DUCKS AND TAXES: The Story of “The New Spirit”
It has been said that the only two things that are certain in life are death and taxes. So, this month, as some of us struggle with taxes, we can…
The Day “Alice” Fell Through Her TV: The 1966 HB Special
48 years ago this Sunday, ABC broadcast Alice in Wonderland, or What’s a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This? It was one of Hanna-Barbera’s best specials…
Early NY Animator Profiles: John Foster
John Foster Jr. was born in New Jersey on Nov 27th, 1886 to John and Louisa Foster, German immigrants who’d settled in Hoboken. He was the second oldest of six…
Tezuka’s “Adult” Features: “A Thousand and One Nights” (1969)
In the 1960s Osamu Tezuka’s Mushi Productions was one of the leading producers of TV animation in Japan. Three of his Mushi series had been sold to American children’s television:…
Cartoons and Beer, Animated Cheer!
What is it about cartoons and beer? There are millions of animated beer commercials, invariably featuring happy characters who live for the stuff. Mind you, we never actually see them…
Animation Anecdotes #154
Story Behind Mickey and the Seal. “Walt had seen ‘Mickey and the Seal’ storyboards and in his own way raved about it, saying: ‘That is like the old-time shorts; who…
“Beauty Shoppe” (1940) with Gran’ Pop Monkey
Here’s a good cartoon break for today, and a less-seen one for sure. Back in July we talked a little about See How They Won, and I’ve been meaning to…
“Wilbur Right and Wilbur Wrong” (1944)
Today, a World War II training film produced by the Army Air Force animation division, The First Motion Picture Unit (FMPU): Elementary and Pylon Eights (1944) – one of a…
Saving Mr. Flintstone
Hanna-Barbera produced quite a few oddball vinyl records in the ‘60s, but look at this one-of-a-kind wonder—it has Disney songs and HB characters all in one! FRED FLINTSTONE AND BARNEY…
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]
