Seeing this makes me really wish that I could have seen a version of this play, though I would have cringed at the racist portrayal of Panda Bear and the creepy stuff with Lord D.
I legit was tripping out about that! Because i just finished listening to this video just now (I'm watching this on 2/15/2021) and I was playing Tetris 99 on my nintendo switch while listening to this video. I have the volume turned off on my switch, so when the tetris music started playing during that segment of the video, I was wondering how the hell did my bluetooth earphones connected to my muted switch and played the games volume WHILE connected to my phone and playing the video at the same time! It was only when I realized that it was coming from the video and stopped investigating. Thinking about it now, it's pretty funny! Lol
I also forgot to mention the fun fact that Richard Williams' daighter Clare played the part of Marcella for the 1977 movie and his mother, Kay Bell, hand made some of the nursery toys like Topsy.
@Katie Lewis I'd say more of the Panda since the baby doll triggers the "What did I lose" sequence. Probably change it up a bit where the doll wants to prove themselves and be brave despite everything scaring them. Could work with the themes the musical brings up
Hello, I am a member of RARE, (Raggedy Ann Revival Effort), and I am one of the scriptwriters on the revival script. We are replacing Panda, and are removing and/or changing many of the problematic things that have not aged well. We are hoping to be able to perform this in the future, and would love if more people were to support us! This show means a great deal to me and I am glad to see people are becoming more interested!
@@mckenahrose4987A revival and/or revised version of the show sounds awesome!! I know that it's been a year since this comment was made, but I do hope that the R.A.R.E. has been going well!
That movie seriously skeeved me as a little kid. There was something way too haunting and, well, adult, about the pleading loneliness of the camel, and the melancholy of the Greedy.
I think the musical might actually have a shot with teenagers/young adults if it were to be revived in local productions soon given the current interest in the animated movie. Like, it would be incredibly niche, sure, but it would have a shot. Plus there might not have to be quite as many worries about traumatizing children since it seems that Raggedy Ann isn’t really a hit with kids these days and is more popular with adult doll collectors. Maybe I’m wrong on that, but I sure don’t see her on store shelves.
I think if Joe hadn't died at the all too young age of 52, he would've revisited this, and re-tooled it. He had a real passion for this musical (and A WONDERFUL LIFE).
Colin really missed the boat critiquing Joe Raposo's score. The main thing is that the signature songs for the two leads--who are rag dolls--are sung IN RAG TIME! This isn't just a bad joke; not only is it a callback to the period when the dolls were created, but it was inspired (at least in part) by "The Sting", the film that helped re-introduce the piano rags of Scott Joplin to the world. The liveliness of Andy's "No Girl's Toy" is a great contrast to Ann's "Rag Dolly" with its chromatic melody.
Colin, did you know that even though Virginia Claire Williams played Marcella on camera, another little girl, uncredited, spoke all her lines for her, the reason being was that Williams spoke with a heavy London -BRITISH accent, and probably still does today! Presently she is now an animator herself, just like her father before her. So if you should see the name "Claire Williams" in the credits for an animated feature whatever movie it may be, then, YES, it's the same one as the Marcella performer.
as a kid, i just adored Raggedy Ann and Andy. i liked the way the dolls looked, i liked the whole concept of it, and it all started when i was about 6 or 7 when my Grandma got me a Raggedy Ann doll and a Raggedy Andy doll for christmas and i wasn't too fond of them at the time, since "they were just cheap cloth dolls" but my Grandma died a few months later and i got really attached to the dolls. Raggedy Ann and Andy was in a way a symbol of my Grandma, and i got a book, i saw the movie 3 times, and i never knew there was a musical since i most likely wasn't born yet, but if i was, i probably would commit a crime to see it...
That is literally the most convoluted & confusing story I have ever heard. I’m a huge Raggedy Ann fan so was fascinated to know that a Broadway show came from the kids cartoon...but hoo boy, that’s one messed up show...I can’t imagine it being an easy slog to get through as an audience member. There are germs of great ideas and some cute songs...but wow. 🤤
Julius Maloney The people who must have wrote this must have really wanted a deeper story for this musical. I guess it was too deep for kids and general audiences at the time.
It's too bad that the stage show had to get buried into obscurity; it sounds like something I'd have an absolute blast with were I able to actually see it. (Love your illustrations, btw!)
i've never heard of this, it looks so weird and i'm kind of fascinated by it. the mom/witch's song sounded really nice. and i like how surprisingly dark it feels.
OMG thank you for making a video about this! Okay so like, I've been obsessed with this musical since like, mid-2016, after accidentally stumbling across a single video with the demo soundtrack after binging some Raggedy Ann Content. It was the beginning of it becoming my special interest, so this musical was completely unknown to me at the time, and to most of the internet it seemed. I think it was after hearing Diagnosis that I fell in love with it, and after looking at the One wikipedia page that I was upset w/ just how little information there was about it. So for the better part of 4 years I kind of went out of my way trying to preserve anything I could from the show, and currently have playbills, photos and even the 1985 script! I'm the one behind the Lost Media Wiki article/first forum post, and this youtube channel with the posted bootlegs. Now with the rumored video bootleg of the show I'm definitely back in that Lost Media Hunt Frenzy. I'm just so happy that a video like this was made because this musical had SO MUCH love put into it, it was hard seeing it possibly fade out into absolute obscurity. luckily the small niche following it has is preventing that from happening completely, videos like this especially helping! This video kinda inspired me to attempt to rewrite the article and update it w/ any new info coming to surface hmm ANYWAY I'll stop rambling now! Thanks for making video and gaining more interest toward the show! (also love ur drawings!!!)
@Sarah Ulm A lot of the key differences, at least from the version of the script I have, seem to be primarily music and overall tone. The soundtrack is the demo soundtrack, so the songs Make Believe and its reprises, along with Why Not, aren't in that version of the musical. As for tone, its a lot more cynical and dark, with jokes about the baby getting drunk off jack daniels, to the slaughterhouse scene not present in the broadway rendition (you see the slaughterhouse in that version iirc, but the animal death sounds aren't present). also the scene with the witch is especially drawn out in the script, where ann plays as a mediator to marcella and the witches argument, trying to get the witch to remember marcella is her daughter, and trying to get marcella to forgive her mother for leaving, all the while ann is increasingly getting frustrated with the witch. That scene was really sad, but sweet, and a little funny here and there. It was one of the better written scenes in the musical. Same with Ann and Marcellas little heart-to-heart turned argument post Something In The Air, which had some really sad but well written lines in there that were cut out. I mean I could go on forever about how weird this musical is tbh, and how strange the script i got is. I REALLY want to read one of the original scripts/original concepts though because if my 1985 copy was an editted version (before the final broadway version) then like.... i wonder what the original concepts were like..!
