Cold Comfort: Celebration of the First “Ice Age”
Surpassing all expectations when released in 2002, becoming a surprise hit and launching a franchise that’s still going strong.
The Little King in “Jest of Honor” (1934)
This is one of my favorites of the series, and absolutely one of the hardest to find a decent print on.
Unpredictable as Weather (Part 4)
Animation was growing in sophistication, with many of these downpours depicted quite elaborately – some even in color.
My Top Five Favorite Fleischer Popeye Cartoons
…and I also ask you: What are yours?
The Disney WWII U.S. Navy Aerology Series Film Pamphlets
It seems like an appropriate time to write about the Disney WWII weather films and associated pamphlets.
Music with Character: The 75th Anniversary of “Melody Time”
Managing to avoid most of the pitfalls of its predecessors, Melody Time was the last of Disney’s musical mélanges, and certainly the best.
Thunderbean Thoughts — and a few required animation history viewings!
I thought I’d share a few things that I think are must-sees in my animation history class, even though they’re not the eras often highlighted here.
Unpredictable as Weather (Part 3)
Cartoons struggle against storms, this week including Fleischer’s Bimbo, Charles Mintz’s Toby the Pup, Ub Iwerks’ Flip the Frog, and Van Buren’s Tom and Jerry.
Fleischer and Famous Studios: A Grab Bag, or Filet of Leftovers
Extreme cases present themselves, when a cartoon you had to skip over because it was unavailable suddenly gets found. Here are a few.
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]
