Forgotten Anime #51: “Grey: Digital Target” (1986)
Grey began as a futuristic war manga by Yoshihisa Tagami, reprinted in the U.S. as a high-quality American comic book, with an introduction by Harlan Ellison.
Pinto Colvig Got that Oswald Habit, 1930
Before he was the voice of Goofy, Pinto Colvig was the voice of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit for Universal and had a big part in the studio’s transition to sound cartoons.
Animation Anecdotes #295
The episode ‘Mighty’s Benefit Plan’ of Bakshi’s Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures, featuring Elvy and the Tree Weasels is filled with hidden surprises.
The Year Ahead in Cartoon Preservation
The thrill I get when seeing something that hasn’t been screened in many years is two-fold; first in just the coolness of seeing it myself, but much more in sharing it with others.
Comics by Hawley Pratt
Hawley Pratt had a sporadic career in moonlighting for “funny animal” comics for James Davis’ shop, while working as a layout artist at Warners Bros. under Friz Freleng.
“Walt Disney’s Song Parade from Disneyland” on Golden Records
Golden Records, one of Disney’s most popular partner labels, featuring Disney cast members and Golden artists, configured the “greatest hits” in several novel ways.
Jack Teagarden and his Walter Lantz Cartunes
When trombonist Jack Teagarden became available to do two cartoon soundtracks, Darrell Calker and Walter Lantz leapt at the chance to get him.
Forgotten Anime #50: “Battle Royal High School”
No, not the R-rated live-action Battle Royale that was the notorious precursor to The Hunger Games. This OVA “Battle Royal High School” is based on a manga by Shinichi Kuruma.
The March of the Cards in “Alice in Wonderland” (1951)
As we leave the mad tea party of 2016 and go tumbling Through the Looking Glass towards 2017, my final post of the year deals the cards in Disney’s Alice.
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]