@@princesspeachfan100 Sadly I dont really know. Last I checked, which was a couple years ago, Ivy Austin was checking around for potential sponsors/funding for the musical. I'm honestly not sure how its going, but these things often take a LOT of time, especially with a show thats likely having to be rewritten multiple times til its a bit more appropriate. I'm just hoping they keep the same vibes the original show has, if it has to be censored a little bit. Getting a show together takes a LONG time, so its likely still in the process of being thought out n everything. Honestly, the best person to ask is Ivy Austin herself tbh!
Rag Dolly Oh, ok. Thanks! :) (Sorry for the late reply, I didn’t see you responded to me until now. XD ) I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens then. :) I could try to see if I could ask Ivy about it on here, she has an account on here, but I don’t think she’s active on it too much. :( UPDATE: Yeah, unfortunately, her account in here has been inactive for a while now. :( I can't really ask her anything from her being inactive on here. Oh well, I tried. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens then, and if she ever gets back to you about it let me know. :) I'd love to know what's happening for the revival if she ever says anything to you more about it if it's still happening or not. :)
Fun fact: The pirate captain in the animated film was voiced by Broadway performer George S. Irving, who was best known for being the voice of Heat Miser in both The Year Without a Santa Claus and A Miser Brothers’ Christmas.
Ok. But. Candy hearts and paper flowers is lit the song of my childhood. We had the first part on an old vhs.. And it stopped just before the greedy. And I watched it so much.. I know that song by heart.
Yeah, they practically got double dead! Also, I guess Red Fang/Wolf got a bit turned on or got quite a great liking from his little vore session or whatever.
I find his voice adorable like listening to your little (idk 5 year old?) brother getting protective over you and you can’t help but just be like “awww you’re so cute”
Never understood why there's so much subtext, either. I mean, the show makes sense since we had a professional playwright who said "screw it" and pretty much wrote whatever he wanted, which is fine. As for the movie, there's so much blatantly fetishy stuff, it's like shame-watching an episode of "Totally Spies."
Well this looks like an interesting musical. The guy in charge of that musical really aimed for a deep story. Although he probably should have aimed for an older demographic in the end. A part of me hopes that someday this comes back in a way. Maybe as a stage musical again, but aimed for an older demographic (maybe a teen demographic) or as an animated film (possibly stop motion). Nice informative video still 👍.
Hi Colin, Revisiting this video to say thank you for starting it all. Because of this video, I've found my passion. For the past two years, I've been collaborating, creating, and making some of the strongest friendships in my life, all because this video sparked something completely unknown in me. I've become a happier person; I own a company (RARE Theatricals, LLC), and I've learned about production, storytelling, and even law. I've had the honor of speaking to so many Broadway legends and artists, I've received some of the greatest and most valuable advice that I'll always hold closely to my heart, and I've seen some of the amazing and heart warming things that can be accomplished when people are brought together by fate. I've learned so much about what I want to do in my life; I'm going into college for musical theatre and playwriting, and this show is closer than you may think to becoming a reality once again. With copyright moving along swiftly and our second fully-casted table read coming up, it's only a matter of years now before Raggedy Ann takes the stage like she did all that time ago. So, again, thank you so, so much for making my life so, so wonderful. I feel like the luckiest person alive. gwyn :)
Don’t worry gang, with everyone watching the Musical Adventure on the algorithm I have no doubt we’ll see Annie back on stage and even maybe a redrawn of the musical! 💚💚💚
I also find it super interesting that this movie rings so well with my Gen. I’m an opera singer so I don’t mind all the music (it’s pretty much Toy Story the operetta) but I can see why some would be put off. All and all I’m all in for the Raggedy Ann supremacy movement and can’t wait to see more Ann and Andy in the future!
This is the first time I've seen anyone (who wasn't myself) talk about Rag Dolly! The show is truly special to me and I'm so happy I could find someone to finally tell me the damn plot!
I heard a rumor that Ivy Austin (who played Ann in the original play back in 1986) is trying to get funds to try and revive the musical and bring it back! ^^ (I'm not sure if it will end up or when it will end up happening, but if it does end up happening it would be great for people (like me) who weren't around in the 80's to see the play and have an experience on what it's like! ^^ (Being a HUGE fan of the 1977 movie by Richard Williams (That got me introduced to Ann and Andy about 10 years ago watching the movie here on CZcams,) I'd love to experience the play based off the movie in person! ^^ (By the way, I'm a HUGE fan of Mark Baker who voiced Andy in the 1977 movie for the win!
I have seen the comments and I wish her the best of luck! The hardest part would be how to advertise the show. Its audience isn't terribly concrete (kids? Adults? Hipsters?)
@@ColinLooksBack I would think it would both be for the old and new fans of the movie, for all ages like you said in this video about the 85'-86' version of the original play. :) (Well, except for the dark parts if they included that, it wouldn't be appropriate and too scary for little kids.) ( I'm a newer generation fan of Raggedy Ann and Andy and the movie since I first saw it here on CZcams about 10 years ago that got me introduced to them better. :) (Like I knew about the dolls, but I never saw them in the cartoons or anything at the time, and when I first saw that movie, I loved them even more and made me a huge fan of them, and the actors in the film itself (Especially Mark Baker, who voices Raggedy Andy in the film. :) Ever since I watched the movie on CZcams, I loved Mark Baker's role as Andy, his voice makes me swoon everytime I hear him sing and I also discovered he was a Broadway actor in a musical called "Candide" in 1974 as the title character Candide. :) (Audio of the musical is on here, look up "Candide 1974" and you'll reconize his voice instantly. :) Other than that though he didn't get many roles in shows or anything and did small little roles in the 80's I discovered. Mark was in an episode of a show called "St. Elsewhere, called "Lost And Found In Space" www.dailymotion.com/video/x74sjs2 where he plays an autistic patient named Buddy Eskew,. (He shows up at the 7:40, 17:24, and 41:11 minute marks of the episode, and another show called "The Equalizer in an episode called "Bump And Run", www.dailymotion.com/video/x6rj3dg where he's a thug in a red shirt and a black leather jacket, but doesn't get much screentime since his character gets shot and dies. :( (He mostly appears at the 3:23 minute mark all the way up to the 5:30 mark where this guy shoots him before this other guy and dies. :( But yeah, those two minor roles of his are interesting seeing. :) (Don't get me wrong though, I love Didi Conn as Ann too, other than her role as Frenchy in the 1978 movie "Grease. :)
The movie was my obsession when I was really little. Years later I found it on CZcams, and discovered that I had nearly every line of dialogue etched into my memory. The only song I didn’t know was “I’m No Girl’s Toy,” but I figure it must have been cut for time on TV. (We taped it from the Disney channel, I think, way back when.) Edit: PS Blue is still my favorite song from the movie. XD And thanks for the run down on the musical.
I actually really liked the general idea of the musical, maybe it wasn't really a good idea for a younger audience but it was pretty interesting and i liked it more than the animation. Wish you could see the musical i would love to see it.
This musical and along with another flop, Wonderland. Had serve a pure inspiration for me to write a musical I've working on since the early 2000's and that's mainly because of taken dark, surreal elements and create a fantasy on the outside but give it a emotional depth to it. That alone connects me strongly. I love this video, because of this I've watching more of your other videos as well.
