A character closely resembling then-mayor Ed Koch sings a variation on the "Theme from 'New York, New York'" in an entirely clay-animated film depicting a variety of locations and celebrities associated with New York City. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2006.
Voice characterization
Did you ever see Frank Sinatra singing a spontaneous duet with Liza Minnelli when neither of them could quite get onto the other’s key as they belted out “New York, New York”? Well a fellow who does look at a lot like 1980s mayor Ed Koch takes on a similarly tonally challenged rendition of that song here as this proficient stop-motion clay work takes us on a whistle stop tour of that city. With it’s famous landmarks and equally diverse and vibrant citizenry featured, it squeezes quite a lot in for three and a bit minutes: enjoyably if you are an innocent tourist, but maybe less so if you’re a local or a bit less sold on it’s somewhat stereotypical and dry depiction of the place. It is a well crafted film, just nothing much to write home about.
Voice characterization
Did you ever see Frank Sinatra singing a spontaneous duet with Liza Minnelli when neither of them could quite get onto the other’s key as they belted out “New York, New York”? Well a fellow who does look at a lot like 1980s mayor Ed Koch takes on a similarly tonally challenged rendition of that song here as this proficient stop-motion clay work takes us on a whistle stop tour of that city. With it’s famous landmarks and equally diverse and vibrant citizenry featured, it squeezes quite a lot in for three and a bit minutes: enjoyably if you are an innocent tourist, but maybe less so if you’re a local or a bit less sold on it’s somewhat stereotypical and dry depiction of the place. It is a well crafted film, just nothing much to write home about.
