Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)
Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Monday, June 27, 2011

They're Not Thinking What We're Thinking, B1

Bananas in Pyjamas got a belting in the SMH over the weekend.

It's really painful reading that stuff when you've invested so much time and effort into something. The stuff the guy says is pretty unfair, and inaccurate. All that rubbish about how we've killed an Australian icon, and how it's (gasp) animated in a 'factory' in Singapore. And being called 'cheap and nasty'. It doesn't feel very good.

The fact is, the ratings are killing. The target audience is loving the show, and that's what matters. Tell you what though, it certainly saps your enthusiasm. Sitting here first thing on Monday morning, I'm not feeling very enthused.

10 comments:

Aimee said...

Gosh, that commute from a home in the Shire to work in Singapore has got to be a killer Ben. No wonder you're feeling a little flat!

Ali said...

Yeah, I was going to comment and tell that twit he didn't even have his facts straight, but I seem to need an account. Why don't you get on there and set him straight!

Joanna said...

That sucks, Ben. Hope you can remember the hundreds of thousands of kids who are clearly enjoying your hard work - compared to that, it doesn't really matter what one grown-up thinks!

simone r said...

Yeah - someone should set them straight.

I've watched a lot of bananas in pyjamas in my time. Only a few eps of your work, Ben, but I don't think the animation have changed the essence of B1 and B2.

Karen said...

Wow. Voldemort with a condom on his head. That IS harsh.
I keep forgetting to tune in and compare the new with the old Bananas (the almost two year old here doesn't yet have the attention span to sit and watch shows on TV) but I think he's just being mean.
Do the "live" Bananas still exist? Do they tour the country doing shows or something? If that's the case, does the animation on TV then free them up to appear live to their many thousands of little fans??

Ben McLaughlin said...

Thanks guys.

I think the annoying thing is that they're half truths. It's a coproduction between Southern Star Sydney, and Southern Star Singapore. The work is shared between them. He makes it sound like we've sent it off to some sweat shop, which is kind of offensive.

The thing is, the ABC didn't want it to be exactly the same as the old one. The changes that have been made along the way have all been decided by them, not by us.

Anyway, no point whinging.

And I don't think it would be good me commenting on that blokes article, because I'd be too harsh and regret the stuff I'd say.

onlinesoph said...

what a grumpy article. I think you have the right attitude. The kids love it. That's all that matters!

Stuart Heath said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stuart Heath said...

I thought I should let you know, Ben, that our daughter's really into the Bananas at the moment. She even asked me yesterday, "Do you hear that, B1?"

Karen said...

Stuart's comment reminded me that since you posted this, our little girl has also become quite excited about the Bananas. Obviously she has no previous banana memories to compare with, but she is loving the animated version :)