Groovy Beauty and the Funky Beast: Freaky Foam Figure

 

Back in 2015, I came up with an idea for a 1970s twist on the Beauty and the Beast story called Groovy Beauty and the Funky Beast.  In 2018, I decided to build the Funky Beast using sheets of foam.  For his gold chains and belt buckle, I used thin gold metallic sheets of fabric.  At the time, I was frequently going to craft stores to discover new materials.

Like so many weird ideas I've had, I did this and forgot about it. 

If this character was ever to be in a movie, I'd cast actor Jason Mantzoukas to play him.  I feel like it looks like him and I wasn't even trying to do that.

Groovy Beauty And The Funky Beast

Beauty and the Beast is a tale as old as time and one that has been told in many different ways over the years.  Yesterday I quickly drew up an idea I had for a more "adult" animated 1960s/1970s spin on the story called Groovy Beauty and the Funky Beast.  I was very much inspired by many of the truly bizarre, forgotten, and unknown (to today's audiences) cartoons created by Hanna Barbera, Ruby Spears and Filmation circa the 70s and early 80s (there was a Hanna Barbera TV show called The Funky Phantom, no joke!).  The Funky Beast is not a literal Beast---he is a hairy 70s "bad boy" who likes to get down on the dance floor.  Groovy Beauty is a free-spirited 60s flower child.

I am thinking about what the soundtrack to Groovy Beauty and the Funky Beast would include.  1)"Hair" should probably be one of the songs.  2)"Bend Me, Shape Me" by The American Breed---the Beauty's ability to change the Beast is part of the appeal to the story, because girls want to "change" a bad boy. 3)"I'm Your Boogie Man" by KC and the Sunshine Band---for obvious reasons.

4) I love the song "Pinball Wizard" by The Who.  It has nothing to do with the story of Beauty and the Beast, but I think it is a cool song.  Maybe the Pinball Wizard puts the curse on the Funky Beast.