A Star Wars Animator’s Journey
Michael Hirsh’s name in animation circles evokes counter-cultural influences, a bit of psilocybin, and a passion for filmmaking. This combination allowed his company, Nelvana, to thrive. As independent animation gained traction, Hirsh caught George Lucas’s attention in 1978. Despite the cringe-worthy Star Wars Holiday Special, Nelvana’s animated Boba Fett introduction shone. Unbeknownst to Hirsh, this was just the start of a stellar career.
Navigating Lucas’s Demands
In his memoir “Animation Nation: How We Built a Cartoon Empire,” Hirsh details the challenges of working with Lucas. Nelvana had to create Star Wars cartoons, focusing on Ewoks and Droids. These spin-offs aimed to keep merchandising alive during the movie saga’s lull. Surprisingly, iconic characters like Darth Vader, Luke, Leia, and Han were off-limits. Instead, R2D2 and C3PO took center stage.
Production Challenges
Nelvana produced in Taiwan and Korea while Hirsh wrote in Toronto. The goal was to make Ewoks and Droids Saturday Morning Cartoon hits. However, both series failed to resonate with audiences, leading to their early cancellation. Industry restraints on violence diluted the Star Wars essence. How do you create wars without action?
A Quirky Tone
The series featured new lead characters every four episodes, blending humor from Laurel and Hardy, Yosemite Sam, and Eddie Murphy’s ‘Beverly Hills Cop.’ Without Darth Vader, the Ewoks struggled to find their rhythm, clashing with ABC standards.
Musical Drama
No Lucas venture lacked musical drama. Singer-songwriter Taj Mahal’s Ewoks theme song sparked off-screen drama. A frantic chase to his Hawaiian studio, last-minute demo sweetening, and an unexpected arrival created chaos. ABC executives weren’t thrilled, demanding changes for season two.
Crossroads with Pixar
Lucas’s animation interest led Hirsh to meet future Pixar heavyweight John Lasseter. They revamped early computer animation, dealing with room-sized mainframes. Starting with ‘Inspector Gadget,’ they used computerized paint systems to cut costs, scripting Hirsh’s future success.
Beyond Star Wars
Though Star Wars cartoons faltered, Hirsh soon struck gold. ‘The Care Bears Movie’ in 1985 became the most successful non-Disney animated film. Today, Hirsh’s portfolio includes hits like Inspector Gadget, Beetlejuice (the series), Babar, The Adventures of Tintin, and The Magic School Bus.
Final Thoughts
For a glimpse into the wild world of animation, explore “Animation Nation: How We Built a Cartoon Empire.” Discover the capricious and delightful journey of Michael Hirsh and Nelvana.
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Image credit: www.polygon.com
