Disney’s “The Aristocats” on Records
Can a non-soundtrack album stand up against the actual soundtrack? This week we look at two Aristocats albums that take both approaches and succeed on their own terms.
Famous Studios 1954-55
Paramount readies to sell its cartoon shorts to television; the studio reconfigures its pictures to fill new wide screen standards; and Irv Spector boards a classic in this week’s survey of Famous Studio cartoons.
Argentine Animated Features 1917-1970
Argentine (or Argentinian) feature animation has been long over-looked, despite their claim to producing the first animated feature (in 1917)! Here begins a look at, and filmography of, the animated features that emerged from this South American country.
Stanley Kubrick and Violent Cartoons, 1956
As Stanley Kubrick’s directorial career progressed the argument could be made that he had studied some Walter Lantz cartoons. Not just any cartoons, but specifically the brutal ones directed by Shamus Culhane.
Animation Anecdotes #226
Jim Korkis with anecdotes on Woody Woodpecker, Gigantor, Lilo and Stitch, Jeffery Katzenberg, dubbing Miyazaki, Betty Boop and the Incredibles.
Thunderbean Update and “Let’s Ring Doorbells” (1935)
I promised Jerry that Thunderbean Thursday would be back with a vengeance, so here it is – with updates, a new ‘special’ set offer, and a Scrappy cartoon to boot!
Hugh Harman’s “The Field Mouse” (1941)
Today, we look into one of Hugh Harman’s most lavish short cartoons, and one of his last for the MGM studio, “The Field Mouse”. Here’s the breakdown of animators who brought this film to life.
Hanna-Barbera’s “Precious Pupp” on Records
This week, we take a Spin with groovy Granny Sweet and her Muttley/Mumbly-voiced dog, Precious, on a stellar example of Hanna-Barbera vinyl virtuosity.
Famous Studios 1953-54
In 1953, Famous Studios was contracted to provide a 3D Popeye short and a 3D Casper cartoon during this season’s output. The final results found Famous superior to the other studios (including Disney) in creating dimensional cartoons.
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]
