Archive for the 'voting-page' Category

Submitted by S Albert

Raise your hand if you ever tried to sing along and completely slaughtered the high notes! And almost every girl I knew, myself included, had a big fat crush on Marten Harket. He was dreamy. Sigh….drool… Let’s just say he was my original McDreamy.

OK, snapping out of it now. The video was also the first time most of us saw Rotoscoping, which according to Wikipedia is defined as:

Rotoscoping is an animation technique in which animators trace over live-action film movement, frame by frame, for use in animated films. Originally, pre-recorded live-action film images were projected onto a frosted glass panel and re-drawn by an animator. This projection equipment is called a rotoscope, although this device has been replaced by computers in recent years. In the visual effects industry, the term rotoscoping refers to the technique of manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate so it may be composited over another background.

Wow. Since the video came out in 1985, you know they did that by hand. Like as in, no computers. Using fingers. And hands. As such.

You may think a-ha is lodged firmly in the “Where Are They Now?” file, but you’d be wrong. They released their last studio album Analogue in 2005, and are slated to release a new album in early 2009.

Here’s a relatively recent photo of a-ha:

Photo via Alternative Classix

My, they have aged well. Who wants to go to Norway with me?

Submitted by R Burgen

In case you missed it (like I did), the Glo Worm wasn’t just a comforting night-light toy, it was an INDUSTRY.

There were Glo Worm Books:

Photo via Wikipedia

A Glo Worm cartoon, called Glo Friends:

There was even a board game! The Glo Worm Light and Learn:

Photo via 80stoysale.com

I had a Glo Worm (Oh, hush. Some of us were afraid of the dark!) and adored it. In fact, I still have it, and my cat loves it — it’s her baby. Weird animal, I know.

The question remains: how did I miss all the other stuff? It was the early 80’s, it’s not like I was busy. HOW???

Submitted by S Paul

These are still around, but they’re nowhere near as popular as they were when we were kids. I’m not sure why, it looks fun to use. Maybe it’s because they don’t advertise like they used to:

Or could the waning popularity have to do with the sticky-mess-everywhere factor? I know that’s why I never got one, even after months of begging. Then again, I grew up in the Frozen North, so a Sno Cone machine was a little beside the point. Back in my day, I had to use what nature gave me! Yeah! Git offa mah lawn! (Note: don’t eat the yellow snow.)

If I thought a Snoopy Sno Cone Machine could withstand adult manhandling, I’d try one out. Would it be wrong to add lots of vodka to the mix?

Nope. it’s not wrong. It’s awesome.

Submitted by luckylakeway

Boy, did that jingle get lodged in your head! Fun game too–it brought out the competitive spirit in you, but not in an evil way, like Monopoly. OK, it did. Must! Get! All! The! Marbles!

I think this is the game that originally introduced button mashing to the masses.

For when a friendly game of Hungry Hungry Hippos isn’t enough, here’s EXTREME Hungry Hungry Hippos:

You don’t see any in the video, but I’m sure there was a LOT of beer involved in the making of it.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Once Upon A Win! May your New Year be filled with WIN!

Here’s a very special version of “O Holy Night” animated by today’s win, the Magna Doodle:

More Magna Doodle madness and the original submission after the jump.

Click to see more… »