No, I don’t care about Filmation’s ARCHIE. But because I do a film program at the San Diego Comic Con called THE WORST CARTOONS EVER, I get mucho e-mail from readers wondering where Filmation’s library is and why most of it isn’t on video.
You’re about to find out why.
Next week you can buy episodes of THE ARCHIE SHOW, SABRINA and ARCHIES TV FUNNIES on DVD (or VHS) directly from Archie Comics.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Here’s the LINK.

Nickelodeon Movies has officially announced its development slate - which includes THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE, Steve Oedekerk’s CGI film THE BARNYARD and the long rumored John Woo feature, MIGHTY MOUSE.
You can read the entire press release here.

A reminder that this Saturday March 27th at 3pm, at the AFI in Hollywood, animator Mark Kausler will host a screening that will premiere his new 3 minute cartoon IT’S “THE CAT” as well as other classic Hollywood cartoons that influenced his work.
For details click here.

Meanwhile, on Saturday April 17th at 2:00pm, at the Egyptian Theatre a special program of three animated short films written, produced, voiced and scored by Paul McCartney will be screened on the big screen: “Tropic Island Hum,” “Tuesday” and “Rupert And The Frog Song”
The program also includes two mini-documentaries showing Paul McCartney and his team creating the traditional hand-drawn animation and an interview in which Paul speaks of his passion for animation and the early Disney films that inspire him.
This program is tied into a new dvd release, Paul McCartney: The Music and Animation Collection

I had a delightful time at Walt’s Barn on Sunday. It’s in Griffith Park, open one Sunday (the third Sunday) of each month - and I recommend you visit this piece of authentic Disney history. It gave me some new insight into Walt’s railroading addiction.
Meanwhile, if you are wondering what has happened to Ward’s personal train collection, here’s the scoop:
Noel Barrett Antiques and Auctions Ltd. has been awarded the contract to sell the collection of toys, trains and accessories from the estate of Ward Kimball, who died July 8, 2002 at age 88.
Kimball spent four decades amassing a premier collection of European and American trains and toys.

Two or three auctions will be held to disperse the collection estimated to bring more than $4 million. The approximately 2000 piece collection whose contents and quality are widely known could bring intense competition from bidders all over the world via the internet and drive prices even higher.

The first auction is slated for the weekend of Nov. 21, 2004 at the
Philadelphia Airport Ramada Inn. The second sale is scheduled for the
weekend of May 28, 2005.

Thanks to Steve Waller for locating these links

I love the music in Fleischer cartoons. From Betty Boop, through the Color Classics, the Popeye cartoons and the original theme for Superman - It’s all great stuff. Lou Fleischer and his assistants Llyod Von Heyden, Arthur Turkisher, and Winston Sharples set the tempo. Composer/song writer Sammy Timberg also wrote numerous melodies found in the Fleischer cartoons and was one of the few to recieve screen credit. While Carl Stalling and Scott Bradley, even Philip Scheib, have gotten kudos for the animation they scored, Timberg & crew have yet to be properly recognized.

Timberg’s daughter Pat has been doing her part for the past decade. She’s staged concerts of Sammy Timberg music and started a website, Timberg Alley. Now Pat has produced a CD of new recordings of classic Sammy Timberg cartoon music: Boop-Oop-A-Dooin’ - The Songs of Sammy Timberg from Betty Boop, Popeye, Superman and Other Musical Classics. I’ve got it, and it’s wonderful!

Here are the details from the liner notes: After 14 years in vaudeville and composing for Broadway musicals in the late 20’s, Sammy produced a steady supply of spirited songs written for the classic Fleischer cartoons of the 1930’s and 1940’s. Although Sammy conducted a live, swinging band to accompany these timeless cartoons, much of the jazzy scores were lost behind the screen action, dialogue and sound effects. Boop-Oop-A-Doop compiles and recreates that music, with the help of some of today’s most talented musicians and singers, so it can be heard on its own, for the first time and for its own sake!

Songs performed by Shannon Cullem (the grand-daughter of Sammy
Timberg), Richard Halpern and Mora’s Modern Rhythmists.

Featuring 2 archival recordings, one of which has Sammy Timberg
singing and playing piano!

18 Tracks total:
1. Don’t Take My Boop-Oop-A-Doop Away
2. It’s A Hap-Hap-Happy Day
3. Got A Language Of My Own
4. Sweet Betty
5. I Wanna Be A Life Guard
6. Be Human
7. Brotherly Love
8. Keep A Little Song Handy
9. Hamburger Mine
10. I Want A Clean Shaven Man
11. Anytime At All
12. You Gotta Have Pep
13. Dizzy Debs
14. An Elephant Nevers Forgets
15. Little Lambkin
16. The Boopin’ Stride
Archival Tracks:
17. The Superman March
18. I’m Glad We’re Through (sung by Sammy Timberg!)

The CD can be purchased by contacting pat-at-timbergalley.com.

There was a nice (albeit depressing) piece in yesterday’s LA TIMES looking at how Los Angeles animation artists are struggling to stay financially afloat nowadays and how some of them who can’t secure any cartoon-related work are finding employment elsewhere (like working at Trader Joe’s or opening their own retail stores). The article isn’t available on the TIMES website, but it’s been posted on this ANIMATION NATION thread. Next, BREW reader Brock Gallagher sends over a link to a terrific website that showcases Dr. Seuss’ early political cartoons, many of which were not published in the recent book DR. SEUSS GOES TO WAR. Last but not least, here’s a plug for artist Steven Wintle’s Flat Earth! blog, which offers insightful commentary on both animation and comics. In the past, Steve has been quite complimentary towards both Animation Blast and Cartoon Research, and now he seems to like the Brew as well, so needless to say, he has impeccable taste in cartoons.

Following the stunning 43% “no confidence” vote against his leadership at the annual Disney shareholder’s meeting earlier this month, Warner Books has delayed the June release of a book written by Disney CEO Michael Eisner. The book, CAMP, an account of life lessons that a young Eisner learned while attending a swanky summer camp for rich kids, was to have covered topics like teamwork, showing initiative and listening well. Insert your own ironic comment here.

Shane Glines has posted an interesting historical artifact on his CartoonRetro.com message board - a comic strip from the publication FRIDAY drawn by striking artists during the infamous Disney Studios strike of 1941. I wonder if that’s master animator Bill Tytla in the photo at right?