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.”
“The Picnic Panic” (1935)
“The Picnic Panic” raw scan, plus the old cartoon year that was and the old cartoon future, plus some end of the year ‘Rainbows’…
Robert McKimson’s “Hillbilly Hare” (1950)
Time to breakdown one of animation’s greatest hoedowns—Bob McKimson’s feudin’ an’ square-dancin’ cult classic, Hillbilly Hare!
UPA’s “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol” on Records, Part One
The original soundtrack album for the first animated Christmas TV special–which boasts one of the finest musical scores ever—was released almost 50 years after it premiered.
Christmas Eve with The Kausler Collection
For Christmas Eve, I’ve asked Mark Kausler to pull some seasonal cartoons we might not have seen. Here are two from the Soviet Union and one from the Czech Republic.
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]
