Regular readers of Cartoon Brew will get a kick out of this. Bob “BobServo” Mackey of SomethingAwful.com has concocted a thorough and thoroughly hilarious parody of Cartoon Brew. It’s funny because, dare I say, it’s true. Apparently we’re pretty hardcore about this whole animation thing. Be sure to check out page two of the parody for a snort-inducing commentary by “John K.”

Yesterday the Platform International Animation Festival announced their competition selections for films and installations. Film selections for mobile devices, cell phones and Internet will be announced on April 23. A nice chunk of change is being offered to the winners.

The inagural edition of the Platform festival happens in Portland, Oregon from June 25-30. It’s been quite a few years since a world-class animation festival has taken place in the US and it’s exciting to see Platform coming together so well, largely thanks to the expert guidance of festival director Irene Kotlarz. Special mention must also be made of the festival’s sole sponsor, Cartoon Network. Considering that there is barely any government funding for the arts here in the States, and definitely nothing for an animation festival on the scale of Platform, it’s commendable that CN has stepped up to the plate and created this much-needed event for the animation community. Jerry and I will be among the attendees of Platform this year and we’re hoping it’ll be the first of many visits to the festival.

Look Who’s Driving: A super-rare UPA educational film from 1954 directed by Bill Hurtz (The Unicorn in the Garden) and designed by Bob Dranko. There’s nothing revolutionary about this short but it’s a superb bit of stylishly designed Fifties animation. Check it out at CartoonBrewFilms.com

Guess Who?

I’m very happy to announce that Universal is releasing The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection on July 24th. This new DVD collection includes three discs containing 75 theatrical cartoons, completely uncut and restored from the original Universal Pictures master negatives (and I promise, no DVNR). It’ll retail at $39.98.

In addition to the first 45 Woody Woodpecker cartoons–presented in original release order–from Knock Knock (1940) to The Great Who-Dood-It (1952), the first five Chilly Willy cartoons (which includes two Tex Avery classics), and five choice Andy Panda cartoons, there will be several Swing Symphonies (including Culhane’s Abu Ben Boogie and The Greatest Man In Siam, among others), Oswald Rabbit (Confidence, Hell’s Heels, Oscar nominee Merry Old Soul and others) and wartime cartoons (like Pigeon Patrol and Pass The Biscuits Mirandy).

That’s not all. Miscellanous Walter Lantz Cartunes (like Hysterical High Spots in American History, Pooch the Pup in King Klunk, Peterkin in Scrambled Eggs, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B and the Avery masterpieces, Crazy Mixed Up Pup and SHH-H-H-H-H) plus bonus material including six Behind-the-Scenes with Walter Lantz segments from the 1957 Woody Woodpecker Show and the rarely seen Halloween TV special Spook-a-Nanny.

And there’s more. I’ll impart further information in future posts, but for now let’s just say our friends at Universal did this one right. Plan on adding this to your collection–you won’t regret it.

A few days ago, Walt Disney World in Orlando re-opened the boat ride in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot Center. They have added a Three Caballeros storyline to the ride featuring new animation of Jose Carioca and Panchito on a search for Donald through Mexico. LaughingPlace.com has posted a complete tour of the attraction in still pictures. And naturally, someone took home video (Windows Media) of the ride.

The animation looks terrific—I believe our friend Eric Goldberg directed these pieces. Is that Rob Paulsen as Jose Caroica?

(Thanks, Jon Cooke)

ASIFA-Hollywood is presenting two animation events this month well worth your time and participation.

Bill Plympton: On Wednesday night April 11th, at 7pm, I’ll be moderating a Q&A with independent animator extraordinaire, Bill Plympton. Bill is in town to promote the opening of his feature film Hair High on April 13th at Laemmle’s Sunset 5. The ASIFA screening on Wednesday will highlight some of Bill’s latest cartoons and music videos including The Fan and the Flower, Gary Guitar, as well as a sneek peak at Hair High and the premiere of a brand new short. The screening and Q&A will be on the Dreamworks campus and to get in you must RSVP by tomorrow (Tuesday 4/10) at publicity-at-asifa-hollywood.org.

The Stop-Mo Expo: Will Vinton, Corky Quakenbush , the Chiodo Bros., Mark Caballero, Seamus Walsh, Jim Aupperle, Tennessee Reid Norton, Gene Warren Jr., Randy Cook and a host of other puppet and clay luminaries will descend on Woodbury University in Burbank, on Saturday April 21st 2007, for a one day cerebration of all things stop motion. From 9am to 10pm there will be non-stop panels, screenings, how-to seminars and schmoozing. In the evening there’s a film festival of rare, classic and current stop-motion animation. There will also be an all-day display of stop-mo props, puppets and models. All tickets will be sold at the door. For more information click here.

(Image above from Monster Safari by Screen Novelties)

Rich Drees at FilmBuffOnline.com reports that Roy Disney, speaking at the Philadelphia Film Festival this past weekend, made it clear that a home video release of Song of the South is long overdue. Said Roy:

“I’ve got a bunch of cohorts working with me to convince the powers that be that it’s the smart thing to do. [Song Of The South] is a wonderful film that deserves to be back out in the public. All it needs is context. Some of that animation is stunning, even by today’s standards.�

In the meantime, for those who can’t wait, Disney has apparently released SOTS in France, in English, and was selling it at Disneyland Paris! Check this out. (This turned out to be a bootleg.)

An article in today’s NY Daily News talks about how the owners of Felix the Cat, Felix the Cat Productions, are suing the California Clock Co., the company that manufactures the Kit-Cat Klock. The article doesn’t explain why the owners of Felix have suddenly decided to sue now when the clock has been continuously manufactured for the past seventy years. I’m no lawyer, but perhaps it would help the California Clock Co.’s case if their HTML code didn’t proclaim them as the home of the “The Authentic Original Felix Clock!”

(Thanks, Mark Gittman)