Barking Up the Wrong Tree: Bluth’s “All Dogs Go to Heaven”
It was the first animated feature made with Don Bluth in sole control without input from Amblin since The Secret of NIMH over seven years earlier.
Wishful Thinking: The 30th Anniversary of Disney’s “Aladdin”
Three decades later, it’s easy to forget just how unique Disney’s Aladdin was when it debut. It was, in fact, a game-changer.
The Birth of Hanna-Barbera’s “Smurfs”
Producer Joe Barbera said in 1982, “Even though they’re a happy little group of Smurfs, they have problems too.”
A Thunderbean Thursday – from 2013
Welcome to a Thunderbean Thanksgiving Thursday – from nine years ago.
We, Robots! (Part 4): Clanking Catastrophe
In today’s survey, robotic design and modern architecture attempt to solve the problems of everyday life – creating new problems in the process.
Max and Dave – Popeye 1938-40: It Ain’t Broke, So Why Fix It?
There was less pressure from Paramount to include songs from their features in the cartoons, though some would still show up.
The Dog Days: The 50th Anniversary of “Snoopy, Come Home”
It seemed logical that Snoopy would get own his full-length feature film – and that movie celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year.
Remembering Don Morgan
Walt Kelly had liked animation artist Don Morgan, and handpicked the artist to ghost the Pogo strip.
VB’s Tom and Jerry’s Final Journey: “The Phantom Rocket” (1933)
Tom and Jerry attempt a rocket flight that turns into a semi disaster – as a thief attempts to rob them just as the rocket takes off!
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]
