Irv Spence’s “Rugged Rangers”
After animator Irv Spence finished his gangster spoof “Rats in Spats”, he embarked of a more elaborate color production, again using the animators at MGM for his cast.
The Carl Fallberg Book That Never Was
Veteran story man Carl Fallberg was planning a book about his career at Disney, but never lived to see it finished. Who knows whatever happened to all that raw research material?
Let’s Watch a Cal Dunn Commercial Reel
Here’s part of a reel of commercials that showed up today, produced by Cal Dunn studios. I’m guessing its from the late 50s and you can join me as I watch it for the first time. I hope its good!
Happy Henfruit Pt. 8: “Eggs-it Music”
After all these weeks, you probably can’t stand to look another fried egg in the face. But before your brains get poached, take heart – we’re finally reaching the end of the henfruit trail.
Looney Tunes 1939-40: Keep On Keepin’ On
By the 1939-40 season, a new pattern had now been established – and the use of Warner songs in the cartoons became much more sophisticated.
Donald the Educator
Short-tempered, selfish, vengeful, mischievous – and yet, beginning in the 1940s, Donald Duck found himself cast in the role of an educator. How did this happen?
Disney’s “Off His Rockers” (1992)
“Off His Rockers” evolved into an approximately five-minute animated short created entirely at Walt Disney Animation Florida over a two-year period by people working in their spare time.
From Best to Worst: Working With The Best Film Elements That You Have
I thought I’d pull a few examples from my projects to demonstrate some of the issues involved in trying to make the best versions of these things possible.
Happy Henfruit Pt. 7: “Eggs-istentialism”
Origin stories are a dime a dozen for superheroes. Having multiple such tales for a barnyard fowl is a bit rarer. This post, as Rod Serling might say, is submitted for your approval…
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 Cal Arts in Valencia, UCLA in Westwood and Woodbury University in Burbank – teaching animation history. More about Jerry Beck [Click Here]
