In your opinion, what is the worst golden age cartoon? Mine is “Dumb Like a Fox” (1941)
Honestly, this film is awful.
Flights of Fancy (Part 12) – More Yankee Doodling
Many a cartoonist stayed well behind the lines, each winning the war single-handedly – at least with the imagery created from their drawing boards.
Max and Dave: “Screen Songs” 1934
One could easily understand if the Fleischer brothers felt their plate to be full as 1934 arrived. And the Screen Songs were proving extremely popular.
That Crazy Cat Bill Nolan
The backstory on Bill Nolan – an overlooked but integral figure in the history of animation
Iwao Takamoto Practical Jokes
The famed artist and animator talks about his days at Disney – and the jokes animators played on each other.
Cubby Bear in “The Last Mail” (1933)
The third film in the Cubby series, Mannie Davis gets the sole credit on the film. My guess is that Davis, as director, was also the lead animator.
Flights of Fancy (Part 11): Above and Beyond the Call
During the war years – when leading cartoon stars were serving out substantial portions of their screen time in khaki.
It’s a Hap-Hap-Happy Birthday, Winston Sharples!
Celebrating the music legend behind almost one thousand cartoons – but surprisingly few soundtrack records.
Fangs for the Memories: The 55th Anniversary of Rankin/Bass’ “Mad Monster Party”
Told in the “Animagic” stop-motion animation style that Rankin/Bass does so well, this a beautifully detailed film.
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]