4:40-4:45 "A lot of people will probably remember Didi Conn best as Frenchy from Grease but she'll always be Raggedy Ann to me." I feel the same way about actor Michael Richards. A lot of people might remember him best as Kramer from Seinfeld, but he'll always be Stanley Spadowski from UHF to me. Likewise, I'll always remember Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl from the Popeye movie while other people might remember her from The Shining or her premium cable shows like Faerie Tale Theatre or Bedtime Stories.
I wanna do this show for my art school! I think if we found the script and playwright it’d be entirely possible! The costumes would be so much fun to design
RAGGEDY ANN & ANDY: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE deserves more praise - or at least more love - than it gets. I have it on my list of what I consider my 50 favorite films (and not just films that are guilty pleasures, but films I genuinely think are good). The funny thing is, I loved both this and WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT as a kid, and for a lot of the same reasons, but never would have guessed that the same animator worked on both!
Ivy Austin said she wants to look into a revival! It would need a few tuneups (some RARE members have recommended replacing Panda with Teddy, a nerdy and awkwardly shy Teddy Bear, which I love the idea of) and maybe refine some of the details with the plot, but I think it could work!
Saw this film in the theater when I was 6 years old. I remember being a little bored & scared at times, but overall I liked it. The Greedy segment and song were my favorite parts; glad they didn’t cut that 10 minutes out!
Omg I would love to see this play tho... I like how funny and childish it is but yet so dark and crazy!! (just like the movie which is pretty weird but also very cute and creative) If they remastered the musical nowadays I think it would be more popular than back then!! Personally I love both the movie and this play, although I've never seen it but I hope someone finds a recording of it one day! (sorry for my english btw)
It’s incredible to come back to this video and see how far the lost media effort has come in just a few months! We went from barely knowing the plot to having full scripts, so many press photos, and even firsthand accounts from Gibson about how much he hated writing it lol. We owe so much to this video for raising awareness and bringing everyone together! Thank you.
This was my favorite movie as a child. I am so glad someone else could appreciate this wonderful masterpiece. Watching it as an adult brought back so many great memories. Thank u for covering this!
I know nothing about Raggedy Ann or the various adaptations of the doll or her stories. All I know is that the movie, Raggedy Ann and Andy: A Musical Adventure, is one of my favorite movies when it comes to it's animation. The plot is completely nonsensical and the intellectual side of me recognizes that it isn't a good movie, but I'm still nonetheless memorized by it, probably more than I should be. The Greedy sequence alone may be my favorite piece of animation out of anything ever, just by how surreal it is and how all of the Greedy's transformations flow into each other. It's almost beautiful, in a rather disturbing way... Edit: That diagnosis song is so hilarious dark, I love it.
So I grew up with that Raggedy Ann movie. The songs and the visuals left a lasting and seminal impact on me, and it remains my 12th favorite motion picture of all time. I've always wanted to adapt it for stage with those songs and that story. I had never heard of this show before, and while I see its merits I still would prefer something closer to the film, superfluous asides and all.
Same. While I'm glad the musical was made, the story just does not work. They could sort of have a mix of the two maybe, but something closer to the film would make a lot more sense.
i’m so happy to find this in my recommendations! raggedy ann is a movie that means a lot to me and as a musical theater geek myself this was such a pleasant surprise!
So much efforts put into this video, I can't believe it only has about 14.000 views! It's the kind of video who usually have and deserve 1 million views. Kudos to you!
Fun fact: Mark Baker (The iconic 1977 “Musical Adventure” Andy), earlier on reprised his role as Andy for this musical in 1983 and apparently was supposed to officially be Andy for the final 1985-1986 musical, unfortunately, upon finding out Ann was gonna have a bigger lead role, for unknown reasons he unfortunately just dropped out of the musical silently all together and in the end Scott got the final Andy role alongside Ivy… I REALLY hope we can track down this early version with Mark as Andy one day, it has to be out there filmed somewhere… there’s rumors the songs are out there and on the R.A.R.E. Site, there’s a black and white photo of Ivy as Ann and Mark as Andy! 😊
this was such a good video- i always wanted to know the full plot of the musical, and it sounds so dark but charming. i really hope it gets revived in some way, there’s so much potential, and with social media now i feel like it could actually find its footing via word of mouth. ugh it’s just such a genuine shame that it flopped and id do anything to watch the bootleg 😔
I was born in 1986 so naturally I had raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. I also had a doll if the camel, although it was actually a hand me down from my sister but I still loved it.
I'm pretty sure Ann did not mean it literally when she said she had a "candy heart" what she meant was that she has a "sweet heart" as in she's just a kind and genuine person. Edit: Apparently I'm wrong about that, in the original books she does in fact have a little heart inside her made out of candy....why? I know build-a-bear lets you put little stuffed hearts in them but why of all things would the creator put a candy heart in there? Paper seems more sensible to me, but I don't know all the tricks and secrets of the dollmakers. A mysterious lot they are.
I'm a year late, but it wasn't Marcella or any of her family who put the heart in Ann. In the books, painters comes to Marcella's grandmother's house (where the nursery is) and one of them grabs Ann, plays with her out of glee, throws her up in the air, and she lands in a can of paint. Distressed, the painter takes her home to clean and his mother is the one who cleans, restuffs (the paint soaked through Ann, down to the stuffing), and puts in the candy heart :)
Very delightful review of the Raggedy Ann musicals!! Your deep dives are so surreal! Truly amazing! Thank you for introducing me to this story! I always enjoy your deep looks back segments!
If anyone’s interested in seeing footage of the actual play, an amazing group of people, R.A.R.E. has just recovered footage of a demo preformance: czcams.com/video/nKPIhcrHb9Q/video.html
Thinking about today’s broadway scene, this show (minus the obvious topics) would do really well today!!!! It’d be awesome to see back on stage someday
Thank you so much for this video. I grew up outside of Albany, NY and had a vague memory of seeing a dark version of Raggedy Ann when I was growing up. The only song lyric I could remember was "Cause I'm a Rag Dolly." I wasn't sure if it was my very own fever dream or something I actually experienced until I found this video. The musical probably would have done better down in NYC instead of upstate NY, where people are quite conservative.
TV Tropes interprets the whole thing with the Witch to suggest Marcella's mother really did kill herself, just in case Colin's reading was too chipper and upbeat for you.
I would totally watch this musical if somebody revived it and I would also probably cry my eyes out, personally I think it was just ahead of its time, I really hope somebody decides to bring it back!!
