HALAS AND BATCHELOR CARTOONS: AN ANIMATED HISTORY is a new coffeetable book coming out in August that is “part-history, part-tribute, part-critical analysis of the Halas and Batchelor Cartoon Studio,” a studio that existed in Britain for over fifty years (1940-1995). The studio was most famously responsible for ANIMAL FARM, the first British full-length animated feature, but they produced hundreds of other quality films, commercials and TV series as well. The book is co-written by animation scholar Paul Wells and Vivien Halas, daughter of studio founders John Halas and Joy Batchelor. According to the book’s press release, additional insights are offered by John Canemaker, Giannalberto Bendazzi and Richard Hollis. The book seems to only be available for pre-order at Amazon UK at the moment, but hopefully it’ll receive some US distribution as well. After this, I hope somebody will write a book about Britain’s other great animation outfit - W.M. Larkins Studio. Now there’s a studio that has received virtually no recognition in history books, even though they produced unbelievably cool films and commercials from the 1940s-1960s, and had a roster of superb artists working there including Peter Sachs, Philip Stapp, Bob Godfrey and Richard Taylor.

In 1929, Charles Mintz (left) signs Ben Harrison and Manny Gould to long term contracts, to produce KRAZY KAT cartoons for Columbia Pictures release. (Not sure who the guy is on the right.) If you’d like to see a generous sampling of the cartoons they produced during that period, join us at the AFI Campus on Saturday in Hollywood, California. ASIFA-Hollywood is presenting its second program of newly restored 35mm KRAZY KAT cartoons at the AFI. We’ll also be crowning a new “Miss Krazy Kat” before the screening. Where? American Film Institute. When? Saturday May 20th at 3pm, in the Ted Ashley Screening Room (Warner Bros. Building), 2021 N. Western Ave. Here’s the map.

For the sum of $295.99, this incredible Tex Avery limited edition statue can be yours! And if that isn’t your cup of tea, check out these others featuring Red Hot Riding Hood, Droopy, Woody Woodpecker, Hot Stuff and Casper!

Disney and Warner Bros. animator/director and teacher, Nancy Beiman is writing her first book: PREPARE TO BOARD! Creating Story and Characters for Animated Features. Here’s what Nancy has planned for it:

PREPARE TO BOARD! distills thirty years worth of notes from Cal Arts and on-the-job knowledge. I discuss Concept, Technique, and Presentation of character designs and storyboards. Most of this material is not covered in other books, which is what inspired me to write mine in the first place. A comprehensive glossary of story and design terms is also included. In addition to about 300 examples of my own artwork, illustrations will include examples of my students work on paper and in CGI. There will be some ‘guest appearances” by artists Dean Yeagle, Mark Newgarden, David Chelsea and Nina Haley; and materials from my collection of cartoon art (some of which I guarantee you have not seen before). And there are a few more surprises that are still ‘in progress’ as I write this, but they are worth waiting for.I’m printing my interviews with Ken Anderson, Ken O’Connor, and T. Hee as appendixes (there will be some wonderful and surprising illustrations included.) My Tex Avery interview appears as part of one chapter. Anderson’s interview is a stunner and the other two aren’t bad. None of the material has ever been published before and all of it concerns technical and ’story’ issues (I thank my younger self for asking the right questions. Anderson’s, in particular, is terrific.) The rest of the contents will include: Story and Character Concept (first third), Technique (second third) and Presentation (third third.) There are about three hundred illustrations, some from my students (at RIT), some from other sources, most by me.

Sounds great to me. PREPARE TO BOARD! Creating Story and Characters for Animated Features and Shorts will be published by Focal Press in January, 2007.

A bit of a follow-up to all the recent posts about Disney insignia from WWII (here and here). There is currently an exhibition at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (Dayton, Ohio) called “Disney Pins on Wings.” The show, which runs through June 11, is apparently the “largest collection of original Walt Disney insignia artwork ever placed on public display.” If you’re not planning on visiting Dayton anytime soon - and as somebody who’s been there, I’d question why anybody would want to - fear not. Here’s a comprehensive set of photos from the exhibition for your online viewing pleasure.

The Donald Duck insignia above was drawn by animator John Sibley. This is actually a piece of art intended for Pete Docter’s amazing piece about Sibley in the upcoming ANIMATON BLAST #9. I couldn’t fit it into the issue, but this seems like an appropriate occasion to share the artwork.(Thanks, Jennifer Cardon Klein, for letting me know about the exhibition and photos)

This FORTUNE magazine interview with John Lasseter is a good read. The piece has the most extensive comments I’ve seen from Lasseter regarding the Pixar/Disney negotiations. There’s also some other good stories where Lasseter describes his experience on BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER and also explains the sure-fire sign that you’ve made a poor family film.(Thanks, Jamie Badminton)

New Yorkers: DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!The Museum Of Modern Art (as part of their annual film preservation festival) will be screening a fully restored color Popeye two reeler, ALADDIN AND HIS WONDERFUL LAMP (1939) this Sunday.The two-reel Popeye short will be playing along with the 1940 verison of “THE MARK OF ZORRO” with Tyrone Power. GO to this screening. This might be your only chance to see an actual full 35mm restoration of one of the Technicolor Fleischer Popeyes, since there’s still no agreement between Time Warner and King Features to get a real dvd release of the Fleischer/Famous/Paramount Popeye cartoons. Warner Bros. is preserving the Popeye cartoons regardless, and have had few public screenings of their restorations. Even if you’ve seen this short a hundred times, I guarantee you haven’t seen it like this. Full, rich, restored color; the original Paramount titles; with crystal-clear sound and picture. You are in for a real treat.ALADDIN AND HIS WONDERFUL LAMP will be screening twice: Sunday 5/21 at 3pm and one last chance on Thursday 5/25 at 8:15pm. Again, I beg you NOT to miss this rare opportunity to see this classic cartoon the way it was meant to be seen.(Thanks, Nelson Hughes)

Here’s the latest on ANIMATION BLAST #9. I spoke to my Canadian printer yesterday, and he says if everything goes according to plan, they’ll have the issue printed and bound by the week of June 5-9. It’ll be immediately shipped to LA, which means I should be receiving them the week of June 12-16. And then I’ll ship them out, which means you should be getting them by the end of June. If you haven’t pre-ordered yet, the issue will also be available at the San Diego Comic-Con. More details about that in a bit.

PS - If you’ve sent me an email anytime in the past three weeks, chances are you haven’t received a response. I’ll try to respond to everybody by this weekend.