Here in Los Angeles, the “art theatres” (the Egyptian Theatre, the Laemmle and Landmark chains), usually precede each film program with one or two commercials. And one of them is usually a visually creative piece for KCRW, a local NPR affiliate. Brew reader Chris Romano has just completed a theatrical spot for KCRW, “TIME BOMB”, which will be running all summer long on the big screen. For a sneak preview, visit Chris’ Toonlets.com website.

I don’t think anybody recorded the Fred Crippen event we did this past weekend at the AFI, but somebody really should have because Fred offered a lot of great insights into his career and craft. Here, however, is visual documentation of the event courtesy of DreamWorks animator Jeremy Bernstein, who filled up his sketchbook with some great impressions of Fred and myself, as well as Jerry Beck and Bob Kurtz. Click on the images for larger versions. Thanks, Jeremy!

And another random page from Jeremy’s sketchbook, with a terrific drawing of animator Sean Szeles on the right…

Kim Possible co-creators Robert Schooley, Mark McCorkle, and director/co-producer Steve Loter will appear at EnigmaCon 2005, this Saturday May 28th, 2005 at the University of California, Los Angeles.UCLA’s Enigma club combines Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Gaming and Real Science to bring a day of movie screenings, panels, vendors and gaming to the UCLA campus to benefit tsunami relief efforts. Other guests include author Harlan Ellison, Babylon 5 writer/producer J. Michael Stracynski, Elfquest artist Wendy Pini, and many, many more from the fields of movies, animation, video game development, comics, etc. Robert Schooley writes:

Mark, Steve and I have only done this once before and that was a month after the show premiered. So we’d like to get the word out to anyone who enjoys the show to stop by and say ‘hello’.As an added bonus the crack squad of Disney lawyers have given their blessing to allow Steve to do some sketches to auction off for the Tsunami charity that this con supports.

For more info, check out http://www.enigmacon.org(Alan Bodner original inspirational art above is © Disney)

I want to thank UNEARTHED FILMS for sending me a copy of their forthcoming dvd of ROCK & RULE.Nelvana’s 1984 cult sci-fi masterpiece has never gotten the attention, or distribution, it deserved. Steve Biro and the guys at Unearthed have done a lavish, first class job preparing this film for dvd. The 2-disc package includes a making of documentary, audio track commentary by director Clive Smith and a production sketch gallery. A second disc is loaded with bonus materials including an alternate version of the film, the great Nelvana TV special The Devil & Daniel Mouse and a behind the scenes making of it, workprint material, the complete script and a 12 page color booklet of interviews (put together by our pal, Emru Townsend of fpsmagazine.com).The film itself never looked this good. Restored from the original negative with a newly remastered Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack. The street date is June 7th. Highly recommended!

From our pal, Oscar Grillo:

Publisher Ediciones de la Flor just published this book. It is profusely illustrated by me (around 50 illustrations) -”Fausto” is a famous poem written in 1866 about two gauchos meeting in the Pampas after one of them saw an opera in the city and believed he had actually seen the devil. It is a comic masterpiece, unfortunately for you, this version is in Spanish but my pictures alone are worth the price.

If you are interested in getting it, it’s now listed on Amazon.com

I agree with this comment on The Avant Garde Retard: “I don’t really care to see the movie itself, but the vinyl figures they’ve created for the movie are fantastic and extremely cute.” More CHICKEN LITTLE toys HERE.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL takes a look at DVNR, the digital clean-up technology which has ruined countless classic cartoons released onto home video, dvd and laserdisc. This Cartoon Brew entry from April has more background info on DVNR.

Thurl Ravenscroft, who roared “They’re Grrrrreeeat!” in Kellogg’s Tony the Tiger ads and voiced a host of Disney characters, died Sunday of prostate cancer. He was 91.For more than 50 years, Ravenscroft was the voice behind Tony the Tiger, TV’s popular cartoon pitchman for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes. He is also well known for his cartoon voice work with Disney and Chuck Jones - including singing the classic “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” - and lent his voice to characters on rides at Disneyland, including the Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, the Enchanted Tiki Room and the Haunted Mansion. Born in Norfolk, Neb., Ravenscroft moved to California in 1933 to study art. By the mid-1930s he was appearing regularly on radio, and by the late-1930s he was singing backup for Bing Crosby. In 1952, Ravenscroft’s voice appeared in the first Frosted Flakes commercial.

Another classic cartoon voice has left us. Comedian-actor-director Howard Morris passed away Saturday afternoon. An announcement was posted by Howard’s son on his Ernest T. Bass homepage.Morris, well known for his appearances with Sid Ceaser and Carl Reiner on YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS in the 1950s, joined the regular cast at Hanna Barbera with his portrayal of Jet Screamer (above) on THE JETSONS in 1962. He also voiced Atom Ant, Mr. Peebles and Breezly Bruin among others for H-B. More importantly, Morris did most of the voices for Gene Deitch’s Oscar winning short MUNRO (1960), was King Features’ BEETLE BAILEY (1962) and enacted several voices on Filmation’s THE ARCHIE SHOW (1968), including Jughead.He was a regular voice in Disney films, a member of the Mel Brooks stock company, and directed numerous 60s sitcoms and comedy features.An enormous talent. Rest in peace.

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