It is an interesting musical, but I think it needs some changes. Some personal changes include: *Give Andy a more bigger and active role as much as his sister & Marcela. *Drop the whole weird love shape thing, even there is going to be any some sort of hint of a "romance" (if one looks at it in a different way) is Andy admitting that he cares about Marcela, and even gave up his heart along with Ann to save her. In the end (after the Raggedy siblings got new hearts), Marcela thanks Andy with a kiss & [Andy] blushes while trying to deny that he is greatful for it, but then immediately admits that he loves her too.😊🤭 *Instead of wanting to marry Marcela (gross), General D is actually a combination of the Grim Reaper & a Demon, and wants to take Marcela's soul to a place called "The Isle of the Unforgivable & Regret." *Red Fang/Wolf & Yellow Yum-Yum/Bat are in no some bizarre relationship, instead they are both after Raggedy Ann and Andy's hearts, not just because the hearts turned out to be the cure for Marcela, but because they thought the hearts will make them whole again to become their true forms. *Make the other toys be just as important, like make the panda plush be the one who's trying to stay positive, and Baby Doll represents maternal instincts & innocents.
I'm creating a cartoon. It's called, Forgotten Tales! It's about these forgotten and obscure characters that no one remembers from media going on wacky and crazy adventures.
I saw this movie on television as a kid and loved it especially love candy hearts and paper flowers mole that Camel he makes me cry SI I mean I'm looking in the window with the hope that somebody will notice him
I saw the original release of the film. I don't think the number of songs was a problem (The Lion King was way worse). I think the main problem was timing. It wasn't from a major animation studio, the general movie audience at the time WASN'T interested in animation, and it wasn't marketed or advertised well. If audiences were looking for less songs and stronger theme, then The Lion King would have flopped, but it did quite well. Thanks for the post. The animated feature is one of my favorite musicals of all time. Love Joe Raposo's work.
Raggedy Ann was definitely part of my childhood. I know I was her for Halloween one year (I think when I was 3). My aunt recorded the movie for me on VHS in the late 80s and I still enjoy it. Andy's song is particular still makes me laugh and I do have the song memorized still lol. However I can see why people criticize it. Fun fact when Toy Story first came out I was like, "They stole Raggedy Ann's movie idea!" Lol, I found it funny how people thought the concept was original, when in fact it wasn't lol. Even Jim Henson I think used the concept in a Christmas Special in the 80s. *Watches video and hears Frenchie is Raggedy Ann* OMG I HAD NO IDEA!!! Nice to see someone actually like the movie despite it's flaws. FYI, Disney's Robin Hood is still my fav Disney Movie so I don't care what anyone else says lol.
The animation is simply, MWA! I seriously cant explain how much I loved this. But I have to agree on how much songs there are in the movie, but I feel like that makes it great in my opinion. They sort of made it too over the top with the amount of songs but it makes it unique. Sorry if my opinion offends anyone, (Stay mad if it does.) sorry.
Thanks for this. I had heard a while back of this Broadway show but didn’t know anything about it other than the fact that it had an almost completely new soundtrack. I’m unsure how much I like it but it was interesting and certainly unique.
I know you say some songs go nowhere, but hear me out. Captain Contagious's song is more about 'making the best of a bad situation' and to be honest, it is tragic. Even in a very bleak scenario, he has the unyielding friendship and unconditional love of his parrot.
God i wish this could be somehow re released pretty sure moderm audiences would enjoy until some extent or who knows maybe get the cult status of others
everything was so different back in the 70's to 90's nowadays this musical would do insanely well because of how good the costumes could be made plus after the surprisingly amazing success of Beetlejuice the musical (still is and will always be my favourite) this show could really have the glow up it deserves
This show would be a modern cult classic if brought back. The dark story would do insanely well, especially after the success of Beetlejuice.
General D is LITERALLY Beetlejuice before Beetlejuice was a movie
When I see the design I agree
Yeah, remember the song about him: "Creepy old guy..."
Honestly I see more Jareth from Labyrinth than Beetlejuice but totally see what you mean
Omg benry got good taste
" Iiiit'sss aaaaa good ol fashioned wedding with some dancing and un-deading with a cover-band is cranking and the age gap is upsetting "
Pfft imagine finding Raggedy Andy’s voice attractive..... haha..couldn’t be me. 🤥
The almighty algorithm has brought us here for one purpose: to simp Raggedy Andy
Lol I love both Andy and Ann’s voice, ngl 😌💕
Sad thing is that’s the only movie he did
@@QuinnRuiz Ann is my emotional support lesbian and Andy..idk he can just breathe i'll be happy
Ikr-
“Watch it sister.”
Idk wether to be scared or impressed on how smooth his voice is-
Ok but Thermometer Jones is literally the most badass name for a bird I have ever heard
I don't know what it is, but "Jones" just works well with any first name, no matter how crazy.
@@gregorywiederecht It's a nice short 1-syllable balance to a long 4-syllable name. It just works.
That’s like a name for a Golden Age boxer or a 90’s era boxer with punches that sets an opponent on fire.
REAL
Seeing this makes me really wish that I could have seen a version of this play, though I would have cringed at the racist portrayal of Panda Bear and the creepy stuff with Lord D.
Don't worry.
The Chinese see us as their equals.
Their equanimity will save us all.
🙄
@@ezekielbrockmann114 Ezekiel shut up
@@prixe12 um... No.
www.bbc.com/news/uk-55973215
@@ezekielbrockmann114 stfu
@@ezekielbrockmann114 sftu were not reading that
Ok but like when Andy goes "Where's my foot- oh there it is..." When he jumped out of the window
My favorite line :]
I hope the full musical becomes publicly viewable someday I would be very interested to see this
Your day has come my child
@@samanthawilliams2046 you've got a link or something?
@@thundertits search up "Raggedy Ann and Andy" on your search bar and click the first one you see, it's right there hun
@@thundertits The Gays have taken a liking to it and made it a little more popular, theres edits and fan art and crap everywhere!
@@samanthawilliams2046 no I meant the Broadway musical not the animated one
I was dying when I realized he was playing the Tetris theme during the bit about Moscow's Raggedy Ann
I legit was tripping out about that! Because i just finished listening to this video just now (I'm watching this on 2/15/2021) and I was playing Tetris 99 on my nintendo switch while listening to this video.
I have the volume turned off on my switch, so when the tetris music started playing during that segment of the video, I was wondering how the hell did my bluetooth earphones connected to my muted switch and played the games volume WHILE connected to my phone and playing the video at the same time!
It was only when I realized that it was coming from the video and stopped investigating. Thinking about it now, it's pretty funny! Lol
69th like
Because it's a popular Russian song wich Tetris also used!
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korobeiniki
As much as I love the Raggedy Ann animated film, the musical sounds like something which should have been the version Richard Williams animated.
I also forgot to mention the fun fact that Richard Williams' daighter Clare played the part of Marcella for the 1977 movie and his mother, Kay Bell, hand made some of the nursery toys like Topsy.
Cobblytacks She also made the main dolls of Ann And Andy in the movie too! ( I’m not too sure if she made the Camel or not though.)
Yellow Yum Yum is like naming a mouse Delicious Eat Me
I bet ya if they changed the Panda it'd be a big hit nowadays.
