Animation Anecdotes #366
Richard Williams’ The Thief and the Cobbler project went through many different working titles throughout the thrity-one years it was in production.
Richard Williams’ The Thief and the Cobbler project went through many different working titles throughout the thrity-one years it was in production.
In 1993, it was announced in the trades that Betty Boop would make her animated feature film debut for MGM by the Zanuck Company – but the film was never made.
The birthday celebration was part of a four day, fifteen city cross-country airplane tour, a Boeing 727, decorated with a 16-foot Donald Duck decal and “Happy Birthday” message along its side.
“I didn’t understand this thing until the opening night. They never let me see any rushes. We started on the film in 1934 when I was 18 and it went on until I was 21.”
Leonard Maltin wrote Jay Ward a letter when he was twelve years old and Ward wrote back “on wonderful embossed Bullwinkle stationery!” Thus began a lively and very friendly correspondence.
In 1982, Don Bluth discussed his next picture, a modern-day fairy tale, based on a very old story. That project, East of the Sun West of the Moon, was never produced.
Actresses Cynthia Leake and Emma Samms were among the rotoscoped performers for Teegra in Bakshi’s “Fire and Ice” – a character named on the Frazetta model sheet as “Tygra” .
Here’s a few animated music videos that are a little less seen. Some of these have some nicely executed animation, while others don’t quite get there – but each is an interesting watch.
Don Bluth recalls, “Many people were saying, ‘Don’t touch animation. It’s a dinosaur that doesn’t work anymore’. But American Tail went on to gross over $150 million and suddenly, it looked viable again”.
Don Bluth’s Banjo The Woodpile Cat was one of 33 animated shorts submitted, qualified and screened – but snubbed for an Academy Award in 1979.