Author Archives: Jerry Beck

R.I.P. Ernest Borgnine

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From Marty to McHale to… Mermaidman. Ernie Borgnine was one of my favorite actors, whether playing super-hero or super-villain.

Borgnine died today at age 95 in Los Angeles. In addition to his semi-regular role on Spongebob Squarepants, in animation Borgnine lent his unique vocal talents to characters in All Dogs Go To Heaven (#2 and the TV series), Pinky and The Brain, The Simpsons (as himself), and in Joe Dante’s Small Soldiers. He made so many people happy with his many many on-camera performances. He was one of the best. Rest In Peace, sir.

Next Saturday in SF: FELIX THE CAT in 35mm

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If you are not at the San Diego Comic Con next Saturday, but find yourself in Northern California – here’s where you should dwell: The San Francisco Silent Film Festival. The wonderful all-women Bay Area musical group Toychestra (that’s not them above), is teaming up with pianist Donald Sosin to create the score for a collection of rare silent FELIX THE CAT cartoons. Archival 35mm prints coming from the UCLA Film & Television Archive, Library of Congress, and George Eastman House will be screened. Titles include Felix the Cat in Blunderland, Felix the Cat Weathers the Weather, Felix Loses Out, Jungle Bungles, Eskimotive, Felix Gets Revenge, and Felix Flirts with Fate. The program will be introduced by Leonard Maltin. Tickets are now on sale for Irrepressible Felix the Cat!, co-Presented by The Exploratorium and The Cartoon Art Museum, on Saturday July 14th, at 10:00am. My advice: Do-Not-Miss!

“Disneyland’s America Sings” by James Lopez

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Disney animator James Lopez is such a fan of the 1974 Disneyland attraction America Sings that he’s taken the soundtrack and has been spending his spare time – over a ten year period – creating a private 2D version of it. Here’s his work-in-progress. It’s partially in pencil, but well worth a watch.

(Thanks, Vin Ostrander via Disney History Institute )

DVD Review: “Adventure Time: The Complete First Season”

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I’m a huge fan of Adventure Time – have been since I met Pen Ward at Frederator’s offices when he was making the pilot a few years ago. Knew it would be a hit then and am delighted with its success since. Probably the most imaginative (and funny) cartoon show currently running on TV. Just got the complete first season DVD set and its a total blast – and highly recommended. It’s more than just perfect copies of the first 26 cartoons (aka 13 episodes) – it’s got one of the wildest “Behind The Scenes” featurettes I’ve ever seen – it’s a film within a film, within a documentary within a parody (clip below is only a hint of its wonderful strangeness). There’s even a “Behind the Scenes of the Behind The Scenes” video that has Throup Von Orman running around in a mo-cap green screen ping-pong ball suit… well, you’ll have to see it to understand.

And heck yeah, its got extras: Commentaries by Pen Ward, John Dimaggio, Tom Kenny, George Takei and the rest of the cast and crew on several cartoons and animatics, bonus cartoons, music videos and promo films. Adventure Time has become an instant classic and is one of those series you want to collect (or at least, I know I do). Adventure Time: The Complete First Season goes on sale next Tuesday July 10th. Unsolicited plug = Highly recommended.

One-Of-A-Kind Fleischer “Gulliver” Action Figure

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Dear Santa, Please bring me one of these…

German sculptor Bernd Muller, who makes medieval figures in 1/6 scale for museums and collectors, has a nice post here about his latest custom-made commission – Gulliver from Max Fleischer’s 1939 feature, Gulliver’s Travels. Want one? Sorry, but it’s one-of-a-kind. Beautiful work, Bernd – maybe if we ask nicely you’ll make us a “Gabby”…

(Thanks, John Loter)

Europe Uses Classic Cartoon Characters to Sell Women’s Cosmetics

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French comics artist/animator Joann Sfar created this brand new, somewhat bizarre animated promo for Lancome Cosmetics. Betty Boop stars in the commercial for a new line of mascara, together with spokesmodel Daria Werbowy.

Meanwhile in London, Opi has introduced a new line of nail polish, brought to you by a character famous for wearing gloves! I love how the pose shows Minnie admiring her nails, somehow, using X-ray vision to see through the gloves.

(Thanks David Freedman)

What I Hope to See at Comic Con

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Next week I’ll be attending all four days (five if you count Preview Night) of the San Diego Comic Con. It’s impossible to do and see everything of interest. One can spend the entire show in the dealers room, or in Hall H, and have a great time. Below I’ve selected a handful of panels I hope to crash if its humanly possible.

Before the list, let me mention three things: 1. I highly recommend all the panels moderated or featuring Mark Evanier. Check his website for his complete agenda. Highly recommended. 2. My annual Worst Cartoons Ever! screening is at 9pm on Friday night in Room 6BCF. Be there! 3. I will be signing books and meeting friends at the Insight Editions booth #1035 on Saturday at noon. If you want to find me at the Con, that is the best place to do it.

