The printing is now finished on the first-ever Cartoon Brew book, Inside UPA, and the book is currently en route to LA. They are scheduled to arrive the week of Oct. 15-19 and they’ll be shipped out to people who pre-ordered shortly thereafter.

Of the 1000 books in this very limited edition, the first 50 of them are a super-limited signed edition which come with a bookplate autographed by surviving UPA veterans. Tee Bosustow, son of UPA co-founder, Steve Bosustow, is currently in the process of getting the bookplates signed, and he should have them completed by the end of October. The artists who have signed them so far include Fred Crippen, Bob Dranko, Alan Zaslove, Erv Kaplan, Bob McIntosh and Willis Pyle, and there are many more signatures to come. Twenty-three of the signed copies are already gone, twenty-seven remain. You can purchase a signed or unsigned copy at UPApix.com. And remember that all proceeds go towards the completion of Tee Bosustow’s UPA documentary project.

Below are some pics from the signing sessions so far. From top to bottom: Erv Kaplan, Bob Dranko, Alan Zaslove, the signed cards, and Willis Pyle, yours truly and Bob McIntosh. About that last photo, I have to say that it was a real thrill to be in the room with not one, but two amazing artists who not only contributed to countless UPA classics like Gerald McBoing Boing and the Mister Magoo shorts, but who also worked on Pinocchio and Bambi. Doesn’t happen often nowadays.

Next Monday (10/15) at 8pm in Los Angeles, REDCAT presents Highlights From The Platform International Animation Festival. This is highly recommended to all who may have missed the festival in Portland back in June. The film program includes new animation by award-winning independent filmmakers such as Don Hertzfeldt and Miwa Matreyek, plus work by the acclaimed Luis Cook from Aardman Animations (pictured above). There will be a cocktail party (sponsored by Cartoon Network) following the screening. Free parking at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. More information here.

I’m sorry to say I have no interest in video games. But I’ve been curious about these new Looney Tunes titles. Today Variety reviews and pans the new Playstation game, Acme Arsenal, but thinks the other one, the Nintendo DS game Duck Amuck, is a classic. Read the review here.

Going on sale tomorrow (10/10) is the first issue of a new DC Comics’ three-issue mini-series, CAPTAIN CARROT AND THE FINAL ARK, reviving the Zoo Crew characters created by Roy Thomas and Scott Shaw over twenty-five years ago. The new series is written by Bongo’s Bill Morrison, drawn by Scott Shaw!, and inked by Al Gordon. Scott says:

Not a “kiddie comic” — but, like THE SIMPSONS and ROCKY AND HIS FRIENDS, with a multi-tiered sense of humor that appeals to younger readers as well. The new Captain Carrot explores a world of “funny animals” that mirrors (and parodies) those of more traditional comic books. We also make fun of comic book conventions, J. J. Abrams’ upcoming giant monster movie, DC’s 52 and COUNTDOWN series, Tex Avery, Sergio Aragonés, Prince, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, Jack Kirby’s NEW GODS and much more.

Scott and Bill will appear in person tomorrow afternoon from 4pm to 6pm at Golden Apple Comics in Northridge (8967 Reseda Blvd.) to sign the first copies.

David Michaelis’ much awaited Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography, the first comprehensive bio of Charlez Schulz, is arriving into bookstores next week. Nat Gertler offers an in-depth review of the book on his blog, calling it “by far the best and the fullest biography of Schulz to date,” though he tempers that by questioning how Michaelis overreached in some of his conclusions about Schulz. Furthermore, according to this article in yesterday’s NY Times, Schulz’ children are none too pleased with the book’s portrayal of their father as a “depressed, cold and bitter man who was constantly going after different women.”

UPDATE: Commentary from Monte Schulz, Charles Schulz’s son, can be found in this followup post on Cartoon Brew.

Jeff Kurtti writes to inform that Becky Fallberg has passed away at age 84. She worked at Disney from 1942 to 1986 in various capacities including ink and paint, blue sketch artist, checker and in the Xerox camera department. She was Disney’s manager of the Ink and Paint department between 1975 and 1986. She was preceded in death by her husband, Disney writer and assistant director Carl Fallberg (1915-1996), and is survived by a daughter, Carla Fallberg.

For those who thought Happily N’Ever After was the weakest CG film of the year, or for you who think the upcoming Beowulf or Alvin and the Chipmunks are a desecration of the originals, I give you: The Ten Commandments.

It opens in movie theatres on October 19th from Promenade Pictures and it’s begining to get some publicity coverage. Check out the trailer (and be sure to check the “sizzle reel”). I know the people behind this film mean well, and their intentions are pure, but honestly, Elliot Gould as the voice of God?

There’s some money behind this. They got Ed Naha (Honey I Shrunk The Kids) to write the screenplay, Frank Yablans (former president of Paramount Pictures) to excutive produce, and a voice cast including Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina — and Christian Slater as Moses. I just wish they had put some of that money into the visuals.

These are the people who did that horrendous CG animated Ben Hur on TBN (narrated by Charlton Heston) a few years back. Unlike that film, this one is getting a big-deal theatrical release. And it doesn’t stop here. The production company, Epic Stories From The Bible, is currently in production on Noah’s Ark. I have no doubt these films make a ton of money, but I sincerely wish they looked better. A lot better.

(Courtesy of Ira Gallen)