Overview of 'Plymptoons: The Complete Early Works of Bill Plympton' Season 1

Plymptoons: The Complete Early Works of Bill Plympton (1989)

Animator Bill Plympton first received widespread public attention when his outré "Your Face" (1987) was nominated for an Academy Award for Animated Short. This collection of short films—some as brief as 15 seconds—made between 1985 and 1991, showcase his unique talent much more effectively than his ponderous feature films. But in off-the-wall shorts like "Your Face", "25 Ways to Quit Smoking", and the 15-second shorts made for MTV, he emerges as an entertaining and highly original filmmaker.

Writing:

Bill Plympton

Stars:

Release Date: 1989-06-01
Seasons: 1

Country: US
Language: English

Season 1 Episode List

Episode 1 - Self Portrait
Release Date: 1989-06-01
Excerpted from the collective short "Animated Self-Portraits" (1989), this 13-second clip is as the title describes: a self-portrait of Bill Plympton, animated circa 1988.
Episode 2 - The Great Turn On
Release Date: 1968-01-19
Bill Plympton's first animated short for his college's 1968 yearbook promotion.
Episode 3 - Lucas, The Ear of Corn
Release Date: 1977-01-19
An incomplete short by Bill Plympton.
Episode 4 - Boomtown
Release Date: 1984-01-01
The Android Sisters sing about the alarming increase in U.S. defense spending during the cold war and its effect on various aspects of the domestic economy.
Episode 5 - Drawing Lesson #2
Release Date: 1985-01-01
While giving an art lesson, the Magic Line is distracted by thoughts of his true love and former model, Vera, with whom he'd had a wild and passionate affair.
Episode 6 - Your Face
Release Date: 1987-05-01
A tenor, in suit and tie, with a receding hairline, sings an original ballad to his love, “Your Face is Like a Song”, to simple piano accompaniment.
Episode 7 - Love in the Fast Lane
Release Date: 1988-01-01
A distracted businessman buys an anniversary gift for his wife, but gets much more than he bargained for.
Episode 8 - One of Those Days
Release Date: 1988-01-01
A day in the life of the world's unluckiest guy.
Episode 9 - How to Kiss
Release Date: 1988-10-01
As a brave couple demonstrates, the narrator uses quotes, examples and advice to help us all reach the highest heights in the art of kissing.
Episode 10 - 25 Ways to Quit Smoking
Release Date: 1989-06-01
The perilous road to kicking the habit is explored in twenty-six vignettes that include various professionals and contraptions.
Episode 11 - 245 Days
Release Date: 1989-07-02
The music video for Peter Himmelman's song "245 Days", featuring original animations by Bill Plympton.
Episode 12 - Noodle Ear
Release Date: 1989-07-01
A 13-second channel bumper for MTV, animated by Bill Plympton circa 1989.
Episode 13 - Excerpt from Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Release Date: 1989-08-02
A 30-second excerpt from Amnesty International's 20-minute Universal Declaration of Human Rights animation video special from 1989.
Episode 14 - Acid Rain
Release Date: 1989-09-03
An environmental awareness PSA from MTV, animated by Bill Plympton circa 1989.
Episode 15 - Trivial Pursuit TV commercial #1
Release Date: 1990-01-01
A 1990 TV advertisement for the board game Trivial Pursuit, animated by Bill Plympton.
Episode 16 - Trivial Pursuit TV commercial #2
Release Date: 1990-01-01
A 1990 TV advertisement for the board game Trivial Pursuit, animated by Bill Plympton.
Episode 17 - Sugar Delight TV commercial #1
Release Date: 1991-01-01
A 1991 TV advertisement for artificial sweetener Sugar Delight, animated by Bill Plympton, featuring the voice of Emo Philips.
Episode 18 - Sugar Delight TV commercial #2
Release Date: 1991-01-01
A 1991 TV advertisement for artificial sweetener Sugar Delight, animated by Bill Plympton, featuring the voice of Emo Philips.
Episode 19 - Previous Lives #1: Rod Stewart
Release Date: 1991-06-06
An excerpt from MTV's 10th Anniversary Special, animated by Bill Plympton.
Episode 20 - Previous Lives #2: Eddie Van Halen
Release Date: 1991-06-06
An excerpt from MTV's 10th Anniversary Special, animated by Bill Plympton.
Episode 21 - Plymptoons
Release Date: 1990-01-01
A collection of comedic vignettes and sight gags, animated by Bill Plympton.
Episode 22 - At the Zoo
Release Date: 1969-01-01
A student film animated by Bill Plympton, when he was a student at The School of Visual Arts, New York City.
Episode 23 - America: Upper and Lower Case
Release Date: 1969-01-01
Another student film animated by Bill Plympton during his time as a student at The School of Visual Arts, New York City, humorously speaking to class divisions in America.