“Why Play Leapfrog” may be my favorite of the films produced by John Sutherland Productions. It’s still appealing and fun, and the propaganda is at least a little more tolerable in this short.
For a final week of Kausler closet oddities I found a bunch of Zagreb and Japanese treasures I hadn’t seen before – and don’t seem to be online.
The soundtrack to this animation/live action fantasy, directed by Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’s Grandpa Potts, features an eclectic score, two Doctor Who’s and two cartoon Beatle voices.
The story behind the discovery and restoration of a lost UPA cartoon – and speculations as to the mystery of its existence.
In 1991 it was announced the upcoming feature film “Termite Terrace”, would be a live-action comedy loosely based on Jones’ autobiography Chuck Amuck.
I think the more you look for the odd and forgotten animation produced in the 20s,30s and 40s, the more you want to find.
Mark Kausler had several of these late-1940s Japanese “Fox” cartoons and they are – considering when and where they were made – pretty darn good.
From March to April of 1951, more of the major record companies began to cover the songs that were featured in the upcoming Disney feature, Alice In Wonderland.
I thought it might be a good day to spend time rummaging through my Walter Lantz files. Here’s a potpourri of visual materials submitted for your approval – and for future reference.
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]
