Columbia’s “The Untrained Seal” (1936)
I think they must have loved animating fish at Screen Gems, since they may be the most fun part of this particular cartoon.
Courtroom Drama: Deliberate Deliberation (Part 5)
We stare in wonderment (call it “stare decisis”) at the judicial process in action in the cartoons discussed herein.
Max and Dave: That’s the Way the Ball Bounces (Chapter 1)
Max Fleischer had a pioneer’s interest in the burgeoning technology of adding sound to motion pictures. And he added songs to his films before anyone else did.
Shout-Outs and Short Takes 2021 – Part 1
Now that gift-giving season is long passed, consider this quick little book review post solely for your own enjoyment and edification.
Jeff Smith and “Bone”
Some of the past attempts to translate Jeff Smith’s popular comic book character into animation.
UPA’s “Outlaws” (1956)
This film is full of invention in every shot, almost too much to absorb.
Courtroom Drama: Bench Warmers (Part 4)
Life for a judge in the human world can be challenging enough – but life for a judge in Toontown has to be absolutely “trying”.
Disney “Winnie the Pooh” Stories That Premiered on Records
Sterling Holloway and the Disneyland Records “stock company” recorded tales, poems and “hums” from the A.A. Milne books that preceded the films or never reached the screen.
In His Own Words: Mel Blanc’s Last Interview
Perhaps the last public interview with Mel Blanc took place at the Los Angeles International Animation Celebration. I was lucky enough to be in the audience.
Jerry Beck is a writer, animation producer, college professor and author of more than 15 books on animation history. He is a former studio exec with Nickelodeon Movies and Disney, and has written for The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. He has curated cartoons for DVD and Blu-ray compilations and has lent his expertise to dozens of bonus documentaries and audio commentaries on such. Beck is currently on the faculty of CalArts in Valencia, UCLA in Westwood and Woodbury University in Burbank – teaching animation history. More about Jerry Beck [Click Here]
