Thunderbean Ramblings… Cinetopia in Michigan… and Len Lye’s “The Peanut Vendor”!
Lye’s Peanut Vendor short is unintentionally the stuff of nightmares, featuring a creepy Monkey made of pipe cleaners.
Happy Birthday Donald Duck! Walt Disney’s “The Wise Little Hen” (1934)
Tomorrow is Donald Duck’s birthday, so it’s only fitting to discuss his film debut! Albert Hurter designed the characters, including Donald’s sailor cap and middy blouse.
Yogi Bear vs. Magilla Gorilla – For President!
The 1964 cartoon campaign between one of Hanna-Barbera’s biggest TV stars and one of their newest characters inspired merchandise—and a 45 RPM Golden Record.
Chatting with Lars Calonius and Ken O’Brien
Lars Calonius and Ken O’Brien both started out at Disney’s around the same time, though their career paths diverged in significant ways.
“Forgotten” Anime OAVs #21: “Riki-Oh 2: Child of Destruction”
This sequel to the first Rikki-Oh OVA offers a totally different story, one that doesn’t seem to make any sense; although its “post-apocalyptic” setting fits better here.
Lost Early Anime: “Three Tales” (1960)
Today we look at “Three Tales”, a 30-minute anthology special from 1960 – long thought to be the first anime made for television – a fascinating use of limited animation and stylized graphics.
Animation Anecdotes #265
“Richard Williams is working on his epic film. It’s a dream that he’s had for many years. It’s a hard thing to face but after this length of time, this dream could all too soon turn into a nightmare.”
The Hunt For A Rare Original Title Card – and the 2016 “Thunderbean Thursday” Special DVD Set!
This particular Cubby Bear title card was one of the things I most wanted and, happily, it showed up at long last!
Terrytoons’ “Popcorn” (1931)
Released in 1931, Popcorn was the 24th Terrytoon from Paul Terry’s studio. This particular entry is a rarity; one of the few not included in CBS’ 1950s syndication package.
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]
