Author Archives: Jerry Beck

Dexter’s Laboratory: “Rude Removal”

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Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim has posted the “lost” Dexter’s Laboratory cartoon, Rude Removal.

Produced in 1998, Rob Renzetti directed this episode that was originally meant to be shown only on late night television. The cartoon contains all manner of foul language and rude behavior. Cartoon Network changed their mind about airing it and pulled the show at the last minute. Since then, this episode was only screened at selected Comic Cons.

The version placed online today still censors all the dirty words – but it’s great to finally see what the fuss was all about:

(Thanks, Tom Smith)

Friday in NYC: Cartoon Cryptozoology

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Attention New York animation archaeologists! There is an event coming up this Friday, January 25th with local “Cartoon Cryptozoologist”, Thomas Stathes, we think you should know about.

The Obscura Society NYC is presenting another screening curated by Mr. Stathes, using rare film prints drawn from his vast archive.

As Winter 2013 draws on, Tom Stathes has curated animated cartoons from the 1920s-1930s for every season of the year. Searching his vast stacks of 16mm animation rarities and Tom has hand-selected a wide array of gems: frolicking Springtime fun and hot Summer calamities for those with a warmer temperament, and breezy, cool Autumn shenanigans as well as snowy Winter escapades for those who relish the cold months. For a glimpse into past visions of the seasons as depicted by the merry-makers of early film animation, come enjoy the latest screening–shown in real 16mm film, with a real projector–a unique experience you’ll be sure to enjoy!

Tom Stathes is a “Cartoon Cryptozoologist”, with a rare film print collection comprised of over 1,000 shorts. His archive consists of everything from Felix the Cat and Farmer Alfalfa to silent reels from Bray Studios and Out of the Inkwell. A native-New Yorker, he turned his passion for the city’s animation legacy into a preservation mission. With his Bray Animation Project, he has worked with several film and comic historians to document the studios invaluable output. For more information go to the Cartoons On Film blog or the Bray Animation website.

EVENT DETAILS:
Friday, January 25, 2013, 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
This showing is part of the “Atlas Obscura Speakers” series of talks at Observatory, 543 Union Street (at Nevins), Brooklyn, NY 11215. 543 Union Street is the large red brick building on right. Go right on Nevins and left down the alley through large black gates. Gallery is the second door on the left. Enter Observatory via Proteus Gowanus Gallery. Advance Tickets recommended buy tickets here.

The Best Of International Rocketship

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Animator Marv Newland is the only person I know who doesn’t have a website or an email address. I don’t know if he even reads the internet.

Yesterday I received a small package from him, it was a DVD with a letter telling about his new compilation DVD. He wrote:

“Dear Jerry,

Enclosed is your copy of the freshly released BEST OF INTERNATIONAL ROCKETSHIP dvd. No voting. No warnings. No Extras.

There was a limited number produced as the potential audience may also be limited, numerically and in other departments not fit to remark about in this missive.

The dvd is for sale at $20. (U.S. or Candian dollars) shipping included. Send check to: International Rocketship, 278-1857 West 4th Ave. Vancouver, British Columbia V6J 1M4 Canada. DVDs shipped via the miracle of the postal system.

Hope you are keeping well and remember your name when wake up each and every morning.

Marv.”

As the limited potential audience for this disc is mainly composed of the readers of this blog, I think Marv was fishing for a plug. I’m only too happy to comply.

I’m not sure if the International Rocketship shorts have been compiled before, but I didn’t have them – so I’m grateful to have them now. Anijam, Lupo The Butcher, Black Hula, Sing Beast Sing, Pink Komkommer, Bambi Meets Godzilla and more – all remastered from original 35mm camera negatives. Wonderful stuff. For twenty bucks – it’s a steal!

So send Marv $20. and tell him I sent you. He’ll probably include you a hand-written note to thank you.

The Amazing Wood Carvings of Charles Ponstingl

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This you gotta see.