@Katie Lewis I'd say more of the Panda since the baby doll triggers the "What did I lose" sequence. Probably change it up a bit where the doll wants to prove themselves and be brave despite everything scaring them. Could work with the themes the musical brings up
Hello, I am a member of RARE, (Raggedy Ann Revival Effort), and I am one of the scriptwriters on the revival script. We are replacing Panda, and are removing and/or changing many of the problematic things that have not aged well. We are hoping to be able to perform this in the future, and would love if more people were to support us! This show means a great deal to me and I am glad to see people are becoming more interested!
@@mckenahrose4987A revival and/or revised version of the show sounds awesome!! I know that it's been a year since this comment was made, but I do hope that the R.A.R.E. has been going well!
I can definitely see this coming back. They just need to edit some things like the stereotype panda and the creepy old guy plot.
They don’t need to edit shit. Why should the past be changed to conform to modern sensibilities.
That movie seriously skeeved me as a little kid. There was something way too haunting and, well, adult, about the pleading loneliness of the camel, and the melancholy of the Greedy.
I think the musical might actually have a shot with teenagers/young adults if it were to be revived in local productions soon given the current interest in the animated movie. Like, it would be incredibly niche, sure, but it would have a shot.
Plus there might not have to be quite as many worries about traumatizing children since it seems that Raggedy Ann isn’t really a hit with kids these days and is more popular with adult doll collectors. Maybe I’m wrong on that, but I sure don’t see her on store shelves.
Oh you're not wrong
Woooow okay yeah I'm not surprised the play didn't take off in the U.S. That's crazy dark.
I think if Joe hadn't died at the all too young age of 52, he would've revisited this, and re-tooled it. He had a real passion for this musical (and A WONDERFUL LIFE).
Luckily his surviving family members love the show just as much, and are willing to work with the effort to revive it
“Rumors of a full taping exist but I haven't seen it”
Me who came to watch this after watching the full thing: 👁️👄👁️
Colin really missed the boat critiquing Joe Raposo's score. The main thing is that the signature songs for the two leads--who are rag dolls--are sung IN RAG TIME! This isn't just a bad joke; not only is it a callback to the period when the dolls were created, but it was inspired (at least in part) by "The Sting", the film that helped re-introduce the piano rags of Scott Joplin to the world. The liveliness of Andy's "No Girl's Toy" is a great contrast to Ann's "Rag Dolly" with its chromatic melody.
The mother’s song was breathtaking! The Broadway music was really good I wish that it was available to listen to and watch.
I grew up on the animated movie so it’s really cool to find out that a Broadway musical
It’s available to watch now!
Colin, did you know that even though Virginia Claire Williams played Marcella on camera, another little girl, uncredited, spoke all her lines for her, the reason being was that Williams spoke with a heavy London -BRITISH accent, and probably still does today! Presently she is now an animator herself, just like her father before her. So if you should see the name "Claire Williams" in the credits for an animated feature whatever movie it may be, then, YES, it's the same one as the Marcella performer.
as a kid, i just adored Raggedy Ann and Andy. i liked the way the dolls looked, i liked the whole concept of it, and it all started when i was about 6 or 7 when my Grandma got me a Raggedy Ann doll and a Raggedy Andy doll for christmas and i wasn't too fond of them at the time, since "they were just cheap cloth dolls" but my Grandma died a few months later and i got really attached to the dolls. Raggedy Ann and Andy was in a way a symbol of my Grandma, and i got a book, i saw the movie 3 times, and i never knew there was a musical since i most likely wasn't born yet, but if i was, i probably would commit a crime to see it...
Watch the cartoon musical movie, it's nothing like the broadway version.
That is literally the most convoluted & confusing story I have ever heard. I’m a huge Raggedy Ann fan so was fascinated to know that a Broadway show came from the kids cartoon...but hoo boy, that’s one messed up show...I can’t imagine it being an easy slog to get through as an audience member. There are germs of great ideas and some cute songs...but wow. 🤤
Julius Maloney The people who must have wrote this must have really wanted a deeper story for this musical. I guess it was too deep for kids and general audiences at the time.
MY GOD THE “I forgive him where he howls…” *dog kinda choking howling* “in HELL.”
I feel like this would do pretty well if it became an animated series for at least 15+ audiences
It's too bad that the stage show had to get buried into obscurity; it sounds like something I'd have an absolute blast with were I able to actually see it.
(Love your illustrations, btw!)
Thanks! It's about the extent of my artistic talent but I'm glad they got the job done.
@@ColinLooksBack they're so charming ;0;
you can see it now! it's all up on youtube
i've never heard of this, it looks so weird and i'm kind of fascinated by it. the mom/witch's song sounded really nice. and i like how surprisingly dark it feels.
OMG thank you for making a video about this!
Okay so like, I've been obsessed with this musical since like, mid-2016, after accidentally stumbling across a single video with the demo soundtrack after binging some Raggedy Ann Content. It was the beginning of it becoming my special interest, so this musical was completely unknown to me at the time, and to most of the internet it seemed. I think it was after hearing Diagnosis that I fell in love with it, and after looking at the One wikipedia page that I was upset w/ just how little information there was about it.
So for the better part of 4 years I kind of went out of my way trying to preserve anything I could from the show, and currently have playbills, photos and even the 1985 script! I'm the one behind the Lost Media Wiki article/first forum post, and this youtube channel with the posted bootlegs. Now with the rumored video bootleg of the show I'm definitely back in that Lost Media Hunt Frenzy.
I'm just so happy that a video like this was made because this musical had SO MUCH love put into it, it was hard seeing it possibly fade out into absolute obscurity. luckily the small niche following it has is preventing that from happening completely, videos like this especially helping! This video kinda inspired me to attempt to rewrite the article and update it w/ any new info coming to surface hmm
ANYWAY I'll stop rambling now! Thanks for making video and gaining more interest toward the show! (also love ur drawings!!!)
Rag Dolly I told him about your whole comment about Ivy trying to revive the show! How’s that going? Any updates about it yet? :)
@Sarah Ulm A lot of the key differences, at least from the version of the script I have, seem to be primarily music and overall tone. The soundtrack is the demo soundtrack, so the songs Make Believe and its reprises, along with Why Not, aren't in that version of the musical. As for tone, its a lot more cynical and dark, with jokes about the baby getting drunk off jack daniels, to the slaughterhouse scene not present in the broadway rendition (you see the slaughterhouse in that version iirc, but the animal death sounds aren't present). also the scene with the witch is especially drawn out in the script, where ann plays as a mediator to marcella and the witches argument, trying to get the witch to remember marcella is her daughter, and trying to get marcella to forgive her mother for leaving, all the while ann is increasingly getting frustrated with the witch. That scene was really sad, but sweet, and a little funny here and there. It was one of the better written scenes in the musical. Same with Ann and Marcellas little heart-to-heart turned argument post Something In The Air, which had some really sad but well written lines in there that were cut out.
I mean I could go on forever about how weird this musical is tbh, and how strange the script i got is. I REALLY want to read one of the original scripts/original concepts though because if my 1985 copy was an editted version (before the final broadway version) then like.... i wonder what the original concepts were like..!
