Parappa The Rapper - Test Opening Animation 1995 Rodney Alan Greenblat Video Channel 2022-04-27 | VHS tape of the very first test that I saw of the animation for the opening movie of the game. You can see a stand-in character in place of Parappa because we were still finalizing the main character design at this time. The voices are all done by Ryu Watabe, who wrote the song lyrics. The tape opens with a note from Matsaya Matsuura. (Thanks to VHS Video digitizing by Reel Revival Films.)
Parappa 2 TV Japan Commercial 2001 Rodney Alan Greenblat Video Channel 2022-08-12 | Here is a groovy TV commercial for Parappa 2 I got to see just before it was released in 2001. It has a fun 1970's vibe as if Parappa had come out in the 1970's or something. Why San Francisco? Who knows. At this point it doesn't matter. The animation in unique using our flat cut-out style with photos of people. Fun! (VHS scanning by Reel Revival Film.)
Um Jammer Lammy Cut-Scene Finals 1999 Rodney Alan Greenblat Video Channel 2022-08-12 | I received this VHS tape to see the final animation of the two last cut scenes in the Um Jammer Lammy production. It's well known that we had to change the setting of the Teriyaki Yoko concert scene from hell to a jungle island - because it wasn't kid-friendly enough for US Sony's marketing team. Ok. So here is the final cut scene of the new level. Also the animations for getting in and out of the jungle. The tape also includes the dressing room scene where Milk Can gets ready for the concert. Katy's outfit changes were fun to design and the sequence is pretty wild. As is all of Um Jammer Lammy. (VHS scanning by Reel Revival Film.)
Thunder Bunny House Pudding TV Commercial 2000 Rodney Alan Greenblat Video Channel 2022-08-12 | In 2000 my character Thunder Bunny was getting popular in Japan, and the giant supermarket product company House Foods decided to try Thunder Bunny for an ad campaign. The first product was pudding mix. This commercial is very fun and they went all out showing how jiggly the pudding is. House also made plastic Thunder Bunny pudding molds as a prize give-away. I had high hopes for this huge client as I thought Thunder Bunny was perfect for many of the mass market products that House sells in Japanese supermarkets. (VHS scanning by Reel Revival Film.)
Parappa Anime Takara Toys TV Commercials 2001 Rodney Alan Greenblat Video Channel 2022-08-12 | Here are three versions of a TV commercial for Parappa The Rapper toys made by the famous TAKARA toy company in Japan. The designs are based on the characters from the Parappa Anime TV series. The toys were great quality and very cute, sold in the mass market stores and I had high hopes. Unfortunately since the TV show was not a hit in Japan, neither were the toys. Now they are deep collector's items. I like everything about these cute commercials. (VHS scanning by Reel Revival Film.)
Make it Sweet Interview with Lammy 1999 Rodney Alan Greenblat Video Channel 2022-05-11 | Here is the short "Interview" animation featuring Lammy that was made to promote the Um Jammer Lammy music CD "Make it Sweet." The fantastic animation was done by NanaOn-Sha. I was so surprised to see these, with the "off set" interviews with the "actors" making the characters so real and alive. These must have been used on Sony Computer's website in 1999. I love Lammy's expression, and the relaxed way she talks, sitting in a city park with her guitar. I assume the voice actor was Sara Ramirez.
UJL Make it Sweet Interview with Katy 1999 Rodney Alan Greenblat Video Channel 2022-05-11 | Here is the short "Interview" animation featuring Katy Kat that was made to promote the Um Jammer Lammy music CD "Make it Sweet." The fantastic animation was done by NanaOn-Sha. I was so surprised to see these, with the "off set" interviews with the "actors" making the characters so real and alive. These must have been used on Sony Computer's website in 1999. It's great how Katy seems to be busy getting ready for a big concert, while other characters move around in the background. Chop Chop Master Onion bombs the scene. I assume the voice actor was Michele Burks.
UJL Make it Sweet Interview with Ma-San 1999 Rodney Alan Greenblat Video Channel 2022-05-11 | Here is the short "Interview" animation featuring Ma-San that was made to promote the Um Jammer Lammy music CD "Make it Sweet." The fantastic animation was done by NanaOn-Sha. I was so surprised to see these, with the "off set" interviews with the "actors" making the characters so real and alive. These must have been used on Sony Computer's website in 1999. It's so much fun to see Ma-san relaxing on the mixing console in a recording studio, speaking in her an unknown language that seems to be understood by the other characters. I assume the voice actor was Ryu Watabe.
Um Jammer Lammy Early Cut Scenes Rodney Alan Greenblat Video Channel 2022-05-10 | These are the earliest versions of the cut scenes for Um Jammer Lammy that I received on VHS. It’s fun to see my first version of Lammy that was eventually rejected. I agree that the later red haired version was better, but I think the pink curly version was more lamb-like. Also the first look at the hell level cut scene, later removed for the US version. The Ma-san library scene is VERY weird! Enjoy! Thanks to Reel Revival Film for the great video transfers.
Um Jammer Lammy 1st TV Commercial Japan 1999 Rodney Alan Greenblat Video Channel 2022-05-10 | I doubt I approved this early commercial for Um Jammer Lammy because I never thought Parappa had a crush on Lammy. I imagined him always faithful to Sunny Funny. Still the TVCM team did a good job of quickly showing how the huge hit Parappa 1 was related to the new game. Thanks to Reel Revival Film for the great video transfers.
Parappa 2 McDonalds Commercials Japan 2001 Rodney Alan Greenblat Video Channel 2022-05-01 | This VHS tape is a compilation of TV commercials for McDonalds. The promotion was for "Happy Set" toys with Parappa and three other Playstation game characters. I'm sorry I don't have the credit information for the writers and producers of these commercials, but they were very creative, funny and even a little touching in a certain way, especially the last one with the sad little boy. Who knew that Parappa (who is a dog) could protect children from mean other dogs!
Parappa 1 Opening + Stage1 Pre-Final 1995 Rodney Alan Greenblat Video Channel 2022-05-01 | This VHS tape was the first time I saw the opening movie complete with my "Jet Baby" song, and the first time I saw the game play of the first level in its mostly final form. It was so exciting to see my characters in action, hear their voices and seeing them walking around and ordering at Chunky Burger. I remember loving the script and also realizing that the characters would speak in English with Japanese subtitles. Seeing the Onion Master's dojo all together was great too. I new this game was super fun, but I did not yet have any idea that it would be a hit.
Parappa 1 Demo an a Japanese TV Show 1996 Rodney Alan Greenblat Video Channel 2022-04-28 | Probably one of the first TV appearances of the Parappa The Rapper 1 Playstation game on a fun TV show called "Oh!" The show host mentions the Tokyo Game Show which was probably going on at the same time. The host seems to be having a little trouble rapping "cool." (VHS scanning by Reel Revival Film)
