Mickey’s Birthday & Donald’s Unbirthday on Golden Records
When “Mickey’s friends from Disneyland” gather for a surprise birthday party, a sullen Donald needs a “Goofy Knows Best” moment on this disc from the mid-‘50s.
Cartoons Considered For An Academy Award 1975
Another fascinating year for nominees – with the strengths of hand-drawn animation on full display. Beautiful films, all. But in the end – the ‘laughs’ won out.
Sing Me a Cartoon 18: “The World Owes Me A Living!”
The tunes from other Silly Symphonies weren’t nearly as successful as Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf? But that didn’t mean that the songwriters at Disney weren’t trying!
The Censored 11: “Uncle Tom’s Bungalow” (1937)
The fourth cartoon of the “Censored Eleven”, and the first by Avery on the list, is a parody of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s antebellum, antislavery novel.
Animation Anecdotes #337
“For the titles of The Pink Panther Strikes Again, we decided to send up old movies. Among the films and personalities spoofed were King Kong, Buster Keaton and Dracula .
The “Chiquita Banana” Theatrical Commercials
Produced by John Sutherland Productions from 1947 through 1949, these Banana spots are among the most charming theatrical animated commercials made in the 40s.
“Mr. Winkle Returns” (1954)
Check out this find: A rare industrial film for General Mills, made in 1954, directed by Gene Hazelton with animation by Irv Spence and Ken Muse.
Ruby-Spears’ “Fangface” on Records
Peter Pan Records’ final vinyl venture into Saturday Morning cartoons was, ironically, based on the first series by Ruby-Spears Productions.
Cartoons Considered For An Academy Award 1974
“The Butterfly Ball” is one of twenty-five animated shorts submitted to the Academy that didn’t make the cut for a nomination in 1974.
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]
