The Original “Christmas with the Chipmunks” Records
The first of the two LP’s is the granddaddy of classic cartoon/novelty Christmas albums, while the second one deserves wider release with more airplay for its songs.
Two Voices-No Credit: Billy Murray and Walter Scanlan At Fleischer
There were two singers who show up repeatedly in the “Screen Songs” cartoons. They never got any screen credit. But any record collector would recognize them immediately.
Forgotten Anime #46: “Wizardry” (1991)
This “Wizardry” OAV, based on the US role-playing game, was released in Japan in 1991, produced by TMS Entertainment and released on VHS by Shochiku Fuji.
“Klanimation”
Commercial animation during the silent era rarely addressed political movements – and staffers of the cartoon studios comprised part of the demographics that the Ku Klux Klan abhorred.
Animation Anecdotes #291
“Having the camera constantly moving was scary at first, but it helped keep the characters alive,” said animator Dave Spafford, who drew Donald Duck and Daffy Duck in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
Thunderbean Status Report and “Hector’s Hectic Life!” (1948)
Hector’s Hectic Life is an often seen public domain holiday cartoon, but not often in a good condition copy with decent color. Here’s a cleaned up version to start off the Christmas cartoon season.
Irv Spence and Rod Scribner, One-Shot Moonlighters
Irv Spence and Rod Scribner, both known for the unbridled energy of their animation, took a chance free-lancing their own “funny animal” stories for Happy Comics.
Playhouse Pictures’ “The Night Before Christmas” (1968) on Records
A look at the album based on a syndicated animated special with some interesting connections to a vintage radio sitcom and a live Disney Theme Park musical.
More Fleischer Needle Drop – and Terrytoon Notes
I am a little bit familiar with the career of Roy Halee. He was a rich-voiced tenor, and just the right voice for the singing of Mighty Mouse.
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]
