Animation Anecdotes #238
Today we look at Miyazaki’s anime inspiration, John K.’s first direction, and one of Hanna Barbera’s low-rated, but highly acclaimed series.
It’s Here – Private Snafu on Blu-ray!
Never fear. A “New Set” is here! A year and a half in production, with the majority of that time involving digital cleanup of the films, Private Snafu is now on Blu-Ray.
Rudolf Ising’s “The Milky Way” (1940)
This week’s breakdown profiles another film by Rudy Ising – The Milky Way – this one becoming the first non-Disney cartoon to win an Oscar for Best Animated Short.
Rankin/Bass “ThunderCats” on Records
Find out how Toy Story connects to ThunderCats as we feel the magic and hear the roar of the 30th anniversary of those denizens of Third Earth… even Snarf!
Paramount Cartoons 1965-1966
This season we say goodbye to Howard Post, Modern Madcaps and Noveltoons. Say hello to Honey Halfwitch, Shamus Culhane and “Sir Blur”.
My Time With Hiro Media Associates
Yes, I was associated with Hiro Media Associates. In 1983, they had just launched a monthly anime magazine and they wanted me to write a monthly column on American animation and fan activities
Oswald Strings a Treasure, 1936
The premise of Puppet Show is that Oswald is a puppeteer who loses control of his puppet’s strings. Various live-action marionettes were used, comprising some very unfortunate cultural stereotypes, yet remains a rare filmed record of a 1936 puppet show.
Animation Anecdotes #237
“Rhapsody Rabbit” (1946) features concert pianist Bugs Bunny’s challenges as he tries to perform Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody while being harassed by a mouse. Sound familiar?
Making Snafu Cartoons / First Motion Picture Unit / Redford Theatre Cartoon Festival
This week: Rare behind-the-scenes footage filmed during the production of a Snafu cartoon!
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 USC in Los Angeles, CalArts in Santa Clarita, and UCLA in Westwood – teaching animation history. More about Jerry Beck [Click Here]
