A Doonesbury Special

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Movie
Original title A Doonesbury Special
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1977
length 26 minutes
Rod
Director John Hubley
Faith Hubley
Garry Trudeau
script John Hubley
Faith Hubley
Garry Trudeau
production John Hubley
Faith Hubley
for Hubley Studios;
Garry Trudeau
for Universal Press Syndicate
music James Allen Brewer
cut Sara Fishko

A Doonesbury Special is a 1977 American animated short film directed by John Hubley , Faith Hubley and Garry Trudeau .

action

Alternate Zonker Harris is swimming in a pond when it is announced that dinner is ready. Zonker lives in a formerly alternative commune , watches the title Stop in the Middle by the group around Jimmy Thudpucker on TV and finally gives a speech at the dinner table in which he suggests the end of commune. Everyone should move into a normal residential complex. The other community residents recap their wild times:

Everyone was at a peace concert by Jimmy Thudpucker, sang I Do Believe with him and then fought with the police. A football match went wrong because instead of playing drugged, alternative topics and theoretical concepts were discussed, which drove the captain of group BD to despair.

In the meantime, BD is no longer an active football player and turns off the television when he doesn't like the course of the game. Mark Slackmeyer and Mike Doonesbury discuss the Vietnam War , among other things , which BD displeases as a Vietnam veteran. Mike looks for Joanie Caucus in the kitchen. She washes the dishes and recounts how her life has changed. As a kindergarten teacher at the Walden Day Care Center, she still has to look after children according to the women's cliché, but she is at least (poorly) paid for it and also spreads feminist views among the girls in her group. A boy complains to her that the girls in the group are more like boys. Two of the girls take part in a rock version of the nativity play.

One of the girls comes by Mike and picks up Joanie for the performance. Joanie does the washing up and the feminist-influenced girl wants to know from Mike why Joanie has to do the dishes. Mike replies that it's her turn. The girl has vague ideas about the 68ers and wants to know what happened to the “ revolutionaries ” from back then, whether they are still in contact or keep a newsletter. Mike says no. He suspects that most simply feel the present pass by and participate in what is happening in their own way. Only Zonker is snorkeling in the pond, oblivious to the world.

production

A Doonesbury Special is based on the Doonesbury comic series that Garry Trudeau developed in 1970. Trudeau was involved in the film as a director, producer, and screenwriter. The film was the last work by John Hubley, who died while filming in February 1977 during heart surgery. The film premiered on November 27, 1977.

The film includes two songs by the fictional singer Jimmy Thudpucker. They were written and sung by James Allen Brewer.

Awards

A Doonesbury Special was nominated for an Oscar in the category " Best Animated Short Film " in 1978 , but could not prevail against Le château de sable . At the 1978 Cannes International Film Festival , John ( posthumously ) and Faith Hubley and Garry Trudeau won the Jury Prize, which they shared with Oh My Darling . A Doonesbury Special was also shown in the competition for the Palme d'Or in the “Best Short Film” category, which went to La traversée de l'Atlantique à la rame .

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