Disney’s “Grasshopper and The Ants” on Records
In addition to narrating, Disney Legend Sterling Holloway wrote the script to flesh out the classic Silly Symphony by creating new characters and adding wry humor.
Mysterious Master: Hakuzan Kimura
Like most early animators, Hakuzan Kimura came from a background of graphic work within the movie industry; in his case, advertising posters.
Music in Popeye’s “The Dance Contest” (1934)
Right from the release of “Popeye the Sailor” in 1933, Paramount knew they had a hit on their hands.
The Once and Universal King, 1930
A restoration of Universal’s “King of Jazz” brings back a storied gem from the studio vaults, including the animated prologue produced by Walter Lantz and Bill Nolan.
Animation Anecdotes #305
“(Joe) Oriolo’s role, an important one, was to create the original graphics that accompanied my story,” said story man Seymour Reit. “He did indeed create the first drawings of Casper.”
Original Titles, “Bridge Trouble” (Jam Handy, 1949) and “Happy New Year 1952”
Odds and Ends this week – like these frames from the only existing print with original titles of ‘Sunshine Makers’.
Adventures with Technical Animation
More from the iconic ‘Direct Mass Selling’ program that the Jam Handy Organization produced for Chevrolet throughout the Great Depression.
“Gulliver’s Travels Beyond the Moon” on Records
Toei Animation’s 1966 feature received deluxe treatment on LP, featuring a score by legendary TV composer Milton DeLugg that evokes movie matinees of the 1960s.
A Chat with Joan Pabian and Al Pabian
Martha Sigall’s interview series concludes with an interview with ink and paint artist Joan Pabian and her husband, Lantz/WB/MGM animator Al Pabian.
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]