Okay, so here’s a few the panels I hope to crash this year (I know, I know… some are opposite each other):

Thursday
11:00-12:00 Filmation Panel with Lou Scheimer – Scheimer will reminisce about his career with animator Darrell McNeil, director/writer/animator Tom Tataranowicz and other guests. Room 23ABC

11:15-12:00 DreamWorks Animation– Chief creative officer Bill Damaschke will join several key artists and directors to discuss the upcoming films from this studio. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

2:05-3:05 Walt Disney Studios: Frankenweenie, Oz The Great and Powerful, and Wreck-it Ralph– I’ll never get into this panel with Tim Burton, and the illustrious voice cast of Wreck-It Ralph, including John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman, and director Rich Moore. Hall H

3:00-4:00 The Two Editors Panel– Sid Jacobson was the editor at Harvey Comics starting in the early 1950s, Victor Gorelick has worked for Archie Comics for over 50 years. Moderator Mark Evanier will do the Q&A. Room 8

3:00-4:00 Hotel Transylvania– Genndy Tartakovsky will show sneak peek at footage from Hotel Transylvania at the Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

4:00-5:00 Abrams ComicArts– I like the books they do. Editors Charles Kochman and Sheila Keenan talk about their upcoming titles including Mars Attacks; Out of Line: The Art of Jules Feiffer, and Bazooka Joe from Topps, and others. Room 9

8:00-10:00 Early Fandom Meet-and-Greet– I was there. I might as well go to this. Room 28E

FRIDAY

10:45-11:45 ParaNorman: Behind the Scenes– Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Travis Knight, Chris Butler, and Sam Fell discuss making the new stop-motion-animated comedy thriller. Hall H

2:00-3:00 ASIFA: Hollywood’s State of the Industry– Tom Sito moderates a discussion of interest. Room 32AB

3:00-4:00 Walt Disney Animation Studios: Wreck-it Ralph: The Art of Story– Walt Disney Animation Studios story artists Nancy Kruse (Wreck-It Ralph, The Simpsons), Leo Matsuda (Wreck-It Ralph, Princess and the Frog), Raymond Persi (Wreck-It Ralph, The Simpsons), Lissa Treiman (Wreck-It Ralph, Tangled) and Josie Trinidad (Wreck-It Ralph, Tangled), and writers Phil Johnston (Wreck-It Ralph, Cedar Rapids) and Jennifer Lee (Wreck-It Ralph) discuss the art of story. Room 6DE

3:00-4:00 Warner Archive Collection: Shazam!– Call it a guilty pleasure – I loved that live action Shazam show when I as a kid. George Feltenstein will moderate the panel which will include the series’ own Billy Batson, Michael Gray. Room 25ABC

9:00-10:00 Worst Cartoons Ever!– An all-new program of some of the worst cartoons ever made! Room 6BCF

SATURDAY
11:15-12:15 Cartoon Network: Adventure Time– Pen Ward and Tom Kenny (Ice King) – I’m there! Room 6A

3:30-4:30 Disney Channel Television Animation– Footage and clips from upcoming episodes of Disney Channel’s shows plus a sneak peek at the upcoming series Wander Over Yonder. Panelists include Noah Z. Jones, Maxwell Atoms, Alex Hirsch, Craig McCracken and co-producer Lauren Faust. Moderated by Eric Coleman, senior vice president, original series, Disney Television Animation. Room 5AB

4:00-5:00 Oddball Comics Scott Shaw! returns with an extra-lurid, extra-funny, new edition of his popular show. Room 7AB

SUNDAY
11:00-12:00 The Chilling Archives of Horror Comics Zombies Panel!– Co-editors Craig Yoe and Steve “Karswell” Banes discuss the lurid, dark history of pre-Code 1950s horror comics. Room 32AB

1:00-2:00 DC Nation Screening and Q&A– Cartoonists, animators, directors from Warner Bros. Animation. Room 6BCF

1:00-2:00 Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two– Warren Spector, Marv Wolfman, and Peter David discuss the Epic Mickey 2 video game. Becky Cline (director, archives for The Walt Disney Company) will be on hand to discuss the reemergence and historical significance of Walt Disney’s Oswald The Lucky Rabbit, who is prominently featured in the game. Room 25ABC

2:15-3:15 SpongeBob SquarePants– Creative director Vince Waller and Screen Novelties directors Seamus Walsh and Mark Caballero present a sneak peek at the upcoming stop-mo Christmas special. The panel will also include the voice cast, including Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob), Bill Fagerbakke (voice of Patrick), and Mr. Lawrence (writer and voice of Plankton). Sounds like fun! Room 6A

Dreamworks Animator Appears in HP Ad Campaign

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When was the last time an animator was the centerpiece of a nationwide ad campaign? I was flipping through the latest issue of Time magazine and came across this unusual full page ad (above) from Hewlett Packard featuring Dreamworks character animator Rex Grignon at work. Dreamworks obviously has a relationship with HP (Jeffery spoke at an HP conference last month) and perhaps this was a trade off. Personally, I think anything that promotes the artists behind the product is a good thing.