@@princesspeachfan100 Sadly I dont really know. Last I checked, which was a couple years ago, Ivy Austin was checking around for potential sponsors/funding for the musical. I'm honestly not sure how its going, but these things often take a LOT of time, especially with a show thats likely having to be rewritten multiple times til its a bit more appropriate. I'm just hoping they keep the same vibes the original show has, if it has to be censored a little bit.
Getting a show together takes a LONG time, so its likely still in the process of being thought out n everything. Honestly, the best person to ask is Ivy Austin herself tbh!
Rag Dolly Oh, ok. Thanks! :) (Sorry for the late reply, I didn’t see you responded to me until now. XD ) I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens then. :) I could try to see if I could ask Ivy about it on here, she has an account on here, but I don’t think she’s active on it too much. :(
UPDATE: Yeah, unfortunately, her account in here has been inactive for a while now. :( I can't really ask her anything from her being inactive on here. Oh well, I tried. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens then, and if she ever gets back to you about it let me know. :) I'd love to know what's happening for the revival if she ever says anything to you more about it if it's still happening or not. :)
I've been obsessed with raggedy Ann in December 2019
And draw them
Fun fact: The pirate captain in the animated film was voiced by Broadway performer George S. Irving, who was best known for being the voice of Heat Miser in both The Year Without a Santa Claus and A Miser Brothers’ Christmas.
I knew that voice was familiar!
Ok.
But.
Candy hearts and paper flowers is lit the song of my childhood.
We had the first part on an old vhs..
And it stopped just before the greedy.
And I watched it so much.. I know that song by heart.
I feel really bad for the Bat and Wolf.
I was surprised how deep their little love triangle plot went.
Yeah, they practically got double dead! Also, I guess Red Fang/Wolf got a bit turned on or got quite a great liking from his little vore session or whatever.
@@joefrew1614 it would have cost you nothing to not post that and yet here it is, and I have been cursed to read it with my own two eyes
Having seen the footage now, Wolf is just all the more sympathetic. Especially after Bat's death.
I find his voice adorable like listening to your little (idk 5 year old?) brother getting protective over you and you can’t help but just be like “awww you’re so cute”
There's SO MUCH odd subtext in the movie and show. You gotta wonder why that is...also I love the Bat, she's probably my favorite character.
@Sarah Ulm Yes I love Bat's look, she looks like the rock star Siouxsie Sioux!
@Sarah Ulm Oh cool I'll have to check that out
Never understood why there's so much subtext, either. I mean, the show makes sense since we had a professional playwright who said "screw it" and pretty much wrote whatever he wanted, which is fine. As for the movie, there's so much blatantly fetishy stuff, it's like shame-watching an episode of "Totally Spies."
Ivy Austin and a fan of the show are trying to bring it back. I highly recommend donating to their go fund me.
Well this looks like an interesting musical. The guy in charge of that musical really aimed for a deep story. Although he probably should have aimed for an older demographic in the end. A part of me hopes that someday this comes back in a way. Maybe as a stage musical again, but aimed for an older demographic (maybe a teen demographic) or as an animated film (possibly stop motion).
Nice informative video still 👍.
There is a group working on reviving it!
Hi Colin,
Revisiting this video to say thank you for starting it all.
Because of this video, I've found my passion. For the past two years, I've been collaborating, creating, and making some of the strongest friendships in my life, all because this video sparked something completely unknown in me. I've become a happier person; I own a company (RARE Theatricals, LLC), and I've learned about production, storytelling, and even law. I've had the honor of speaking to so many Broadway legends and artists, I've received some of the greatest and most valuable advice that I'll always hold closely to my heart, and I've seen some of the amazing and heart warming things that can be accomplished when people are brought together by fate. I've learned so much about what I want to do in my life; I'm going into college for musical theatre and playwriting, and this show is closer than you may think to becoming a reality once again. With copyright moving along swiftly and our second fully-casted table read coming up, it's only a matter of years now before Raggedy Ann takes the stage like she did all that time ago.
So, again, thank you so, so much for making my life so, so wonderful. I feel like the luckiest person alive.
gwyn :)
Don’t worry gang, with everyone watching the Musical Adventure on the algorithm I have no doubt we’ll see Annie back on stage and even maybe a redrawn of the musical! 💚💚💚
I also find it super interesting that this movie rings so well with my Gen. I’m an opera singer so I don’t mind all the music (it’s pretty much Toy Story the operetta) but I can see why some would be put off. All and all I’m all in for the Raggedy Ann supremacy movement and can’t wait to see more Ann and Andy in the future!
This is the first time I've seen anyone (who wasn't myself) talk about Rag Dolly! The show is truly special to me and I'm so happy I could find someone to finally tell me the damn plot!
I heard a rumor that Ivy Austin (who played Ann in the original play back in 1986) is trying to get funds to try and revive the musical and bring it back! ^^ (I'm not sure if it will end up or when it will end up happening, but if it does end up happening it would be great for people (like me) who weren't around in the 80's to see the play and have an experience on what it's like! ^^ (Being a HUGE fan of the 1977 movie by Richard Williams (That got me introduced to Ann and Andy about 10 years ago watching the movie here on CZcams,) I'd love to experience the play based off the movie in person! ^^ (By the way, I'm a HUGE fan of Mark Baker who voiced Andy in the 1977 movie for the win!
I have seen the comments and I wish her the best of luck! The hardest part would be how to advertise the show. Its audience isn't terribly concrete (kids? Adults? Hipsters?)
@@ColinLooksBack I would think it would both be for the old and new fans of the movie, for all ages like you said in this video about the 85'-86' version of the original play. :) (Well, except for the dark parts if they included that, it wouldn't be appropriate and too scary for little kids.) ( I'm a newer generation fan of Raggedy Ann and Andy and the movie since I first saw it here on CZcams about 10 years ago that got me introduced to them better. :) (Like I knew about the dolls, but I never saw them in the cartoons or anything at the time, and when I first saw that movie, I loved them even more and made me a huge fan of them, and the actors in the film itself (Especially Mark Baker, who voices Raggedy Andy in the film. :) Ever since I watched the movie on CZcams, I loved Mark Baker's role as Andy, his voice makes me swoon everytime I hear him sing and I also discovered he was a Broadway actor in a musical called "Candide" in 1974 as the title character Candide. :) (Audio of the musical is on here, look up "Candide 1974" and you'll reconize his voice instantly. :) Other than that though he didn't get many roles in shows or anything and did small little roles in the 80's I discovered. Mark was in an episode of a show called "St. Elsewhere, called "Lost And Found In Space" www.dailymotion.com/video/x74sjs2 where he plays an autistic patient named Buddy Eskew,. (He shows up at the 7:40, 17:24, and 41:11 minute marks of the episode, and another show called "The Equalizer in an episode called "Bump And Run", www.dailymotion.com/video/x6rj3dg where he's a thug in a red shirt and a black leather jacket, but doesn't get much screentime since his character gets shot and dies. :( (He mostly appears at the 3:23 minute mark all the way up to the 5:30 mark where this guy shoots him before this other guy and dies. :( But yeah, those two minor roles of his are interesting seeing. :) (Don't get me wrong though, I love Didi Conn as Ann too, other than her role as Frenchy in the 1978 movie "Grease. :)
The movie was my obsession when I was really little. Years later I found it on CZcams, and discovered that I had nearly every line of dialogue etched into my memory. The only song I didn’t know was “I’m No Girl’s Toy,” but I figure it must have been cut for time on TV. (We taped it from the Disney channel, I think, way back when.)
