“The Kool Penguins” (1935) and Other Smoking Hot Cartoons
Just a quick note: I think it’s important to share the history of animated films if you’re lucky enough to be able to. It seems a huge shame to me…
BOOK REVIEW: “Mickey Mouse Outwits The Phantom Blot”
It’s been almost a year since I last wrote a rave review for one of David Gerstein’s books about Mickey Mouse – so I guess I’m about due for another…
“Felix the Cat” on Records
Warning: Watching Felix the Cat may not be for everyone. Side effects include laughing so much that your sides might ache and your heart may go pitter-pat. Ask your doctor…
The Story of Disney’s “The Art of Animation”
When Walt Disney was producing the animated feature film Sleeping Beauty, he realized that a great way to publicize the “high art” approach of the film as well as address…
Animated Treasure Islands #2: 1986 – 2006
This is the second of my two-part checklist and survey of international animated interpretations of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel, Treasure Island. For the first part of this survey, click…
Morning Thrills from General Mills
Another Big “G” cereal post from Cartoon Research! Also please forgive us for using the word “Post” when speaking of General Mills. Today we present to you a series of…
Animation Anecdotes #157
Animated Splits. What is the only project to feature animated versions of Hanna-Barbera’s live action costumed The Banana Splits? The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie, The Banana Splits in Hocus Pocus…
More On Mary Blair: “Ceramic Mural” (1965)
Jerry’s post from yesterday about John Canemaker’s new book had me thinking about the Disney Educational film Ceramic Mural (1965). It’s a fascinating little document; it’s perhaps the only film…
BOOK REVIEW: John Canemaker’s “The World Of Mary Blair”
Clearly one of the 20th century’s most influential artists and illustrators, to both Disney animators and the field of animation in general, was Mary Blair. In 2003, John Canemaker wrote…
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]
