Covering “Fun And Fancy Free”
“Fun and Fancy Free” did well at the box-office. But, from the standpoint of hit songs – frankly, “Fun and Fancy Free” was a flop!
Lil’ Eightball in “Silly Superstition” (1939)
Walter Lantz’s second “Lil’ Eightball” episode offers a more defined protagonist over the first entry, but there is little improvement beyond that.
Animation Anecdotes #374
“Doing both the strip (Life in Hell) and the series, I’m having a blast,” says Matt Groening. “I’m doing what the teachers used to rap me on the knuckles for.”
Tom & Jerry in “A Swiss Trick” (1931)
This print of A Swiss Trick is 35mm nitrate. We’ve left it tinted as the original print was. Note that the film is in ‘Movietone’ aspect ratio, where the picture is now taller to accommodate the soundtrack.
Nicky Nome Rides Again
The positive reception of A Coach For Cinderella brought more Nicky Nome cartoons – a series of Technicolor advertising cartoons with a animated star to promote the Chevrolet brand.
Max Fleischer’s Betty Boop on LP Records
She was the queen of the animated screen and her cartoons were filled with great music, it wasn’t until the 1970’s that she made her debut on LP records.
Warner Club News (1962) – Part 1
Well, it’s 1962 – and we know that its the beginning of the end. Milt Franklyn dies – and Jones and Freleng would depart before the year’s end.
I Can Get Satisfaction (with Terrytoons)
This week’s column is sort of an addendum to my essay last week. More on Helen Carroll and the singers I’ve dubbed “The Terrytones”.
Sanae Yamamoto: Cartooning In The Wild
He directed the 1960s feature known here as “Gulliver’s Travels Beyond The Moon”. But his unknown early work, back in the 30s and 40s, is brilliant!
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]
