In His Own Words: Bob McKimson
I’ve talked about animation legend Bob McKimson before on this site. McKimson was born in 1910 and passed away in 1977. He died from a massive heart attack while eating…
Japanese Animated Commercials, Part 4
Here we go again with these silly Japanese adverts! Let’s see what’s in store this week. Maruai Hanakatsuo 1960s commercial for a brand of katsuobushi. Featuring an American woman speaking…
Hanna-Barbera’s “Magilla Gorilla” on the Record
In honor of National Gorilla Suit Day (have YOU made your plans yet?), we salute the recording debut of the gorilla who’s mighty nice, along with his co-stars. Bill Hanna…
Paramount Sales News #35: Animated Antics
As we enter the final year of Max and Dave Fleischer’s studio, we find the disappointing Animated Antics getting top billing in these little spaces. To be a fly on…
French Animated Features – Part 12: 2010
Here we are with the twelfth part of my checklist of French animated features, continuing this week with a look at the releases in 2010 – with films by such…
Is Advertising Good For You?
Over the months we’ve spotlighted ads for beer and automobiles and breakfast cereal, but today we present to you a film that is advertising advertising. This mostly live-action film produced…
Animation Anecdotes #196
Where In The World of George Pal Is Woody Woodpecker? Animation producer Walter Lantz and filmmaker George Pal were very good friends. As the terrific animation historian Joe Adamson wrote…
UPDATE: Leo the Lion and some stills from the “Willie Whopper” transfers!
The Ub Iwerks’ Willie Whopper and Flip the Frog project continues! I really enjoyed seeing the animated clips from some of Leo’s other appearances over the years. We transferred some…
Japanese Animated Commercials – Part 3
I’m back with more of these anime commercials! Let’s see what other products Japan tried to sell to its public. Polick Meiji is primarily known for making snack food, but…
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]
