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1975 10 min
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This animated short is an entertaining and incisive satire on some of the material that is disgorged via the "boob tube." The opening pitch of the television salesman establishes the tone of this pithy film: a solid-state model guarantees high-quality entertainment, and programs are always designed around products, not spectators.

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This animated short is an entertaining and incisive satire on some of the material that is disgorged via the "boob tube." The opening pitch of the television salesman establishes the tone of this pithy film: a solid-state model guarantees high-quality entertainment, and programs are always designed around products, not spectators.

  • director
    Ernie Schmidt
  • animation
    Ernie Schmidt
  • producer
    Don Worobey
    John Taylor
  • executive producer
    Peter Jones
  • animation camera
    Svend-Erik Eriksen
    Jacques Avoine
  • editing
    George Johnston
  • re-recording
    Bill Armstrong
  • voice
    Red Robinson
    Hugh Foulds
    Ernie Schmidt
    Joan Banwell
    Max Beecraft
    Jacqueline Cristianini
    Odette Schmidt
    Gary Patterson
    Elenor Labrie
    Al Jordan
    George Silery
  • music
    Ralph Dyck

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Education

Ages 15 to 18
Study Guides
School subjects

Warnings: [Depictions of drug abuse, animated gun violence, death, and blood.]

A short, animated satire about television, consumption and advertising. Useful for debates, discussions, and assignments related to media awareness, advertising, the ethics of consumption, and commercialization. Who or what do you think the targets of this satire are? Who is presented as having power, and who is presented as a victim? Are some people presented as both or neither? How do the different scenes in the film (the commercials, television show, clips, framing device, and so forth) work together to form a message? If this satire was made today, how do you think the themes and messages would change? What changes would you make and why?

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