Mickey Mouse’s “Candy Mine” and “Orphan’s Benefit”
This week Mickey Mouse and company star in a original audio adventure, and we take a look at the numerous releases of Orphan’s Benefit – a cartoon soundtrack that just…
Fleischer Promo Art #11: “Join The Popeye Clubs!”
November-December 1935 We round out the last two months of 1935 with a handful of holiday themed panels. The “Popeye Club” the sailor touts was in response to the animated…
Americanizing Anime
The news that Japanese animation is made in Japan will shock nobody today in 2014. But before the 1990s, many American TV executives were paranoid about viewers realizing that any…
Commercial Grab Bag
Once again it’s no-theme day here at Cartoon Research, and we have a dazzling array of loose ends and leftovers for your viewing pleasure. Feel free to run into the…
Animation Anecdotes #174
Hidden Initials. Matt Groening hid his initials in the hair (M) over Homer Simpson’s ear and the center of the ear (G). Extinct Jurassic Park. Artist Bill Stout was the…
What’s in a “Top 10” list anyway… and why bother?
Another terrifically busy week here at Thunderbean- but heck, why do I need to tell you folks that? You’re all busy with your stuff too! I’m happy to report that…
Gene Deitch’s Lost “Small World” Comic Strip
Editor’s Note: Academy Award winning animator Gene Deitch celebrates his 90th birthday on Friday August 8th. To commemorate this event Gene has decided to give us all a present –…
Hercules and Thor: Super Heroes on Not-Exactly-Super Records
A look at the vinyl disc debuts of two mighty defenders of justice – Thor and Hercules – who weren’t as powerful as the budget restraints of children’s records in…
Fleischer Promo Art #10: “Betty Boop – Always At Your Service!”
The most historical occasion of the September-October 1935 Fleischer output went by without so much as a whisper in the advertisements. The relationship between Bill Costello (“Red Pepper Sam”) and…
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]
