Cartoon Japanese Folk Tales
If I have to name an anime that was an exercise in what kind of different styles you can do with the animation medium, I’m going to have to pick…
Christmasy Cartoonz, Part 4: specials, direct-to-video and theatricals
Welcome back to our serialized listing of animated Christmas films. This week a look at theatricals, made-for-TV-and-home-video productions and several TV Specials created in CG. As always, if you notice…
AAA: Alcohol, Animals, and Advertising
Somewhere in rural Michigan, an apple fell from a tree. It sat on the ground for a long time until it began to ferment. Eventually a young bear came strolling…
Animation Anecdotes #140
The Secret Origin of John Lasseter, Animator! “When I was a freshman in high school, our library had a copy of the Bob Thomas book, ‘The Art of Animation’, the…
A Kolortone Cartoon: “An Egyptian Gyp”
A short blog post this week, but I’ll make up for it with next week’s entry – really! These last handful of months have been easily the busiest days I’ve…
Let’s Watch: “Tensai Bakabon” (1971)
For most of 2013 I talked about certain anime series and what they are about, with some production background if I can add it. But aside from sample episodes embedded…
Walt Disney’s Christmas Concerts
Which came first, The Chipmunks or the Mouse Musicians? Walt Disney’s very own idea for a Christmas record didn’t take the world by storm. But a year later, when one…
In His Own Words: Bill Scott at UPA
I got a chance to do a lengthy interview with Bill Scott on September 3, 1982 where we spent hours talking not only about his legendary work with Jay Ward…
Christmasy Cartoonz, Part 3: TV Cartoon Specials (from 1980)
Continuing our survey of Television Christmas Specials with an overview of various shows from 1980 to present day. If I’ve forgotten your favorite from this era, let me know in…
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 Cal Arts in Valencia, UCLA in Westwood and Woodbury University in Burbank – teaching animation history. More about Jerry Beck [Click Here]
