaped getting hanged by making everyone dance till they died. She liked him more than the other boy who seemed to be in every fairy tale. The one who played around in the fireplace. She never really paid attention to those so she couldn't remember. She wished there were more stories about Frikk.

When the story was well and done, only then did Solveig realize how dark it had gotten. ‘’Damn its way past Åse's bedtime!’’

Åse was almost nodding off in grandpa's lap. He bundled her up in his arms and handed her over before she headed up to their bedroom. The door creaked as she opened it with her shoulder. She looked down to see her daughter stirring slightly but quickly settling again.

Solveig tucked the four year old into their bed⁴, resting her hand on the little one's cheek. smiling as she nuzzled her hand back. Anyone who saw them next to each other could see that she was her mothers daughter except for her eyes. What were the chances she'd get eyes like his… Solveig looked out the window willing herself not to think about him. She wanted to protect her daughter from the world, from men like him. She silently promised her that as long as she kept Åse close no one would hurt her.

Solveig lent down and kissed her daughter's forehead and slowly left the room making sure not to let the door creak again. That night Åse slept better than she had in months.

Footnotes:

¹The Kapp milk factory operated from 1891 to 1928. Its main product was a condensed milk brand called ‘Viking Melk’. It is still Åse’s favorite comfort food. The brand was bought by nestle in 1892 and i believe they distributed it in America so it something she still is able to enjoy today. The factory is today used as a cultural center (i think that's how you use that word). (source)

²Åse’s sleep paralysis started manifesting when she was around 4 years old because of stress and anxiety about how people outside of her mom and grandparents started to treat as she grew older. Especially her aunt and cousin.

³The story being told is ‘Veslefrikk med fela’ (English translation: 'Little Freddy With his Fiddle') I wrote it very abridged and the translation is probably not perfect but the point was to get the gist of the story across effectively. (original fairytale and i got a little help from this to figure out some words)

⁴Åse slept in her moms bed during her early childhood, it was normal for families to share beds during the time period starting with kids sleeping in their parents or grandparents bed and later sharing with their siblings. When they moved into their own place she would sleep in the attic in a small room during summer but she would go back to sharing during winter. The bed in the attic was pretty small so she'd have to curl up in it which got increasingly difficult as she got taller. (my primary source for this is: my teacher told me and its something i passively picked up on while visiting a folk museum, so i wont claim this is 100% accurate)

finally done and posted. It was fun being able to expand on the Ace lore. I used exclusively female pronouns for ace in this because its was way before he realized she was gender fluid. it only something she started noticing when he became a teenager. Other that that i hope it was an enjoyable read and thank you again Heldig for the Question❤️‍🩹😸

#ty for such an amazing reply broski i'm very impressed really #acesandocs #missedditart #coffeintheface #wonderful story #lackadaisy #lackadaisy oc #Åse Olaug Årud #Solveig Liv Årud/Sylvia Hall #Torbjørn Olaug Årud #Lena Årud #lackadaisyoc #lackadiasy ocs #lackadaisyocs

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