Long Gone Gulch Explained

Genre:
Director:
  • Zach Bellissimo
  • Tara Billinger
Language:English
Creative Director:
  • Trevor Simonsen
  • Daniaelle Simonsen
Num Episodes:1
Creator:
  • Zach Bellissimo
  • Tara Billinger
Executive Producer:Erin Fitzgerald
Composer:Dom Kreep
Country:United States
Theme Music Composer:Dom Kreep
Voices:
Channel:YouTube
Num Seasons:1
Editor:Zach Bellissimo
Runtime:22 minutes
Company:
  • Lopside Animation
  • MelonCollie Productions

Long Gone Gulch is an American animated adventure-fantasy Western comedy short film created, directed, written and produced by Tara Billinger and Zach Bellissimo, based on a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2016.[1] [2] [3] The short premiered on January 11, 2021 on YouTube.[4] [5] [6] The beginning of the pilot has a content warning saying that the animation contains scenes with cartoon violence, images with flashes, and "scary content" not suitable for those under age 7.

Premise

Snag and Rawhide, sheriffs in a place known as "The Gulch", end up in trouble with the town's mayor after a job gone wrong, and have to fight for "what they care about most", while facing other weird and sleazy characters along the way.[7]

Characters

Episodes

Pilot (2021)

Production and release

In 2015, the project was officially posted online, with the creators having worked with the show's concept since 2010. [11] In 2016, a Kickstarter was begun for the series, and ran for five years after that point.[12] The same year, a one-minute trailer was released.[13] For that trailer, the art, character design, storyboarding, and animation, was divided between Tara Billinger and Zach Bellissimo, while Michael J. Ruocco did additional animation scenes, and Sam Mckenzie put together text and logo design.[14] At the time, the goal was to release a pilot episode 8–11 minutes long, creating a western-themed show that wasn't a parody, which would appeal to those who like The Mighty Boosh, Mad Max, Alice in Wonderland, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.[15] In June 2018, the official Tumblr for the show stated that programs such as Flash and Animate were used for the animation, independently producing, rather than through a studio.[16] [17] The pilot was planned for release in early 2019, but, in December 2019, the release date was pushed back to 2020.[18] [19]

On November 27, 2018, the official trailer for the series was first released on YouTube.[20] [21]

On January 11, 2021, the pilot for the series was released. The crew, headed by creators Zach Bellissimo and Tara Billinger,[22] included animator Nigel, art directors Daniaelle and Trevor Simonsen, and writer Karl Handrika. Others on the crew included Trevor Von Klueg as technical director, Zach Bellissimo as animation director, Zach Bellissimo and Tara Billinger doing character design, Bryan Velayo and Louis Pieper engaging in composting, Bob Pepek as re-recording mixer, and Tara Billinger as production manager. The finished pilot expanded from the originally planned length of 8–11 minutes to 21 minutes.[23]

In June 2021, J.D. Wilkes & the Legendary Shack Shakers presented their newest single, a cover of "Rawhide," which mixes animated scenes from the pilot and other public domain footage from Terror of Tiny Town.[24] Wilkes had performed "Bible, Candle, & A Skull" in the pilot.

Reception

The show's pilot was positively reviewed. Matthew Field of Go & Express, a South African newspaper, called the episode "light-hearted fun," saying that everything about it is great, with a strong cast, "superb" animation, and it is aimed at a "young audience," meaning it never goes above "PG levels," meaning that those of all ages can "enjoy the fun."[25] Chris Perkins of Animation for Adults reviewed the series. In the review of the pilot, he described it as a "real treat for animation fans everywhere," with distinct and unique character designs, is inventive, and has strong visuals, adding that influences of the Mickey Mouse shorts and Rick and Morty can be seen in the series.

