The twisted and ridiculous world of Gervais and Steen (Flanimals - Ricky Gervais)

Member Name: allybally

Product:	Flanimals - Ricky Gervais
Date:	23/01/07 (470 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Imaginative, funny, ridiculous read

Disadvantages: A git gruesome for younger kids

Flanimals - Hardcover

Author: Ricky Gervais
Illustrator: Rob Steen
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Publish Date: October 2004
Genre: Children’s picture book (although I secretly think it is aimed at parents tired of reading the same book night after night!)
Age Suitability: 7 – 106 (although my son who is almost three loves it!)
Pages: 96
RRP: £9.99
Amazon Price: £5.99

***Summary***
This is a humorous study of the “Flanimal Kingdom” with images and hilarious descriptions of these extraordinary creatures and their unusual habits as they go about their ordinary lives in their own imaginary ecosystem.

Flanimals is a guide, much like a bird watching guide and provides all the necessary background information on each of these fabulously imaginative creatures along with some useful tips on approaching them (or more specifically how not to approach them!)

The book is split into 3 chapters - "Spotter's Guide", "Flanimal Behaviour" and "Flanimal Testing.

Spotters Guide is a port of Flanimals encyclopedia which gives you an illustration, the Name and ‘as pronounced’ syllable breakdown and a description of the creature in question.

Flanimal Behaviour covers the behaviour of the individual Flanimals as well as their interaction with each other. For example, - 'The Glonk - Does Absolutely Nothing and Dies'”.

Flanimal Testing is a quiz to guage what readers have learnt from the book. This involves tests such as identifying the flanimal that matches a footprint and matching individual behaviour to the Flanimal in question. There is also a helpful size chart included which allows you to visualize the size of these mini beasts – and not so mini in some cases!

***About Ricky Gervais***
Ricky Gervais’s CV boasts stints as a musician, actor, radio DJ, band manager, comedian, director, interviewer, writer and even an animated character from the Simpsons. His name has, in a relatively short space of time become known and respected not only across this little island of ours but on a global level. He is, by anyone’s definition; a success.

It would take forever to go through a history of Gervais’s careers but it is important to note that while working for un-licenced radio station, Xfm, Gervais acquired an assistant Stephen Merchant. Merchant would later become Gervais’s partner in writing and directing the office as well as collaborating with him on various other projects. The office obviously was a real catalyst in the road to success for Ricky. In fact, the rest, as they say is history.

Such is Ricky’s standing in the entertainment industry, that he has managed to convince stars of a high caliber such as Samuel L Jackson, Kevin Spacey, Ben Stiller, Kate Winslet and Patrick Stewart to appear on his most recent TV series, Extras.

*Stuff he’s been in you may recognise*
*One Man show Golden Years
*11 O’Clock Show
*Meet Ricky Gervais
*The Office
*Alias
*The Simpsons
*Extras
*Night at the Museum

*Awards*
Two Golden Globes
Six BAFTAs, four British Comedy
The Peabody – American prestigious award

***About Rob Steen***
Sadly, I could find very little information on Rob Steen when doing my research. Perhaps it is telling, that even his own website, www.robsteen.net does not include a biography of any kind.

Gervais approached Steen, an old friend with some sketched ideas of the characters for Flanimals and from that he asked him to illustrate them completely within the natural habitat he imagined. What was produced was a book filled with spectacular individual characters and personalities.

*Other works by Rob***
*More Flanimals
*Flanimals of the Deep
*Afterlife – TokyoPop
*Skeptic

***What I liked about this book***
The illustrations are perfect in this book and it is clear that Gervais and Steen have a great rapport and understanding of each other. The cartoon-like drawings range from the cute and fluffy, to the slimy and frightening. What stands out in all the drawings are the eyes each character has. Steen has a talent for expressing his intent through the eyes of his creations. You have the innocence and vulnerability of the Honk, the dim-witted vacant eyes of the Clunge Ambler and the crazed, possessed eyes of the Mernimbler. My son and I look through this picking out which are our favourites, laughing at the cute ones and pretending to be frightened of the horrible ones.

The humour of this book is not limited to the illustrations. The text is fantastic. It is absurd and ridiculous and unashamedly silly. I challenge any reader not to find a creature named a Waddle Gimp funny. It is a dark humour which is to be expected. For me, this book, and indeed the Flanimals series follows in the footsteps of the likes of Spike Milligan who wrote both adult and children’s literature. It doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t follow any of the rules of literature and it is a creation of pure, unadulterated imagination. It appeals to (older) kids because it doesn’t pander to their parents tastes. It is disgusting and gross and horrible but in a humourous light-hearted and intelligent way.

Some have criticized this book for the reason I have just mentioned but it is important to remember back to books of our childhood – Roald Dahl wrote of disgusting witches and neighbours doing appauling things to each other and children trying to bump off old relatives. All this needs to be held in perspective and for most kids, this will be seen as nothing more than a bit of cheeky, naughty fun that isn’t likely to leave any permanent mental scarring.

***What I didn’t like about this book***
There is really nothing that I didn’t like about this book. I think it is a fabulous creation which stands out from anything else available these days. Having said that, I can appreciate that some parents may find certain bits a tad frightening for younger children (I don’t read much of the text to my son for this reason).

It is also important to point out, as there isn’t and actual story this may not be the ideal tool to egg your kids on to read more. It isn’t a learning tool, and your kids aren’t likely to gain anything life-enhancing from it – all though I guarantee it leaves them with at least a smile on their face.

***Conclusion***
If you haven’t gathered by now, this is a fabulous romp that makes it acceptable to be silly and childish and immature. Don’t fight it – relish it!

Look out for reviews on More Flanimals and Flanimals of the Deep

Trivia: ITV have announced their intention to create a Flanimals TV series! – I can only imagine it!

Summary: A study on Flanimology and the eco system they inhabit