Rudolf Ising’s “The Prospecting Bear” (1941)
Today, we strike gold with the third cartoon featuring Barney Bear – a precursor to the later pairing of Barney Bear and Benny Burro – in this week’s animator breakdown!
When Walt Disney Sent “Wonderland” to Fred Waring’s TV Show
Four months before the release of Alice in Wonderland, bandleader Fred Waring introduced the songs with a TV “mini-musical” and a Decca Records “cast” album.
Warner Club News (1955) – Part 1
A splice of cartoon life! This week, the first half of 1955, with these chatty columns from the Warner Bros. Cartoon Department
Disney Goes Latin
Walt Disney wanted “the whole enchilada” of Mexican culture–both musical and visual. And there is plentiful evidence that he got just what he wanted.
Paul Terry’s “How To Draw Funny Cartoons”
Animation pioneer Paul Terry jotted down his animation secrets in a rarely seen 24 page booklet – and I’ve posted the whole thing here for you to enjoy.
Animation Anecdotes #359
Asked in public to do the Woody Woodpecker laugh, Gracie Lantz would oblige – while her husband would simply shake his head. “No dignity… She used to be very proper.”
Fleischer Rarities: “Finding his Voice” (1929)
This oddball Fleischer short presents an incredibly dry (by overall simple and understandable) explanation of how sound-on-films works.
Robert McKimson’s “Of Rice and Hen” (1953)
“Oh doggy, you’re gonna get your lumps…” This week features our favorite loud-mouthed barnyard schnook rooster, Foghorn Leghorn!
Happy Birthday, Daffy Duck! A Celebration on Records
Since the maladjusted mallard was mere albumen and yolk and 81 years ago today, we salute some of his records in a post that’s surely worth more than a million box.
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]