Lena Nikolaeva of the Russian television channel 2×2 reviewed the episode, stating that the two protagonists "complement each other perfectly," and argued that when watching the episode various times, viewers will find "something new and fun" everytime, with the pilot a "combination of serious themes...and hilarious scenes."[26] Nikolaeva hoped that the episode will have a big effect and then be taken to bigger animation studios. Margaret Troup of the Iowa State Daily positively reviewed the pilot, giving it a rating of 8.5/10, calling it a "fast-paced, Western-style slapstick comedy and action," saying that fans and creators of the episode have hoped that a TV production studio would pick up the series like the case with Hazbin Hotel.[27] She also noted that the series is more family-friendly than Helluva Boss or Hazbin Hotel, even though some swearing, blood, and cartoon violence makes it "mature enough for older audiences to enjoy in addition to children," and praised the pilot's animation, saying it is akin to Kim Possible and The Powerpuff Girls. The review also indicated that the voice acting of Daily, Cooksey, and Midthunder could all use improvement. Additionally, animators such as Vivienne Medrano and Jorge R. Gutierrez, voice actor Matt Danner, and cartoonist Kevin Sukho Lee, among others praised the episode.[28]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: James . Tito W. . January 11, 2021 . Watch the Long Gone Gulch Pilot Episode . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210114040753/https://www.comicon.com/2021/01/13/watch-the-long-gone-gulch-pilot-episode/ . January 14, 2021 . January 13, 2021 . Comicon.com.
  2. Web site: Crowdfund This!: Long Gone Gulch! . January 11, 2021 . Geekscape . January 14, 2021 . https://archive.today/20210114155200/http://www.geekscape.net/crowdfund-this-long-gone-gulch . January 14, 2021 . live.
  3. Web site: LONG GONE GULCH IS HERE! Join sheriffs Rawhide... . January 11, 2021 . . January 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210114151900/https://longgonegulch.tumblr.com/post/640031113098690560/long-gone-gulch-is-here-join-sheriffs-rawhide . January 14, 2021 . live.
  4. Web site: Amidi . Amid . January 11, 2021 . Short Pick Of The Day: Long Gone Gulch by Tara Billinger And Zach Bellissimo . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210111175304/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/cartoon-brew-pick/short-pick-of-the-day-long-gone-gulch-by-tara-billinger-and-zach-bellissimo-200717.html . January 11, 2021 . January 13, 2021 . Cartoon Brew.
  5. Web site: Dennison . Kara . May 26, 2021 . Animators Celebrate Lupin the Third with Time-Traveling Eyecatch . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210526201342/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2021/05/26-1/animators-celebrate-lupin-the-third-with-time-traveling-eyecatch . May 26, 2021 . May 28, 2021 . Crunchyroll.
  6. LONG GONE GULCH (Full Pilot) . 2021-01-11 . Lopside Animation . 2021-01-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210113175930/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmSx5Ywc_YI . 2021-01-13 . YouTube.
  7. Web site: Long Gone Gulch (2021) directed by Zach Bellissimo, Tara Billinger. 2021. Letterboxd. https://web.archive.org/web/20210131174056/https://letterboxd.com/film/long-gone-gulch/. January 31, 2021. January 31, 2021. live.
  8. Web site: Kreeps . March 8, 2021 . Long Gone Gulch Soundtrack Available Now! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210515070957/https://www.kreeps.org/post/long-gone-gulch-soundtrack-available-now . May 15, 2021 . April 27, 2022 . Kreeps.org.
  9. Bellissimo . Zach . CountZachulaaa . 1347305074486202369 . January 7, 2021 . It doesn’t mean anything. Like the classic “Man with No Name” archetype of the Sergio Leone films. Its a moniker that is supposed to encite mystery. . January 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210114152816/https://twitter.com/CountZachulaaa/status/1347305074486202369 . January 14, 2021 . live.
  10. Web site: Credits. Erin Fitzgerald Voice Actress. April 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220401041546/https://www.erinfitzvo.com/credits/. April 1, 2022. live.
  11. Web site: How long have y'all been workin on this project??? Just curious!. November 8, 2018. Tumblr. April 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117225651/https://longgonegulch.tumblr.com/post/179904243203/how-long-have-yall-been-workin-on-this-project. January 17, 2021. live.
  12. Web site: Campbell . Christopher . Long Gone Gulch set to Premiere on January 11th, 2021 . December 14, 2020 . Big Red Nerd . January 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201215035643/https://bigrednerd.com/2020/12/14/long-gone-gulch-set-to-premiere-on-january-11th-2021/ . December 15, 2020 . live.