Edit: PS Blue is still my favorite song from the movie. XD And thanks for the run down on the musical.
I actually really liked the general idea of the musical, maybe it wasn't really a good idea for a younger audience but it was pretty interesting and i liked it more than the animation. Wish you could see the musical i would love to see it.
My twin????
This musical and along with another flop, Wonderland. Had serve a pure inspiration for me to write a musical I've working on since the early 2000's and that's mainly because of taken dark, surreal elements and create a fantasy on the outside but give it a emotional depth to it. That alone connects me strongly. I love this video, because of this I've watching more of your other videos as well.
Imagine if there was an animated version of the stage musical that kept the same style as A Musical Adventure. That would've been insanely cool!
god i WISH WILL BE PERFORMED AGAIN AAARRRGHHH IT SOUNDS SO GOOD AND TRAGIC
thats why RARE exists!
4:40-4:45 "A lot of people will probably remember Didi Conn best as Frenchy from Grease but she'll always be Raggedy Ann to me."
I feel the same way about actor Michael Richards. A lot of people might remember him best as Kramer from Seinfeld, but he'll always be Stanley Spadowski from UHF to me.
Likewise, I'll always remember Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl from the Popeye movie while other people might remember her from The Shining or her premium cable shows like Faerie Tale Theatre or Bedtime Stories.
I wanna do this show for my art school! I think if we found the script and playwright it’d be entirely possible! The costumes would be so much fun to design
wait people were fangirling over raggedy andy's voice in 2019-
They still do
@@sassyeyebrows8084 i know but in 2019 ??
@@itsonlydanteluv ig yeah??
in 2020 and 2021
In 2023🙋
The bats being named Lily, Morticia, and Elvira is genius!
RAGGEDY ANN & ANDY: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE deserves more praise - or at least more love - than it gets. I have it on my list of what I consider my 50 favorite films (and not just films that are guilty pleasures, but films I genuinely think are good). The funny thing is, I loved both this and WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT as a kid, and for a lot of the same reasons, but never would have guessed that the same animator worked on both!
i honestly love the amount of songs 🤷
Ivy Austin said she wants to look into a revival! It would need a few tuneups (some RARE members have recommended replacing Panda with Teddy, a nerdy and awkwardly shy Teddy Bear, which I love the idea of) and maybe refine some of the details with the plot, but I think it could work!
I wouldn't mind seeing a variation of Grouchy Bear from the cartoon myself.
@@ColinLooksBack That’s what he is! Teddy is a mix between the two and with a patchwork teddy bear design to avoid the Panda influence.
The musics and the story is so dark and morbid....i love it!
The 1977 movie, Raggedy Ann and Andy: a Musical Adventure felt like a vomit trip and yet also a big, comfy hug
Saw this film in the theater when I was 6 years old. I remember being a little bored & scared at times, but overall I liked it. The Greedy segment and song were my favorite parts; glad they didn’t cut that 10 minutes out!
Omg I would love to see this play tho... I like how funny and childish it is but yet so dark and crazy!! (just like the movie which is pretty weird but also very cute and creative) If they remastered the musical nowadays I think it would be more popular than back then!! Personally I love both the movie and this play, although I've never seen it but I hope someone finds a recording of it one day!
(sorry for my english btw)
It’s incredible to come back to this video and see how far the lost media effort has come in just a few months! We went from barely knowing the plot to having full scripts, so many press photos, and even firsthand accounts from Gibson about how much he hated writing it lol. We owe so much to this video for raising awareness and bringing everyone together! Thank you.
This was my favorite movie as a child. I am so glad someone else could appreciate this wonderful masterpiece. Watching it as an adult brought back so many great memories. Thank u for covering this!
I know nothing about Raggedy Ann or the various adaptations of the doll or her stories. All I know is that the movie, Raggedy Ann and Andy: A Musical Adventure, is one of my favorite movies when it comes to it's animation. The plot is completely nonsensical and the intellectual side of me recognizes that it isn't a good movie, but I'm still nonetheless memorized by it, probably more than I should be. The Greedy sequence alone may be my favorite piece of animation out of anything ever, just by how surreal it is and how all of the Greedy's transformations flow into each other. It's almost beautiful, in a rather disturbing way...
Edit: That diagnosis song is so hilarious dark, I love it.
So I grew up with that Raggedy Ann movie. The songs and the visuals left a lasting and seminal impact on me, and it remains my 12th favorite motion picture of all time. I've always wanted to adapt it for stage with those songs and that story. I had never heard of this show before, and while I see its merits I still would prefer something closer to the film, superfluous asides and all.
Same. While I'm glad the musical was made, the story just does not work. They could sort of have a mix of the two maybe, but something closer to the film would make a lot more sense.
Thank you for making this. This gave me alot of Information which i needed.
Andy's voice is like a dreamier Mickey Rooney
I haven’t seen anyone else mention it but I love the drawings that were done for this video, they’re super cute and expressive
Keepin the raggedy ann fandom breathing
Fr
Please don’t. Don’t let modern internet get its grubby hands on it.
i’m so happy to find this in my recommendations! raggedy ann is a movie that means a lot to me and as a musical theater geek myself this was such a pleasant surprise!
Little did they know gen z would take this and run with it till they died
So much efforts put into this video, I can't believe it only has about 14.000 views! It's the kind of video who usually have and deserve 1 million views. Kudos to you!
Fun fact: Mark Baker (The iconic 1977 “Musical Adventure” Andy), earlier on reprised his role as Andy for this musical in 1983 and apparently was supposed to officially be Andy for the final 1985-1986 musical, unfortunately, upon finding out Ann was gonna have a bigger lead role, for unknown reasons he unfortunately just dropped out of the musical silently all together and in the end Scott got the final Andy role alongside Ivy…
I REALLY hope we can track down this early version with Mark as Andy one day, it has to be out there filmed somewhere… there’s rumors the songs are out there and on the R.A.R.E. Site, there’s a black and white photo of Ivy as Ann and Mark as Andy! 😊
I would give anything to hear that. Any traces left of his voice since he's been gone are like finding gold.
this was such a good video- i always wanted to know the full plot of the musical, and it sounds so dark but charming. i really hope it gets revived in some way, there’s so much potential, and with social media now i feel like it could actually find its footing via word of mouth. ugh it’s just such a genuine shame that it flopped and id do anything to watch the bootleg 😔
There's footage up now if you'd like to watch it!
