Don't go in the basement!

July 23, 2007 10:56 PM

Sally Cruikshank intends to put all of her animations on YouTube, including her opening credits for Ruthless People, the Seseame Street Feets too Big short, and don't miss the Oingo Boingo assist on Face Like A Frog. She's very active in the comments section of some of her videos, too, answering questions and participating in the discussion of her work.
posted by Slap*Happy (21 comments total)

Face like a Frog was indeed strangely reminiscent of Forbidden Zone. Super post!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:24 PM on July 23, 2007

great stuff. i never knew who was responsible for those trippy little animated films. 'don't go in the basement' is truly superlative.
posted by cazoo at 12:03 AM on July 24, 2007

Beginning, Middle and End was always one of my favorite Sesame Street animations. Dude, Face Like a Frog is discombobulating. This makes me happy.
posted by Mister Cheese at 12:43 AM on July 24, 2007

Woah. E2 is still kicking? I used to go there a lot but.. meh.
posted by ZachsMind at 1:51 AM on July 24, 2007

Fun on Mars always cheers me up.
posted by squidfartz at 4:30 AM on July 24, 2007

Previously.
posted by Smart Dalek at 4:37 AM on July 24, 2007

That isn't just Mick Jagger singing the title song to Ruthless People. That is Mick Jagger singing a song that he co-wrote with Daryl Hall.

Rolling Stone fans, commence suicide.
posted by flarbuse at 5:30 AM on July 24, 2007

"You can make a scene/on the mezzanine/but don't go in the basement!"

Oh, man, I hadn't seen that in a very long time, and I still like to sing that line from time to time. I thought it was just a silly cartoon (seen on MTV??) that I just happened to enjoy and remember-- no idea it was from a prolific and well-regarded animator. Thanks for this post.
posted by ibmcginty at 6:11 AM on July 24, 2007

Apparently Danny Elfman contributed vocals to the song "Don't go in the basement."

And, seriously, fucking wow. I had no idea that this video existed outside of my teenage friend Dave's stoner basement. I wouldn't have even thought to look for it on youtube.

Kudos, Slap*Happy!
posted by Afroblanco at 7:47 AM on July 24, 2007

Seriously, last time I saw this, it was, what, 1995? 1996? Blast from the past, fer sure. I'm gonna have to send this around to my old friends.
posted by Afroblanco at 7:49 AM on July 24, 2007

She RAISES CHICKENS and TAKES LESSONS IN AGILITY.

The agility and shepherding are for the dog, I think.
posted by sidereal at 8:19 AM on July 24, 2007

Always nice to see a bit of Boingo-lalia on the Blue. Thanks muchly, Slap*Happy!
posted by retronic at 10:13 AM on July 24, 2007

Yeah, this is really appreciated. I've heard the music but never seen the animation. Thanks.
posted by mouthnoize at 11:25 AM on July 24, 2007

I can't believe there was an Elfman performance that I hadn't heard! I had heard the song "Don't go in the Basement" before, but didn't know where it came from. There are so many hints at what's to come in his scoring work in that little animation. And the animation itself is great! I'm lovin' it!
posted by team lowkey at 12:06 PM on July 24, 2007

Never really dug her style. The Quasi stuff back in the old Night Flight days (circa 1980) used to freak me out.
posted by tkchrist at 2:56 PM on July 24, 2007

The song "Don't Go In The Basement" was originally a part of the film Forbidden Zone which was co-produced by Marie-Pascale and Richard Elfman. I don't think that cartoon is in that movie, but I haven't been able to find the movie, so I could be wrong. Everything I've read tells me Forbidden Zone is black & white. This cartoon feature is in color. So I think she made it long after the film, for reasons unknown.

Boingo did a version of the Budweiser jingle once which is to die for, and you have not lived until you hear Danny Elfman doing his rendition of "I Am The Walrus." It's better than Lennon's version and I don't say that lightly.
posted by ZachsMind at 7:56 PM on July 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

The cartoon isn't in the movie, though the animation style has a lot in common with Forbidden Zone. I can't quite recall which scene the song is in, or which character was singing it, but guess what. They went in the basement. Some crazy shit in there.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:02 PM on July 24, 2007

I have a copy of Forbidden Zone (signed by Richard Elfman, natch). I'm pretty sure the song ain't in it. I found the song on Kazaa at some point, but never figured out where it came from. I think this must be it. It's definitely the same recording.
posted by team lowkey at 10:00 PM on July 24, 2007

You're right, team lowkey. I guess I must have it on CD. I've got a Boingo rarities CD a buddy made for me. It's just so easy to visualize Elfman singing it, or dubbing it over one of the other characters in Forbidden Zone, with the vaudevillian sound of the song especially, and I thought maybe it was at the beginning with Huckleberry or the kids or the end with the Devil. But the soundtrack listing proves you right and jogs my memory better. Maybe I should watch it sober more often? Naaaaah!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:24 PM on July 24, 2007

those things would have scared the shit out of me if i were a kid! But thats what I remember the best... Great stuff!
posted by joelf at 11:34 PM on July 24, 2007

Yeah, I had to qualify with "pretty sure", because it fits so well with the movie. I thought the devil might sing it, but remembered Danny sang the "Heidi Heidi Ho" song. And I had to drink a little to get the state dependent memory kickin'.
posted by team lowkey at 11:38 PM on July 24, 2007