T. J. Dobbin
@tjamesdobbin.bsky.social
I write about Bugs Bunny cartoons and other facets of old animation along with general cinema interests at www.strawberrypenguin.ca . I am based in Atlantic Canada, where it is very cold and very windy.
Just acquired. I really wish I had the new Huckleberry Hound Blu-ray so I could do a simultaneous watch-thru of the two major animated TV giants of the late '50s side by side, but it's too pricy for me (having just splurged on a PlayStation 5), so I'll do just Rocky for now.
November 28, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Just acquired. I really wish I had the new Huckleberry Hound Blu-ray so I could do a simultaneous watch-thru of the two major animated TV giants of the late '50s side by side, but it's too pricy for me (having just splurged on a PlayStation 5), so I'll do just Rocky for now.
Me: I wish I was in the world's biggest rock band
*monkey's paw curls*
*monkey's paw curls*
November 27, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Me: I wish I was in the world's biggest rock band
*monkey's paw curls*
*monkey's paw curls*
The important cultural debates of our time are happening over on MeTV Toons: Fan Group over on Facebook.
Of course, I disagree with this one 100%. Olive Oyl is an angel, and Popeye is an ugly rageaholic and should be grateful that she gives him any attention.
Of course, I disagree with this one 100%. Olive Oyl is an angel, and Popeye is an ugly rageaholic and should be grateful that she gives him any attention.
November 24, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The important cultural debates of our time are happening over on MeTV Toons: Fan Group over on Facebook.
Of course, I disagree with this one 100%. Olive Oyl is an angel, and Popeye is an ugly rageaholic and should be grateful that she gives him any attention.
Of course, I disagree with this one 100%. Olive Oyl is an angel, and Popeye is an ugly rageaholic and should be grateful that she gives him any attention.
Now watching Keyhole, one of the Guy Maddin films I've never seen. Rest in peace, Udo Kier! I have no idea how many scenes he has in this, but you can always count on him to leave an impression.
November 24, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Now watching Keyhole, one of the Guy Maddin films I've never seen. Rest in peace, Udo Kier! I have no idea how many scenes he has in this, but you can always count on him to leave an impression.
A great Batman episode, and I love when the POV alligns with the duplicate/android in this tradition of science fiction story. A similar story was made into one of the best early Star Trek DS9 episodes- both the DS9 and Batman eps owing a lot to Charles Beaumont's "In His Image" story/Twilight Zone.
November 21, 2025 at 3:19 PM
A great Batman episode, and I love when the POV alligns with the duplicate/android in this tradition of science fiction story. A similar story was made into one of the best early Star Trek DS9 episodes- both the DS9 and Batman eps owing a lot to Charles Beaumont's "In His Image" story/Twilight Zone.
Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers was only ten dollars on Switch eshop so I grabbed it and booted it up and now I'm returning to one of my favourite games that I haven't played in 20 years.
November 20, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers was only ten dollars on Switch eshop so I grabbed it and booted it up and now I'm returning to one of my favourite games that I haven't played in 20 years.
All the cool folks watching TCM tonight
November 18, 2025 at 3:40 AM
All the cool folks watching TCM tonight
Just finished recording my third-ever podcast (I still get much anxiety leading up to these so I tend to be a mess of nerves on recording days, though noticeably less this time!) and rewarding myself with a super cool Ray Dennis Steckler movie: Rat Pfink a Boo Boo (1966).
November 16, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Just finished recording my third-ever podcast (I still get much anxiety leading up to these so I tend to be a mess of nerves on recording days, though noticeably less this time!) and rewarding myself with a super cool Ray Dennis Steckler movie: Rat Pfink a Boo Boo (1966).
Been reading Jasper Sharp's Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema on and off for a couple months. It's a stellar book. I think I'm gonna watch my first Kōji Wakamatsu & Masao Adachi film tonight. The Embryo Hunts in Secret seems like a good starting point.
November 13, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Been reading Jasper Sharp's Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema on and off for a couple months. It's a stellar book. I think I'm gonna watch my first Kōji Wakamatsu & Masao Adachi film tonight. The Embryo Hunts in Secret seems like a good starting point.
With nearly any other director, if I owned 21 of their films it'd be a strong selection of their finest work. But looking across my Miike's, it's barely a dent. There's still a couple dozen more of his films that I love a lot and would love to have on home vid.
November 13, 2025 at 8:51 PM
With nearly any other director, if I owned 21 of their films it'd be a strong selection of their finest work. But looking across my Miike's, it's barely a dent. There's still a couple dozen more of his films that I love a lot and would love to have on home vid.
When it became clear that Shout Factory webstore exclusive discs would be going away I had to grab Deadly Outlaw: Rekka (2002), which spurred me to buy the other recent limited run Takashi Miike classic, Fudoh (1996) on 4K from Media Blasters. These are 2 of Miike's best films, get em while you can.
November 13, 2025 at 7:21 PM
When it became clear that Shout Factory webstore exclusive discs would be going away I had to grab Deadly Outlaw: Rekka (2002), which spurred me to buy the other recent limited run Takashi Miike classic, Fudoh (1996) on 4K from Media Blasters. These are 2 of Miike's best films, get em while you can.
