Rankin/Bass’ “The First Easter Rabbit” (1976) on Records
A look at a springtime cartoon soundtrack album filled with rich, creamy storylines and a sweet bunny at its center, generously coated with superb voice work. Rankin/Bass Present THE FIRST…
Paramount Sales News #44: Famous Studios Begins
July-October 1942 We have a slight gap here, with no panels for the month of August. Maybe the change in the studio’s name, which finally took effect in the screen…
Animation From Where!?
Usually the animation that I write about in my columns is by well-known studios. Sometimes it’s by a brand-new studio, or a foreign studio that I’ve never heard of; though…
Three Books To Recommend
I interrupt my website to actually write a post myself – and to take a moment to thank our regular contributors past and present for keeping this space lively, informative…
Animation Anecdotes #205
The Rocket Robin Hood Caper. Producer Steve Krantz had some huge problems with Trillium Productions, part of Al Guest Productions, who Krantz had contracted with to do the animated television…
Random Ramblings – and another Scrappy!
I’ve wanted to do a post on a bunch of small random things for a while, so this starting-to-be spring Thursday seemed like a good day for some Spring cleaning,…
“Abou Ben Boogie” (1944)
We’re shaking things up this time with a very popular Walter Lantz Swing Symphony! Director Shamus Culhane’s keen sense of design, cutting, timing and characterization at the Lantz studio gave…
De-Patie-Freleng’s “Goldilocks” (1970) on Record
Bing Crosby Meets the Sherman Brothers Meet De-Patie-Freleng Meets Disney – in soundtrack albums for their live-action/animated TV special. Bing Crosby Introduces Mary Frances Crosby as GOLDILOCKS Original TV Soundtrack…
Paramount Sales News #43: “Many Tanks”
May-June 1942 In May 1942, behind the scenes in Miami, the animators and personnel at Fleischer plant were told that Seymour Kneitel, Isadore Sparber, Sam Buchwald and Dan Gordon now…
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]
