Pinocchio Drafts

In case you haven't seen yet, Hans Perk has been posting the animator's draft of possibly the Disney studio's greatest film, "Pinocchio". Thanks, Hans. It's great to see who did what on this masterpiece.

Wee Willie Wildcat

ZOMG! An MGM cartoon breakdown without Tom & Jerry!

Dick Lundy briefly took over Tex Avery's unit from 1950-51, for a final attempt at reviving Barney Bear. Lundydidn't think too highly of his shorts, but in my opinion, the best ones are some of the funniest and slickest shorts the MGM studio ever made. "Wee Willie Wildcat" is one of them.

Thanks to Matt Yorston for helping me confirm a few styles I was uncertain with. I'm not sure who the best animator on this film is. Ray Patterson's animation is beautifully done, Grant Simmons' is fluid and lively, and Mike Lah's is hilariously timed and painful.

Unsual for Lundy, animation was lifted from previous films that Avery directed (they are noted in the breakdown). Perhaps, in the case of the camera scene, he was stuck for a gag, as it makes no sense as to why Barney would be the one taking the photo if the advice is to give the brat a hobby.

I apologize for the Cartoon Network logo in this breakdown... How about a DVD set of these and other assorted MGM products, huh?

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A Letter from Johnny Gent

In response to my hunt for all-things related to John Gentilella, arguably the greatest NY animator (and definitely overall) in animation's Golden Age, Paul Spector sent over a letter of his dad's, Irv Spector (another great NY talent), from Johnny!

The cartoon Gent is referring to in this letter is most definitely "Abner the Baseball" (1961). It looks like Joe Barbera (as per usual) knew talent when he saw it. This letter was written when Gent was working on the King Features Popeyes for TV.

Tom & Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl

I normally wouldn't post such a lackluster short ("missed chance" perfectly describes this one) to analyze, but I thought folks would like seeing the original titles. I bought a 16mm print of "Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl" last summer, and it was great getting it with the original opening.

Ray Patterson is the star animator of this cartoon, handling most of the establishing shots and the ending. The scene towards the end, with Tom having one of the orchestra members flatten Jerry with the cymbals, is possibly Ed Barge's funniest scene ever.

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Destination Moon

Here's a nice piece of history.

The Lantz studio's very first project when they re-opened their doors in 1950 was a segment for George Pal's feature, "Destination Moon". This scene was apparently done on the cheap (see the shot at 2:42 for proof).

The first half of this is most certainly animated by Verne Harding, and I believe the second half is by Paul Smith (Mike Kazaleh will know once he sees this). While Smith's animation is kind of crummy looking, Harding's is absolutely great and shows what a talented artist can do on a very limited budget.

This was also Grace Stafford's first time voicing Woody. I guess she couldn't get the voice down right away, as you can plainly hear, and Woody does not talk in the bulk of his cartoons from 1951-52.

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T-A-X-I-D-E-R-M-Y

The Big Game is tonight, so go get out your copy of THE COMPLETE GOOFY (I'm unsure how you've lived for 4 years without owning it) and watch the greatest football cartoon ever made, "How to Play Football" (1944). I could only get a clip from it, a hysterical piece of John Sibley animation.

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Which is Witch

Okay all you Friz bashers, let's hear what's wrong with this cartoon.

"Which is Witch" is one of the very best of the Warner studio's output. There is sharp timing and hilarious gags, beautiful backgrounds and paintings by Paul Julian, and some decent animation. And hey, a pretty off-color gay joke at the end too!

I screened this last September and while I had some problems with the projector throughout the short, it got agreat reaction.

I'm not 100% positive of attributing the whole first quarter of the short to Art Davis, but I don't see anything else in the cartoon that looks like his work, and I'm uncertain if it's Pete Burness. I'm certain someone will correct me.

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- Dr. I.C. Spots mixing potion to Bugs leaving with camera : ART DAVIS
- Bugs walking away with camera to getting lead to hut : VIRGIL ROSS
- Bugs sees boiling pot to running out of hut : GERRY CHINIQUY
- Bugs ducks into hut, dresses as Zulu, and gets chased again : ROSS
- Bugs stops at River to Spots jumping out of bag : KEN CHAMPIN
- Bugs final look to the camera : CHINIQUY (his best piece of animation ever, IMO)