Drawing Lesson #2 (1985) User Reviews

Despite very, very simple animation, the story really engages you.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 20 September 2008]

This short by Bill Plympton was included on the PLIMPTOONS DVD. This 60 minute set of early Bill Plympton shorts is a must-see for animation freaks, but since it's not his latest stuff, such wonderful shorts as GUIDE DOG and PARKING aren't included. Most of the shorts are "fall on the floor laughing" funny and only a crabby old curmudgeon couldn't enjoy these films! This is among the earliest works by Plympton and appeared before his much more beautifully rendered cartoons he's most famous for today. However, despite having very simple animation, the story is exceptional and makes this a short worth seeing.

The film is about a line who narrates the story and behaves, at times, just like a living creature. Though he has aspirations of becoming a great work of art, he also finds time to meet and marry Vera, break up and finally meet another lady (this one is NOT a cartoon like Vera but a real lady). It's all very absurd and instead of the usual Plympton style, it uses stop-motion as well as some live action. The end result is a captivating and strange film that is sure to entertain.

By the way, is it just me but doesn't the line sound a lot like Ernie from "Sesame Street"?

Another Inventive Effort By Bill Plympton

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 2 February 2008]

At first, this is deceiving. It appears to be a lesson about how to draw, but "the magic line_ - the narrator - quickly gets sidetracked and this turns out to be a very funny story and a cartoon that was fascinating to watch, especially if you like the creative process of art. I can't draw worth a lick so I've always enjoyed seeing some of these speed-ed-up images of someone drawing something.

That's what happens here as our Chris Hoffman, our narrator, tells of his sad relationship with "Vera." This is one of these strange Bill Plympton early animated efforts where you almost have to see it to explain it. Words don't come easy trying to describe the crazy images Plympton comes up with in some of his material, such as this one.

He just draws out his story - quickly - and adds in the color as he goes from sentence to sentence, becoming emotional (which is humorous to hear) as he tells his sad tale of woe.

The story of "the line" and how he tries to pick up other women after losing Vera is really entertaining.

This, and some of Pympton's other cartoons, are offered in a unique DVD titled, "Plymptoons: The Early Works of Bill Plympton." You can see the picture of it at the upper left of this title page.