Animation Anecdotes #224
The most popular cartoon for several decades in the Soviet Union was “Nu Pogodi!” People have compared the series to Tom and Jerry or Roadrunner, but the Russian shorts had their own unique perspective.
“The Fantastic Funnies” (1980)
In 1980, CBS aired a one-hour special called “The Fantastic Funnies”, produced by Lee Mendelson in association with the National Cartoonists Society. Over a dozen cartoonists were interviewed, talking about their work.
Chuck Jones’ “The Night Watchman” (1938)
Here’s the draft from Chuck Jones’ first cartoon as director, “The Night Watchman”. Bob McKimson, Phil Monroe, Ken Harris, Ben Washam, and Rod Scribner are on board – let’s see who animated which scenes.
Popeye Records – with the mysterious Harry F. Welch
An actor, who may-or-may-not have been a big-screen voice of Popeye. had his day in the vinyl sun when he starred on some long-selling Peter Pan Records.
Famous Studios 1951-52 (Part 2): Enter Harvey Comics
A comic book licensing deal with Harvey Comics would, in a few years, become the biggest thing that Famous Studios ever did for itself. Here’s the original contract between Harvey and Famous from 1951.
Streamline Pictures – Part 16: “Wicked City”
Wicked City was a 1987 Japanese OVA horror film-noir directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. Streamline picked it up and dubbed it in 1993. Here’s what the critics had to say about the picture.
Bray Studio Kickstarter Project
Today we are proud to announce news of Tommy Stathes first Kickstarter campaign for his next archival project: Cartoon Roots, The Bray Studios. Here are the details.
Animation Anecdotes #223
Disney had acquired certain rights to Winnie The Pooh in 1961 and made a featurette released in 1966. However, it turned out that author A.A. Milne had granted some of his rights to more than one entity.
Columbia’s UPA Cartoon Posters
Steve Stanchfield takes a well-deserved break this week and I fill in with a look at the theatrical one-sheet posters for the classy Columbia UPA cartoons of the 1950s.
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]
