The Pink Panther, one of my most favorite cartoons when I was a child (and an adult), is turning 40 next month. Those cartoons were my first exposure to the space-age bachelor pad and mod design stylings of the 50's and early 60's that I still love to this day. The music, my first exposure to lounge music which is still in my weekly rotation. (Henry Mancini was the man!)
MGM is celebrating in grand style. On April 6th, The Pink Panther Film Collection starring Peter Sellers are finally being released on DVD. the early ones were great, the later ones not so much so. (I wish they would do more with the actually cartoon of which only one collection exists of a handful of the ~175 that have been produced.) I have The Pink Panther and A Shot in the Dark already queued up in Netflix. They are also releasing a few recordings of related music including Ultimate Mancini and Ultimate Pink Panther discs. Most intruiging is The Pink Panther Penthouse Party of music inspired by or covering the characters music. Artists included include a lot of what I'm listening to today – Ursula 1000, Mocean Worker, St. Germain, and Nicola Conte to name a few. Looks good though I'm not sure about the inclusion of Fatboy Slim's Weapon of Choice.
(Works for Christopher Walken, but the Pink Panther?)
As if that isn't sweet enough, MGM has asked Shag (aka Josh Agle) a cat whose illustrations I really dig, to give the character a fresh new look. Check out the site here. It's all Flash though. Given the subject it almost works.
BTW New Yorkers: Shag is opening a new exhibit, Before the Eviction, at Earl McGrath Gallery in Manhattan on May 13th. I'll be making the trip back down to see this one.
<p>The Pink Panther, one of my most favorite cartoons when I was a child (and an adult), is turning 40 next month. Those cartoons were my first exposure to the space-age bachelor pad and mod design stylings of the 50's and early 60's that I still love to this day. The music, my first exposure to lounge music which is still in my weekly rotation. (<a href="http://www.henrymancini.com/">Henry Mancini</a> was the man!) </p>
<p>MGM is celebrating in grand style. On April 6th, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001AG01M/tima02-20">The Pink Panther Film Collection</a> starring Peter Sellers are finally being released on DVD. the early ones were great, the later ones not so much so. (I wish they would do more with the actually cartoon of which only <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6305236623/tima02-20">one collection</a> exists of a handful of the ~175 that have been produced.) I have <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/630530873X/tima02-20">The Pink Panther</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6305308713/tima02-20">A Shot in the Dark</a> already queued up in Netflix. They are also releasing a few recordings of related music including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001HAIFO/tima02-20">Ultimate Mancini</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001P1BV6/tima02-20">Ultimate Pink Panther</a> discs. Most intruiging is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001M4DFU/tima02-20">The Pink Panther Penthouse Party</a> of music inspired by or covering the characters music. Artists included include a lot of what I'm listening to today – Ursula 1000, Mocean Worker, St. Germain, and Nicola Conte to name a few. Looks good though I'm not sure about the inclusion of Fatboy Slim's <q>Weapon of Choice.</q> (<a href="http://www.astralwerks.com/fbs/woc/">Works for Christopher Walken</a>, but the Pink Panther?)</p>
<p>As if that isn't sweet enough, MGM has asked <a href="http://www.shag-art.com/">Shag</a> (aka Josh Agle) a cat whose illustrations I really dig, to give the character a fresh new look. Check out the site <a href="http://www.pinkpanther.com/">here</a>. It's all Flash though. Given the subject it <em>almost</em> works.</p>
<p>BTW New Yorkers: Shag is opening a new exhibit, Before the Eviction, at <a href="http://www.earlmcgrathgallery.com/">Earl McGrath Gallery</a> in Manhattan on May 13th. I'll be making the trip back down to see this one.</p>
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