I was born in 1986 so naturally I had raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. I also had a doll if the camel, although it was actually a hand me down from my sister but I still loved it.
I'm pretty sure Ann did not mean it literally when she said she had a "candy heart" what she meant was that she has a "sweet heart" as in she's just a kind and genuine person.
Edit: Apparently I'm wrong about that, in the original books she does in fact have a little heart inside her made out of candy....why?
I know build-a-bear lets you put little stuffed hearts in them but why of all things would the creator put a candy heart in there? Paper seems more sensible to me, but I don't know all the tricks and secrets of the dollmakers. A mysterious lot they are.
As someone who read a few of the books as a kid....no. No, it's a literal candy heart.
@@HiloHello Oh, haha, my mistake then.
I'm a year late, but it wasn't Marcella or any of her family who put the heart in Ann. In the books, painters comes to Marcella's grandmother's house (where the nursery is) and one of them grabs Ann, plays with her out of glee, throws her up in the air, and she lands in a can of paint. Distressed, the painter takes her home to clean and his mother is the one who cleans, restuffs (the paint soaked through Ann, down to the stuffing), and puts in the candy heart :)
Very delightful review of the Raggedy Ann musicals!! Your deep dives are so surreal! Truly amazing! Thank you for introducing me to this story! I always enjoy your deep looks back segments!
Even though it's insanely dark, I would've loved this as a kid!
General D has one of the most incredible costuming designs I’ve seen in a while oh my god I love it.
Was he created before or after the term "necromancer" was coined?
If anyone’s interested in seeing footage of the actual play, an amazing group of people, R.A.R.E. has just recovered footage of a demo preformance:
czcams.com/video/nKPIhcrHb9Q/video.html
Thinking about today’s broadway scene, this show (minus the obvious topics) would do really well today!!!! It’d be awesome to see back on stage someday
Thank you so much for this video. I grew up outside of Albany, NY and had a vague memory of seeing a dark version of Raggedy Ann when I was growing up. The only song lyric I could remember was "Cause I'm a Rag Dolly." I wasn't sure if it was my very own fever dream or something I actually experienced until I found this video. The musical probably would have done better down in NYC instead of upstate NY, where people are quite conservative.
TV Tropes interprets the whole thing with the Witch to suggest Marcella's mother really did kill herself, just in case Colin's reading was too chipper and upbeat for you.
Oh shit that’s dark as hell
I would totally watch this musical if somebody revived it and I would also probably cry my eyes out, personally I think it was just ahead of its time, I really hope somebody decides to bring it back!!
It is an interesting musical, but I think it needs some changes.
Some personal changes include:
*Give Andy a more bigger and active role as much as his sister & Marcela.
*Drop the whole weird love shape thing, even there is going to be any some sort of hint of a "romance" (if one looks at it in a different way) is Andy admitting that he cares about Marcela, and even gave up his heart along with Ann to save her.
In the end (after the Raggedy siblings got new hearts), Marcela thanks Andy with a kiss & [Andy] blushes while trying to deny that he is greatful for it, but then immediately admits that he loves her too.😊🤭
*Instead of wanting to marry Marcela (gross), General D is actually a combination of the Grim Reaper & a Demon, and wants to take Marcela's soul to a place called "The Isle of the Unforgivable & Regret."
*Red Fang/Wolf & Yellow Yum-Yum/Bat are in no some bizarre relationship, instead they are both after Raggedy Ann and Andy's hearts, not just because the hearts turned out to be the cure for Marcela, but because they thought the hearts will make them whole again to become their true forms.
*Make the other toys be just as important, like make the panda plush be the one who's trying to stay positive, and Baby Doll represents maternal instincts & innocents.
The full taping of the show has been posted, cool right!
I think if they brought this show back and tweaked it a bit, the show would be a hit. I'd really like to see what they would do with the story now
I have the song no girls toy in my head for when I say it's so stuck in my brain
I''ve watched this about 3 times already and I keep coming back because I just love this video!!
I'm creating a cartoon. It's called, Forgotten Tales! It's about these forgotten and obscure characters that no one remembers from media going on wacky and crazy adventures.
Is there a full version of the "What did I lose" song? Those few seconds got me good
I saw this movie on television as a kid and loved it especially love candy hearts and paper flowers mole that Camel he makes me cry SI I mean I'm looking in the window with the hope that somebody will notice him
I saw the original release of the film. I don't think the number of songs was a problem (The Lion King was way worse). I think the main problem was timing. It wasn't from a major animation studio, the general movie audience at the time WASN'T interested in animation, and it wasn't marketed or advertised well.
If audiences were looking for less songs and stronger theme, then The Lion King would have flopped, but it did quite well.
Thanks for the post. The animated feature is one of my favorite musicals of all time. Love Joe Raposo's work.
I remember watching this while my grandma made me corn dogs 😌 great memories
I wish this would come back one day :( with the small needed chages though
I want to make a revival. Anyone else in?
Came for the entertainment, stayed for the cute drawings.
Raggedy Ann was definitely part of my childhood. I know I was her for Halloween one year (I think when I was 3). My aunt recorded the movie for me on VHS in the late 80s and I still enjoy it. Andy's song is particular still makes me laugh and I do have the song memorized still lol. However I can see why people criticize it.
Fun fact when Toy Story first came out I was like, "They stole Raggedy Ann's movie idea!" Lol, I found it funny how people thought the concept was original, when in fact it wasn't lol. Even Jim Henson I think used the concept in a Christmas Special in the 80s.
*Watches video and hears Frenchie is Raggedy Ann* OMG I HAD NO IDEA!!!
Nice to see someone actually like the movie despite it's flaws.
FYI, Disney's Robin Hood is still my fav Disney Movie so I don't care what anyone else says lol.
This is absolutely fascinating. Fantastic work on this video.
The animation is simply, MWA! I seriously cant explain how much I loved this. But I have to agree on how much songs there are in the movie, but I feel like that makes it great in my opinion. They sort of made it too over the top with the amount of songs but it makes it unique.
Sorry if my opinion offends anyone, (Stay mad if it does.) sorry.
Thanks for this. I had heard a while back of this Broadway show but didn’t know anything about it other than the fact that it had an almost completely new soundtrack. I’m unsure how much I like it but it was interesting and certainly unique.
I remember these toys from when I was a little girl.
I know you say some songs go nowhere, but hear me out. Captain Contagious's song is more about 'making the best of a bad situation' and to be honest, it is tragic. Even in a very bleak scenario, he has the unyielding friendship and unconditional love of his parrot.
God i wish this could be somehow re released pretty sure moderm audiences would enjoy until some extent or who knows maybe get the cult status of others
Narrator: The shows villain-
Ad: DRY SKIN?
Me: Been there before
everything was so different back in the 70's to 90's
nowadays this musical would do insanely well because of how good the costumes could be made
plus after the surprisingly amazing success of Beetlejuice the musical (still is and will always be my favourite) this show could really have the glow up it deserves