“Mickey’s Fire Brigade” (1935)
In today’s breakdown, Mickey, Donald and Goofy are fighting blazes in this classic Disney cartoon! Sixteen animators are credited for the animation, reflecting the studio’s growth during the mid-1930s.
Snoopy Battles the Red Baron (and Runs for President) on Records
When “Peanuts” transcended its comic strip roots and became a part of the American scene in the late ’60s, The Royal Guardsmen made him a recording star.
A Chat with Sadie Bodin
Sadie Bodin’s picketing of the Van Beuren Studio in 1935 to protest her dismissal for union activity was a minor landmark in animation history. Here is her story.
“Forgotten” OVAs #12: “Area 88”
From about 1985 to 1987, Area 88 was arguably the most prestigious manga and anime title in Japan or America. The anime was in three dramatic OAVs from Studio Pierrot, each over an hour long.
Hank Ketcham, Before and In-Between, 1938
Prior to his fame as the creator of Dennis the Menace, this cartoonist put in his time working in obscurity in what he called the “Black Hole” of the Lantz studio.
Animation Anecdotes #256
In 1990, there was some controversy about an animated commercial where Popeye states, “I’m Popeye the Quaker Man” – as members of the religious Quakers strongly disapproved of the violence-prone sailor.
LOST AND FOUND: Pixar’s Sample Reel and Marketing Video from 1990
I show this tape every year in my animation history class, and I think it’s a good time to share it here. It’s a great document of how Pixar viewed itself at the time.
Terrytoons “Go West Big Boy” (1931)
This week, we’re headin’ way out west with an early sound Terrytoon! As indicated on the draft, Go West Big Boy was the 27th Terrytoon, released on February 22nd, 1931.
Happy 50th Anniversary to Hanna-Barbera’s “Alice in Wonderland” (1966)
Wednesday is the day and date that ABC presented the most ambitious TV special Hanna-Barbera had yet produced. Here’s a peek at the rare soundtrack recording.
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]
