Happy Henfruit Pt. 1: “Eggs-haustive Research”
With some alternative escapism from the real world, our attention turns to the Easter, when the animators turned to a staple of the season for story inspiration – the incredible, edible egg.
Mary Martin: Legend of Disney, Broadway and Television
There was magic in the air after Mary Martin said, “I’d like to sing some Disney songs,” and Walt Disney said, “I can’t think of anyone I would rather hear sing them.”
New Animation Books For Your Social Isolation
Stuck inside? Here’s our latest round-up of new animation books approved for cartoon fans sheltering-in-place.
The Funeral of Marvin Acme
Many sequences were storyboarded for Who Framed Roger Rabbit but were then left out of the final feature film for a variety of reasons. Here is one we wished they would have done.
Max Fleischer’s “Modeling” (1921)
This heavily Amber-tinted print is now nearly 100 years old, but Max Fleischer and a young Roland (Doc) Crandall are still very much alive on these frames.
Beware The Leprechauns (part 4)
Toy Story had no monopoly on little green men – as those pesky leprechauns continued to show up where you least expect them, full or tricks and Irish ire.
Merrie Melodies 1937-38: More Old Friends
Continuing our on-going survey of the songs used in the 1930s Warner Bros. cartoons, this week a particularly strong 1937-38 season of hits.
The Unlucky Duck
The Disney writers saddled Donald with a particular affliction: he was prone to bad luck. In fact, Bill Cottrell suggested to Walt Disney that Donald’s “birthday” could be celebrated on Friday the 13th.
Lost “Fantasia”: The Disappearance of Sunflower
Though Disney has been aggressive in removing any trace of Sunflower from Fantasia, one may be able to find these scenes complete and uncensored.
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]
