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JERRY BECK
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AMID AMIDI
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“My Name is Potato”
by amid
February 18, 2009 10:54 am


“My Name is Potato” is an annoying 1977 novelty song by Italian singer Rita Pavone. The animation in the music video is its saving grace. Anybody know who’s responsible for it?

(Thanks, Celia)

02/18/09  11:15am
Christopher Cook says:

I listened to album rock in 1977, so I’m not familiar with “My Name Is Potato.” Animated potato was nice, though.

02/18/09  11:26am
Elikrotupos says:

It should be made by Guido Manuli for Bozzetto Film, who realized a lot of animations for old italian TV shows

02/18/09  11:53am
Elikrotupos says:

I’ve searched a little deeper: this and other videos are featured in a DVD compilation, “LE SIGLE TV DELLA BOZZETTO FILM
REALIZZATE DA GUIDO MANULI”, produced in 2003 by Fondazione Cineteca Italiana, Milan ( http://www.cinetecamilano.it/LibriDvd/fr_libridvd.html ) but i suppose it is rare to find now.

02/18/09  12:00pm
Alfons Moline says:

Right! It was done by Guido Manuli at the Bruno Bozzetto studio. In fact, there is even a DVD on sale in Italy containing a large selection of Manuli´s title sequences and music videos, including this “My Name is Potato”.

02/18/09  12:13pm

Awesome post, Amid! I really dig the inking style and the animation is super fun.

02/18/09  1:39pm
Lippy says:

Looks like a “Schoolhouse Rock” character went on vacation in Italy and met up with a swingin’-hipped temptress.

Wonder if she frenched his fry?

02/18/09  2:24pm
FP says:

That was grotesque, and not in a good way.

02/18/09  2:37pm

Bruno Bozzetto’s studio was also the source of the best animated feature ever: Allegro non Troppo.

02/18/09  3:29pm
gene schiller says:

There’s a great Guido Manuli collection on laserdisc, and I’d agree “Allegro non Troppo” is probably the best animated film ever - but I could sure live without this. Except for Rita Pavone - she’s very cute.

02/18/09  4:08pm
Chris Sobieniak says:

Thanks for the info Elikrotupos. I’m very familiar with Manuli’s work and find him to be a extremely wild animator.

I remember seeing this sometime ago and fell in love with that tune. Saw someone had a 45 up on eBay but I didn’t fetch it in time, and I just got crushed for that. If anyone has this song on 45, give me a ring! ^_^

02/19/09  1:54am

There’s just something about Rita Pavone in this video that reminds me of a young Goldie Hawn. :)

Besides that, the song is strangely addictive, and the animation is quite surreal! The voice work for the American Potato is really good, too.

02/19/09  3:20am

The late, great, Tom Pomposello got Guido to do some work for Nickelodeon in the early 90’s too !

02/19/09  5:41am
belgicusmaximus says:

Didn’t find the tune that annoying ( but then I really like obscure Italian pop - check out Adriano Celetano -Prisencolinensinainciusol on Youtube ) , ace animation , and , as is often the case in Italy , cute singer

02/19/09  5:47am
Doug says:

I can’t get over her dancing - its so goofy and youthful and attractive. I’ll bet she just cringes at this now. I think the animation/live action integration is marvelous. She even looks like she’s looking at the little spud. There is just so much joy in this silly thing. In particular I like the modulation with her sitting on the plant growing up to the sky. Perfect. What a howl!

02/19/09  6:30am
Chuck R. says:

Wow, it’s not such a small world after all. Now I’m wondering what animators in Luxembourg were doing in 1977.

This also goes to show that Dana Carvey’s “Choppin’ Broccoli” routine wasn’t such a stretch after all.

02/20/09  9:10am
Andrea says:

Ciao from Italy, Yes!!! It is a GREAT animatoion by Guido Manuli!! A great artist and a great man!
bye

02/21/09  1:27am
Paolo says:

Hi, I’m from Italy too and this video takes me back to when I was three… thank you! (I didn’t remember how bad this song is)

05/5/09  5:45pm
Bruce Deile says:

I don’t think it’s annoying at all. It’s a very thought provoking video. And Rita Pavone is super cute singing it.

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