I am disturbed by the animation of Father Chicken grabbing onto Chicken Little's arm. A horrifically uncertain melding of animal and human anatomy resulting in a slop of vaguely recognizable shapes, this movie somehow anticipated the aesthetics of AI generated images a couple decades early.
November 12, 2025 at 1:46 AM
I am disturbed by the animation of Father Chicken grabbing onto Chicken Little's arm. A horrifically uncertain melding of animal and human anatomy resulting in a slop of vaguely recognizable shapes, this movie somehow anticipated the aesthetics of AI generated images a couple decades early.
A sideshow of the grotesque.
November 12, 2025 at 1:37 AM
A sideshow of the grotesque.
This is an actual frame from a movie that Disney released in cinemas. Seemingly dozens of people involved in production looked at this, said, "yup this is fine" and it made the final cut. No back to the drawing board? It's clearly missing layers. The parts aren't connecting at all.
November 12, 2025 at 1:06 AM
This is an actual frame from a movie that Disney released in cinemas. Seemingly dozens of people involved in production looked at this, said, "yup this is fine" and it made the final cut. No back to the drawing board? It's clearly missing layers. The parts aren't connecting at all.
The Newfoundland horror film festival Fog Fest concluded last night with a 25th anniversary screening of Ginger Snaps. The film's writer Karen Walton was in attendance and did a Q&A post-screening. She graciously signed our Alex Kittle art print. It was an awesome night.
November 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The Newfoundland horror film festival Fog Fest concluded last night with a 25th anniversary screening of Ginger Snaps. The film's writer Karen Walton was in attendance and did a Q&A post-screening. She graciously signed our Alex Kittle art print. It was an awesome night.
Having a feel-bad-comedy double feature at the movie house on this rainy day.
November 6, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Having a feel-bad-comedy double feature at the movie house on this rainy day.
I also lucked out and found one of these at my thrift store and I'm in the habit of running it through the VCR once every few months. It's technically more for cleaning debris and dirt, but if there are any lite traces of mold in the VCR, this may help in getting some of that sorted out.
November 5, 2025 at 11:45 PM
I also lucked out and found one of these at my thrift store and I'm in the habit of running it through the VCR once every few months. It's technically more for cleaning debris and dirt, but if there are any lite traces of mold in the VCR, this may help in getting some of that sorted out.
Dang, this Mark Dindal rocking it with two solid feature films in a row, both bursting with personality and quirks, the second movie an obvious improvement over the first. I can't wait to check out this third movie of his to see if he can keep this streak going.
November 5, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Dang, this Mark Dindal rocking it with two solid feature films in a row, both bursting with personality and quirks, the second movie an obvious improvement over the first. I can't wait to check out this third movie of his to see if he can keep this streak going.
The previous owner of these kept them in fine condition - even kept all 13 of the trading cards. Also, I just discovered that the MoH DVDs even came with director trading cards! Looking at some of my favourite guys. Willow looked at the John Carpenter card and said, "I wanna put that in my wallet"
November 2, 2025 at 12:41 AM
The previous owner of these kept them in fine condition - even kept all 13 of the trading cards. Also, I just discovered that the MoH DVDs even came with director trading cards! Looking at some of my favourite guys. Willow looked at the John Carpenter card and said, "I wanna put that in my wallet"
Someone locally was selling the entire first season of Masters of Horror on DVD for dirt cheap. Didn't hesitate to pick em up, these discs are packed with special features. Great timing in me finding these right now, as this will assist greatly in a new creative endeavor I'll be undertaking.
November 1, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Someone locally was selling the entire first season of Masters of Horror on DVD for dirt cheap. Didn't hesitate to pick em up, these discs are packed with special features. Great timing in me finding these right now, as this will assist greatly in a new creative endeavor I'll be undertaking.
Happy Halloween, everyone (especially Jennifer Tilly). I'm having a quiet night in watching Vincent Price movies. Last weekend was our big bash, though. Willow and I dressed as Chucky and Tiffany.
October 31, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Happy Halloween, everyone (especially Jennifer Tilly). I'm having a quiet night in watching Vincent Price movies. Last weekend was our big bash, though. Willow and I dressed as Chucky and Tiffany.
About to watch Frankenstein (2025). A store close-by is selling the Coolest Dudes in the World.
October 29, 2025 at 4:38 PM
About to watch Frankenstein (2025). A store close-by is selling the Coolest Dudes in the World.
A monumental year for animation as well. As Chuck Jones said about Three Little Pigs "That was the first time that anybody ever brought characters to life [in an animated cartoon]. They were three characters who looked alike and acted differently." and Snow-White pushed forward the art of rotoscope
October 28, 2025 at 7:06 PM
A monumental year for animation as well. As Chuck Jones said about Three Little Pigs "That was the first time that anybody ever brought characters to life [in an animated cartoon]. They were three characters who looked alike and acted differently." and Snow-White pushed forward the art of rotoscope
Kermit just trying to rest, but we keep making a Halloween mess of his home.
October 25, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Kermit just trying to rest, but we keep making a Halloween mess of his home.
A couple months ago I watched her first movie, Munchie, from the same year!
October 25, 2025 at 1:18 AM
A couple months ago I watched her first movie, Munchie, from the same year!