  13. Web site: Long Gone Gulch Trailer . 2015 . . January 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201111095610/https://vimeo.com/143348650 . November 11, 2020 . dead .
  14. 58-Long Gone Gulch . RebelTaxi's Pizza Party Podcast . . Pan Pizza . August 16, 2017 . January 14, 2021 . https://archive.today/20210114164436/https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/rebeltaxis-pizza-party-podcast/id972709514 . January 14, 2021 . live.
  15. Web site: Perkins . Christ . August 11, 2016 . KickStart This: Long Gone Gulch . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200926155442/https://www.animationforadults.com/2016/08/kickstart-this-long-gone-gulch.html . September 26, 2020 . January 14, 2021 . Animation for Adults.
  16. Web site: Howdy Gulchfolk! We wanted to make an updated FAQ for you all, since we've been getting a lot of the same questions. So here goes!. June 27, 2018. Official Long Gone Gulch Tumblr. April 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20210116160440/https://longgonegulch.tumblr.com/post/174668648133/faq-what-program-do-you-use-to-animate-newer. January 16, 2021. live.
  17. Web site: Again, this is not a show made by a network or a studio. Its ONE pilot, produced independently in our apartment and other folk's apartments!. Twitter. December 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201222214404/https://twitter.com/LongGoneGulch/status/1341491757096177664. December 22, 2020. live.
  18. Web site: Here it is, folks! The LONG GONE GULCH Official Trailer!. Official Long Gone Gulch Tumblr. November 27, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20210115194155/https://longgonegulch.tumblr.com/post/180564926803/here-it-is-folks-this-aint-your-typical. January 15, 2021. live.
  19. Web site: See you in 2020!. Official Long Gone Gulch Tumblr. December 19, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117183546/https://longgonegulch.tumblr.com/post/189763247228/see-you-in-2020. January 17, 2021. live.
  20. Web site: Kreeps . November 17, 2018 . Long Gone Gulch Trailer Featuring Kreeps Soundtrack Released! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200926053419/https://www.kreeps.org/post/2018/11/27/long-gone-gulch-trailer-featuring-kreeps-soundtrack-released . September 26, 2020 . January 14, 2021 . Kreeps.org.
  21. Web site: LONG GONE GULCH - Official Trailer. Long Gone Gulch OFFICIAL. November 27, 2018. YouTube. January 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20200124051831/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_4zQgSSFYg. January 24, 2020. live.
  22. Web site: Long Gone Gulch Review. Amato. Paul. Panther Tales. Babylon Junior-Senior High School. March 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210614100040/https://panthertales.org/1519/review/long-gone-gulch-review/. June 14, 2021. live.
  23. Web site: Perkins . Chris . January 15, 2021 . Watch This: Long Gone Gulch (Pilot) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210115222811/https://www.animationforadults.com/2021/01/watch-this-long-gone-gulch-pilot.html . January 15, 2021 . January 15, 2021 . Animation for Adults.
  24. Web site: Scott . Jason . 2021-08-03 . J.D. Wilkes & the Legendary Shack Shakers Anchor New Album 'Cockadoodledeux' With "RAWHIDE!" . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210803200733/https://americansongwriter.com/j-d-wilkes-the-legendary-shack-shakers-anchor-new-album-cockadoodledeux-with-rawhide/ . August 3, 2021 . August 4, 2021 . American Songwriter.
  25. Web site: Field . Matthew . January 15, 2021 . Long Gone Gulch is Wild West fun for all ages . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210115221658/https://www.goexpress.co.za/2021/01/15/long-gone-gulch-fun-for-all-ages/ . January 15, 2021 . January 15, 2021 . Go & Express.
  26. Web site: Nikolaeva . Lena . Каким получился пилотный выпуск Long Gone Gulch . The Long Gone Gulch Pilot . January 12, 2021 . . January 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210116235315/https://media.2x2tv.ru/kakim-poluchilsia-long-gone-gulch/ . January 16, 2021 . live.
  27. Web site: Troup . Margaret . January 25, 2021 . Long Gone Gulch makes its mark on YouTube-based animation . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210126154610/https://www.iowastatedaily.com/limelight/long-gone-gulch-makes-its-mark-on-youtube-based-animation-zach-bellissimo-danny-cooksey-tara-billinger-western-animation-elizabeth-daily-danny-cooksey-static-shock-the-gulch-hazbin-hotel-helluva-boss-iowa-state-daily-ames-iowa/article_e3806846-5f4b-11eb-b657-e328e4e8a6c7.html . January 26, 2021 . January 26, 2021 . Iowa State Daily.
  28. Web site: Animators and creators praise Long Gone Gulch. Twitter. January 14, 2021. https://archive.today/20210114170141/https://twitter.com/i/events/1349740419165384704. January 14, 2021. live.