Retro cartoons refer to classic animated series and characters, primarily from the 1930s through the 1990s, characterized by visual styles that evoke nostalgia for todayβs adults.πΊ
Visual Style: They are characterized by rounded shapesand vibrant colors π π π π β€οΈ
This time, we focused on a few specific characters, since it was a personalized gift. πΊ
Everything was hand-painted. To make the figures, thick white cardstock was used so it could hold the paint needed to create the characters, and long wooden skewersβthe kind used for meat skewersβwere used to hold almost all the pieces together. πΊ
Our first little friend is named π π π π β€οΈ Astro Boy π π π π β€οΈ
created by Osamu Tezuka
πManga: 1952
πΊClassic black-and-white TV series: 1963β1966.
π₯Adaptations: Color versions in 1980 and 2003, and a
π₯CGI movie: In 2009.
π π π π β€οΈ What is it about? :
Set in a futuristic world where robots and humans coexist, Astro fights for justice and peace between both species, using his superpowers.
He was created by Dr. Tenma after the death of his son Tobio in an accident. Unable to grow or express human emotions perfectly, Dr. Tenma rejects him and sells him.
Professor Ochanomizu rescues Astro and adopts him, becoming his mentor and helping him use his abilities to protect the city.
π π π π β€οΈ What message does it convey?
The series explores acceptance, betrayal, the relationship between humans and robots, and the search for oneβs own identity, often through battles in a robot gladiator arena or while protecting Metro City.
π π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈ
Here we have π π π π β€οΈMazinger Z π π π π β€οΈ
I almost forgot to mention that, to add shading to the drawings, I used paints; itβs best to use a good brand so that the paint application is more even.
Itβs an iconic Japanese giant robot, known for being the first mecha piloted from the inside by a human.
Created by: Go Nagai in 1972
πManga: 1972
πΊAnime: 1972
π π π π β€οΈWhat is it about?
Defending the Photon Research Center and the world from Dr. Hellβs mechanical monsters, alongside the pilot: Koji Kabuto, who controls the robot from the Pilder (a small glider) that attaches to the robotβs head.
π π π π β€οΈWhat is its message?
It had a huge impact and is considered the βfather of the mecha genre,β laying the groundwork for piloted robots like Gundam and Evangelion.
The original series consists of 92 episodes and aired in Latin America and Spain during the 1970s and 1980s, becoming a landmark of popular culture.
π π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈ π π π π β€οΈ
Another classic is π π π π β€οΈUltramanπ π π π β€οΈ
Place the characters strategically so that they look harmonious
Created by Eiji Tsuburaya in 1966
πΊIt first aired in Japan on the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS). The series ran from July 17, 1966, to April 9, 1967, produced by Tsuburaya Productions, establishing itself as the franchiseβs first color series.
πΊInternational distribution: During the late 1960s and 1970s, the series reached Latin America (Mexico, Argentina, Peru, El Salvador), where it was dubbed and aired to great popularity.
π π π π β€οΈWhat is it about?
He is an alien superhero from Planet M78 who merges with Shin Hayata, an officer of the Science Patrol, to save his life.
He is a silver and red giant who fights monsters (Kaiju) using his βBeta Capsuleβ to transform and fire the βSpacium Beam,β limited to 3 minutes of energy on Earth.
Human identity: Shin Hayata (played by Susumu Kurobe).
Suit actor: Bin Furuya.
π π π π β€οΈWhat message does he convey?
He conveys a message of courage, hope, and kindness, emphasizing the defense of life and the environment. The hero embodies the protection of the weak and collaboration between humanity and higher forces, promoting human responsibility, peace, and overcoming difficulties through sacrifice.
π π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈ
π π π π β€οΈThe Thundercats π π π π β€οΈ
were created by Theodore Walter (known as Ted Wolf) in 1981 in the United States
πΊThe series premiered on January 23, 1985, with scripts by Leonard Starr and Japanese animation
πΊIt was dubbed into Latin American Spanish in Mexico by Procineas S.C.L. between 1985 and 1990
π π π π β€οΈWhat is it about?
It is a group of alien humanoid felines fleeing the destruction of their home planet, Thundera. Led by Lion-O, they take refuge on βThird Earth,β where they fight the evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra and the mutants of Plun-Darr to protect the Eye of Thundera.
π π π π β€οΈWhat it aims to convey?
πΊResponsible leadership: Lion-O evolves from a child in an adultβs body into a mature leader, learning that being a leader does not mean being superior, but having the courage and maturity to guide others.
πΊMoral Values: The series instills respect, honesty, and the importance of protecting the weak.
πΊTeamwork: Despite having unique individual skills, the Thundercats succeed thanks to unity and mutual support.
πΊPersistence: Failure only occurs when you give up; perseverance in the face of adversity.
The series, developed with the guidance of psychologists, sought to entertain while teaching children about the importance of acting with virtue and morality.
By the way, I wanted to mention that the cookies came in a package, but I wanted them loose, so I took them out and placed them individually in clear bags, sealed them with a bag sealer, and then attached them to the wooden sticks.
π π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈ
π π π π β€οΈFΓ©lix the Cat π π π π β€οΈ
a comic and animated character created by Pat Sullivan and Otto Messmer in 1919
π₯He was immensely popular during the 1920s. He is known for his black fur, broad smile, and optimistic, mischievous personality.
π₯His original silent film shorts were popular from 1919
π₯There were shorts in 1936
πΊIt aired on television from 1958 to 1961 and is best remembered for the famous magic bag and the introduction of new characters such as the Professor and Poindexter.
πΊLater, it had new versions in the 1990s (1995β1997).
π π π π β€οΈWhat is it about?
The series is about his surreal adventures in 1919 and his constant clashes with villains like The Professor, who tries to steal his magic bag in 1950. It evolved into an animated series with more child-friendly colors and plots.
Furthermore, he was the first animated star in history, even before Mickey Mouse
π π π π β€οΈWhat message does it convey?
Felix the Cat conveys optimism, creativity, and ingenious solutions to problems, symbolized by his unmistakable yellow βmagic bag,β from which he pulls out any necessary tool. As a pop culture icon, he represents joy, resilience, and animated surrealism, with a smile that seeks to spread positivity
π π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈπ π π π β€οΈ
This is what it looks like from the back.
1 Find a box.
2 Cover the box.
3 Make sure you have enough material both for covering the box and for making the decorations.
4 Those that stick out like paper flowers are meant to cover imperfections and make it look nicer.
5 To make those flowers, you just need paper cut into squares. In the middle of the square, twist it in one direction with your fingertips (as if you were twisting a lid)
6 The decoration on top consists of paper fans. While you can make a fan with a single sheet of paper, in this case, youβll make several pairs to form a circle. Glue one half of the fan to the other to create the circles, using whatever adhesive you have on hand
7 Then, strategically glue those circles onto the wooden ones.
8 The candies are also glued to the sticks, because inside the box there is a large piece of Styrofoam to hold the pieces in place more securely
By the way, I wanted to share something with you. Iβve always thought that more than just a craft project, a piece of work, or a work of art, everything has its own storyβand it shouldnβt just be about creating something. Itβs also about understanding what Iβm creating. Well, here are some examples.
A retro giftβbut do you know what the characters are called? Do you know about color theory? Or the history or dates related to the commission? Believe me, you connect more deeply with it, and people might even recommend you when you know the subject matter of what youβre creating. And if you donβt know, it doesnβt matterβweβre here to learn and discover new things every day.
Well, thank you so much for reading this far. Blessings.