Making these kind of lists is fun but once you sit down and start to do it you soon begin to second guess yourself.  In a way you start to ask yourself if it is even a good idea to set yourself up as a judge of others work and creative output.  For me it is particularly hard as I know many of the people that had a hand in making these shows, and even worked on some of the shows myself.  However at the end of the day I just pushed on - after all my judgement is only that, my judgement. Each reader will have their own ideas and ways of measuring and balancing their own decisions, which may be completely different than mine.. So take a look at what I came up with and feel free to let me know your thoughts...

Tough list for me as I never had a daughter.  I've thought about how the shows influenced young girls over the years and how they have evolved, although many still are created only to sell product.

Unlike the boy’s action list, I didn’t grow up watching a lot of these shows so I’ve tried to do a little research and sought friend’s opinions.    I’ve even watched a few candidates and called my 7 year old granddaughter once or twice.   At the end of the day I sort of formed an idea of how I would make the selections and I decided to take into account the importance of the show within the category itself as well as the quality of the animation production.

This is the first of 6 lists I've proposed making that will rank my favorite domestic 2-D animation series starting with what I'm calling Boy's Action Shows.  Girl can watch too but I don't think most of these are their cup of tea - but times are a changing so maybe I'm wroing.

I never met anyone in this business that didn't have some strong opinions on what constituted a greatshow.  Whether it hinged on the quality of animation, longevity, financial success or number of sequals or spin-offs, most of us can, off the top of their head name a  number of titles we think of as the best.  

I thought it might be fun to share my favorites in a group of catagories that I've come up with... feel free to take a look and to disagree as much as you ilke, as long as you're cordially in doing so..

The best thing about the Oscars are the home parties where everyone yells and screams when their favorites win or lose. 

As the Super Bowl has become as more of an event than a footdball game, the Oscars have always been an event, an event that draws its demographics from across the board.  Men, women and children huddle together to eat, drink, gossip and cheer and to join in and share the dazzling world of make believe.  But inbetween all the hoopla and contrivance there are always just enough wonderful and moving moments to bring us back year after year.

Hooray for Hollywood!

The migration of digital effects work to offhshore studios is a continuation of a movement of animation work that began over forty years ago.  This means of cutting labor cost is now a normal consideration and VSX is only the newest branch of our industry to be effected.

sort of like going back to Junior Highschool - It's not always about the film.

I love award shows, don't you.  The only problem is that we just don't have enough of them.  I think we should have an Award Show, Award Show where we give (what else?) Awards to the best of the Award Shows - and maybe  bumper stickers.

I have been wondering how I should begin with this new thing, to write a regular blog for AWN as one of their new-featured experts.  Being me, I think I’ll start with a gripe.