Here’s the news I’ve been dying to announce for over 20 years.Warner Bros. and King Features have come to an agreement - at long last - which will allow Warner Home Video to release the original Max Fleischer Popeye cartoons. The deal clears up a rights muddle that has kept these films from prior VHS and DVD home video release - and grants Warner Bros. the video rights, in perpetuity, to the entire Paramount Popeye theatrical library. (Warner Home Video will also be the official distributor of the King Features and Hanna-Barbera TV Popeye cartoons - but that will wait for now).Warner Bros. will commence restoration (with the original titles) of all the Popeye theatricals from the original negatives, and the first DVD boxed set (of the entire series, in original release order) is planned for 2007 release. I am already involved as a consulting producer.Thank you Warner Bros. (especially George Feltenstein) - and thank you, King Features - for making this cartoon DVD “Holy Grail” a reality.

Once again, our buddy Bob Bergen (current day voice of Porky Pig) is hosting another Voice Over Cruise up the west coast. Says Bob:

My 2006 VO cruise was such a hit I’ve decided to do another one in April, 2007. I’m promoting now because the ship needs to reserve cabins way in advance. Prices and cabin availability are subject to change after August 16, 2006.Here’s the scoop on my next one. This is a five night cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver, with stops in San Francisco and Victoria, BC. In addition to my animation VO workshop, this excursion will also include commercial workshops with Leigh Gilbert and promo workshops with Joyce Castellanos. We only have 60 cabins held!One more thing!!! If people mention they heard about the cruise on Cartoon Brew I’ll give them 10% off the workshop! (This is good only for the workshops, not the cruise itself!)

See, it pays to read CARTOON BREW! Check out Bob’s website for more details on this exciting animation vacation. And Bon Voyage!

Yo! Check this out on Craig Yoe’s ARF LOVERS website. Scroll down the blog to see a rare 1928 magazine cartoon by animator Walter Lantz.

Could this be the coolest kids show since Pee-Wee’s Playhouse? YO GABBA GABBA has that surreal-1970s Kroft-meets-New Zoo Revue vibe, and it looks like a lot of fun. If Cartoon Network insists on showing live action, this is the sort of thing they should consider picking up. Check out the groovy trailer here.(Thanks, DRAWN!)

Animated humanoid automobiles aren’t new - (Friz Freleng’s STREAMLINED GRETA GREEN (1937), Tex Avery’s ONE CAB’S FAMILY (1952), and Disney’s SUSIE THE LITTLE BLUE COUPE (1952) - not to mention Hanna-Barbera’s WHEELIE & THE CHOPPER BUNCH (1974) and Ruby-Spears’ TURBO TEEN (1984) - are several prior vehicles in this genre) - but as usual Pixar has put a fresh spin on a classic concept and made it their own. Yes, I saw Disney/Pixar’s CARS this weekend - and it’s great.It’s been a year and a half since the release of THE INCREDIBLES. A year and a half filled with the likes of VALIANT, HOODWINKED and THE WILD. CARS reminded me, in many ways, of what separates Pixar’s product from the rest of the pack. Other producers simply take a premise, hang a lot of one liners and gags on it - and vocalize it with an all star cast. That’s what Hollywood sees when they watch a Pixar film. However, one of the secrets to Pixar’s success is that their films contain larger themes woven within the surface story. Subtexts that really enrich the film and leave you with something to think about afterward. This time, it’s not just about talking cars, it’s about Route 66, and about a part of America that we’ve lost. It’s about how the race we all run is not the most important thing in life. It’s about slowing down and stopping long enough to admire the view.I highly recommend CARS. It’s another triumph for Pixar. (No automobile pun intended)

Worth a read: in the latest issue of TATE ETC., the magazine of UK’s Tate museums, there is a nice appreciation of the experimental animated films of Oskar Fischinger.
(Thanks, Karl Cohen)

I don’t like to use the term “genius” a lot, but if there’s anybody working in the current industry scene who can be classified as such, it’d be Aaron Springer. His new Cartoon Network series, KORGOTH OF BARBARIA, premieres as a regular “Adult Swim” show in September, but a special preview episode is airing multiple times on CN this weekend (check their schedule for times).

There’s a lot of talent involved with the show besides Springer. Genndy Tartakovsky is a producer on the series and has been doing timing. Bill Wray is painting backgrounds. He’s posted a number of terrific bgs on his blog. And Justin Thompson is designing background layouts.

Below is the preview commercial currently airing for the show. KORGOTH has the potential for greatness, and it’s one show I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on.

Here’s a one-of-a-kind item currently listed on ebay you might like. Scuptor Pete Carsillo is offering a life sized wax figure of Walt Disney. This is for the collector who has absolutely everything. Move over, Lumiere! Now it’s Uncle Walt in wax! Here are some of the details described in the ebay listing:

Hair and eye color authenticated by people that knew Walt!
Real human hair inserted stand by strand!
Glass eyes!
Teeth are matched to Walt circa 1961!
The texture and skin tone is perfect and his fingernails look absolutely real!

Be afraid. Be very afraid.(Thanks, Mike)