I have never gotten so emotional watching this film till Sunday the 2nd of January when a childhood classic was show on RTE 2 (Irish TV channel) when it aired around 11am. I was shocked to see it on TV as I though it was deemed ‘inappropriate to children’ due to the over excess of smoking, drinking,gambling, racism and religious imagery but THERE it was (though it was on Den 2 on RTE 2 around September 1999 at 7am as well as Cartoon Network UK in 2002). It was fitting as the movie was produced in Dublin Ireland back in the 80’s and the 1st time I saw it was Mars Cinema in Kilrush back in 1989 with my wonderful sister who took me to see it. I had so many memories of that old theatre had it kind of looked like a dungeon which signified how scary the 80’s where in my opinion but when you get into the seats it was just MAGICAL’. Movies like Back to the Future 2, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Turtles ect but my favourite film in that cinema was ‘All dogs go to heaven’ which pretty much ended the 80’s for me. My sister was so comforting when we watched this and even though it had a really heart breaking and yet beautiful ending I didn’t shed a tear ( same with Ostimus Prime dying in Transformers the movie on VHS). I did cry when that ant died in ‘Honey I shrunk the Kid’s (OH GOD the poor fella) but never ADGTH.

The next 8 years I never watched it again as I was kind of embarrassed to watch it as I was getting older even when I rented the film in 1996 I couldn’t bring myself to watch only the gator scene as I cautious about anyone catching me watching the film.

I heard there was a sequels and I couldn’t believe it (then again I was on a maximum high during the summer of 1996 so anything is good to me). However I saw it Christmas 1997 in a disperate attempt to save that Christmas ( so called friends hogged my PlayStation for a whole week hogging up precious movie time) and I felt disgusted watching it. I gotten so cynical over the course of the year from the bullying in school, me putting on weight, my art project’s going no where that you could give me an award and all I would see is a turd.

However in 1999 during the Summer I got up around 7am as I couldn’t sleep and I happen to stubble on ‘All dogs go to heaven the series’ on Den 2. I dismayed it as a childish waste of time but when I watched it a bit I started to LOVE IT and quickly got a tape to record the end where Itchy scratched his head while wearing girls wig ( you’ll probably know the episode). The next week I made the effort to watch it ever week and it really made my summer that year (as well as Power Rangers in Space and Rival Schools on PS1). I even saw the 2nd movie again and had a greater appreciation of it on Sky movies. I even got the courage to ask my friend for a lone of the 1st film on VHS (still have that to this day) around 10 years after I saw it. I felt for the 1st time in years happy and Charlie Barkin became sort of an idol for me as well as Sasha. However this nostalgic rush was also a curse as I had realised that all those animal themed cartoons like Road Rovers, Dog City, Swat Katz, Moo Mesa ect where gone and I felt I’lol never see them again. I obsessed over 80’s music and culture trying to bring back the spark but it became obsessive. I even saw the ADGTH Christmas Carol but it wasn’t that great. After another disappointment Christmas ( asshole friend hogged my new Dreamcast and wasted the holiday for me) I felt…depressed.

Cut to 2006 and my prayers where answered and my past was back via You Tube and in 2009 ADGTH the series was now on You Tube including season 3 which was never shown on Irish TV. To celebrate I watched the 1st film again to celebrate it’s 20th the anniversary of the movie and even the Christmas special which was 11 at the time and I had a great Christmas that year.

Still I felt very insecure about pursuing an animation career as I still held on to old fears. I was offered a chance to go to Ballyfermot college in Dublin to learn how to be an animator but I turned it down as I was afraid I would fall behind in class and get attacked for day dreaming. No matter what nothing could change my mind.

Until I saw saw Zootropolis in Dundrum. I explained this in a journal back in 2016 but that film…brought back my childhood love for cartoons that I repressed for so long! For the 1st time in 21 years I just let go and embraced my love my cartoons as I just broke down in tears as I felt for so long no one in Hollywood cared enough to make a great animal themed story but this film proved me wrong. My confidence I lost in January of 1995 was back. I loved myself for who I am and showed no more shame in being a cartoonist.

Now back on track I was going to watch ‘ All dogs go to heaven’ for it’s 30th anniversary and draw a fan made picture to celebrate the occasion but then I heard of COPPA and the impending treat of a lawsuit if any of my video’s should in appropriate content for kids so I took all my video’s done. I was sick through out the whole holiday but a visit to my sister and I felt so much better and it turns out…NOTHING HAPPENED though I missed an incredible opportunity. Then COVID happened and my family could only visit for 1 day before going home. I felt so lonely that Christmas. Last Christmas was better I had more company but my sisters family couldn’t come down and that made me feel sad.

Now onto Sunday the 2nd of January where I was going to play some games on my XBOX when I saw ‘ All dogs go to heaven’ on RTE 2. Since I was resting from my booster shot I decided to watch it and as soon as Charlie said goodbye to Anee Marie I completely broke into tears!😭😢😢 I had never felt such appreciation for this film till now. I felt 8 again and obsessive like in 1999 but in a good way. It’s the combination of the treat of COVID, global warming, a close friend of mine for 39 years who passed away last year as well as my sisters dog Sprocket, the thought of my mother eventually passing away and friends and family far away as well as the house work finally done that made me cave in. I seriously needed this film to remind me of how precious life is because no matter how bad the world is there and the problems we face in life there’s still beauty in it. We must never lose sight in that and never let go.

Thank you for reading this and to RTE for airing this film and for Don Bluths animation studio in Dublin I say ‘Go Raibh Maith Agat’ ( Thank you very much in Irish).