Animated Films 01.0 - The Cat in the Hat

[Jonathan]

To kick off the very first part of this animated films project I'm opening it up to discussion here of Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat and its sequel - The Cat in the Hat Comes Back etc. There is also room in this section for reading of How the Grinch Stole Christmas if time permits.

There are old cartoons based upon these two children's books (and while live action films also exist with Mike Myers as The Cat - it is the intention of this project that we focus primarily on animations (Digital 3D, stop motion or cartoons).

In about a week's time I will put up the next thread for Horton Hears a Who, before in the last week of the Month moving onto The Lorax in the final week. Next month the project will then focus on The Brother's Grimm Fairytales!

[Katalili]

Nice!

[Book Vamp Jade]

can't wait!

[Jonathan]

So I'm about to start up a thread for Horton Hears a Who. But when (or for those who have) you read this children's book - and/or seen the cartoon - here are a couple of questions:

1) Do you think it's just a piece of fun work? Or does Dr Seuss have more serious ideas in mind behind the fun?
2) If you have watched both how do the cartoons compare to the books themselves?
3) Given that we picked lighter books for this challenge and with pictures, how do the books' images work in with everything else?

Just a few tips to start some conversation happening in this thread about the project books and films as you've seen them.

[Alana]

Lol, if the government is tracking my reading selections at the library this month, they are going to think I have a pack of children to read to. It's so much fun revisiting these as an adult!

I just finished up The Cat in the Hat. Is it terrible that my initial thoughts are "Why is the mom leaving these children for so long?" and "Is this a story about letting strangers into your house?" Or is it supposed to explain to the poor, weary mother how the things in her house REALLY got so messy?

It's a cute story, although it has an edge of creepiness, I have to say. I honestly don't even remember the animated version of this one, so I'll have to look and see what I can find.

[Jonathan]

Alana wrote: "Lol, if the government is tracking my reading selections at the library this month, they are going to think I have a pack of children to read to. It's so much fun revisiting these as an adult!

I j..."

Not at all - I think the same whenever I pick up that book.

[Alana]

Just finished a quick little re-read of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. It always delights me, much as A Christmas Carol always does (probably because they are practically the same story). In this case, it's not conviction about the wrongs that he's done, but rather the heart of others that changes him. I just think it's beautiful, even if it is a silly kids' story.

[Alana]

I went ahead and did The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, mostly because I honestly did not remember if I'd read it before. I'm sure I had, as it sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn't remember much of it. It has a very different tone from the first one, not so dark and sinister. And the Cat is much more helpful. Our good Dr. Seuss certainly had a vivid imagination!

[Kay Kay]

I love Dr. Seuss and the Cat in the Hat. The movie with Mike Meyers was awful! I could not even finish it. My kids and I were appalled! The animated cartoon is wondrefully fun, although it is not true to the book.