An Open Letter: Changes for 2019
This is a special post to announce this blog’s new 5-posts-a-week policy. Plus information on cartoons being presented at UCLA’s 2019 Festival of Preservation.
Animation Anecdotes #396
When Miles Laboratories released Flintstones Chewable Vitamins in 1968, there were Fred, Wilma, Barney, Bamm Bamm, Pebbles, Dino and Fred’s car but no Betty.
“Six Legged Saboteurs” (1943)
This odd little film was produced by Cartoon Films Limited, a small commercial outfit that evolved out of the Ub Iwerks Studio after the split from Pat Powers.
Little Known Silent Cartoons
Welcome back to our semi-regular visit to Mark Kausler’s film vault. Here’s where we take a look at several animated films we’ve never seen or heard of before.
UPA’s “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol” on Records, Part Two
This time we look at how the legacy of this classic animated television special continued to impact music, theater, publishing—and even the loved ones of those who first created it.
The Trippy Columbia Logo Art in “Spider-Man Into The Spiderverse”
For our final post of the year – a look at the animated Columbia logo art the start of Spider-Man: Into The Spiderverse.
Alice In Tin Pan Alleyland
It was inevitable that Disney would get around to doing a feature version of Alice In Wonderland. And it was inevitable that there would be songs.
REVIEW: Taschen’s ‘Mickey Mouse’ Book
My unabashed rave review for the new mega-book devoted to Mickey Mouse, a feast for the eyes – but more importantly, a major reference work.
Animation Anecdotes #395
“Cats Don’t Dance was supervised by no less than eight executives in its lifetime, several of whom would have rather ironed Chris Farley’s underwear than make an animated movie.”
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]