Collector Mel Birnkrant has posted an amazing story – and gallery – of art created by amateur wood carver Charles Ponstingl. Beginning in 1973 Ponstingl began (at age 38) carving over 200 wood dioramas, creating three-dimensional shadowbox homages to beloved comic strip and animated cartoon characters.

In addition to doing pieces devoted to Disney classics, Ponstingl tackled everything from Little Nemo to Mary Jane and Sniffles! Mutt and Jeff, Snuffy Smith, Popeye, Beetle Bailey, Sad Sack are some of the comic strips he did; Felix The Cat, Daffy Duck, Woody Woodpecker, Mickey, Donald and Goofy are among the animated characters he’s carved.

Some of the carvings are spot on recreations, some are way off-model – but all of them are charming and clearly done with a lot of love and care.

Collector Birnkrant discovered Ponstingl’s folk art and bought many of the pieces – telling the remarkable story behind them and showing off the collection on his website. Click thumbnails below to enlarge three great examples – check out the story and see more amazing stuff here.

(Thanks, Ed Austin and Mark Mayerson)

“Silent Sillies” by Anthony Hunter

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I’m a big fan of retro-animation tributes – here’s a clever one in comic strip form. Ohio-based cartoonist Anthony Hunter has begun posting Silent Sillies (“A silent cartoon… in comic strip form”) one each week on his new website.

Hunter has a whole cast of period characters and illustrates a different silent animation cliche each week in cute and clever ways. Here’s a sample:

Warner Bros. Animation/Hanna-Barbera Scholarship

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Calling all students! Warner Bros. Animation is trying to get the word out on an animation scholarship program that the studio is offering to graduating high school students/incoming college Freshman. Below is the basic info along with a link to the application. It’s a great opportunity… don’t be a moroon – go for it!

2013 Warner Bros. Animation/Hanna-Barbera Honorship

Who: Any graduating high school senior enrolling in a college, university, or trade school to study animation.

What: Through the Warner Bros. Reach program, one outstanding student is awarded the Hanna-Barbera/Animation Honorship each year that includes a scholarship and four full-time paid internships at the company during four consecutive summers while enrolled in college. Successful Reach program graduates will be eligible for full-time positions at Warner Bros.

How: Application (w/ instructions) can be downloaded via this link.

When: Application deadline is by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 4, 2013

“Incredibles” poster by Robert McGinnis

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Brad Bird has leaked (via Twitter) this poster for The Incredibles.

It was painted by Robert McGinnis, the veteran artist who created the advertising art for many 60s spy flicks, including the Matt Helm and James Bond movies (Thunderball, You Only Live Twice), poster art for the iconic Breakfast At Tiffanys and Barbarella, and over 1200 paperback novels. McGinnis began his career as an apprentice at the Walt Disney Studio.

Here’s the poster that might have been, if Brad Bird had his way…

(Thanks, Ed Austin via BleedingCool.com)

Pixar Sales Demo Reel (1988)

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Once upon a time, long before Buzz Lightyear and Lightning MacQueen, Pixar was a struggling start-up looking for clients interested in their imaging computers. Here is their sales demo reel from 1988. It shows what the studio was producing in the earliest days before character animation took over – and also features an appearance by a younger Ed Catmull.

(Thanks, Chris Sobieniak)

“The Rabbi’s Cat” opening on the West Coast

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The Annie Award nominated The Rabbi’s Cat is getting its “real” LA, SF and San Diego theatrical release this month. I urge you all to see it (especially in 3D). It’s a beautiful adaptation of an acclaimed graphic novel by Joann Sfar.

The film will will be playing at multiple theaters, with one 3D option for the die-hards, starting January 18th. In San Francisco it will be at the Landmark Embarcadero and the Smith Rafael Film Center. In San Diego the film will play at the Landmark Hillcrest. In Los Angeles The Rabbi’s Cat opens at the Downtown Independent (in 3D), the Laemmle Music Hall (on Wilshire), Laemmle Playhouse in Pasadena and Laemmle’s Town Center in Encino.

The Rabbi’s Cat tells the story of a rabbi and his talking cat – “a sharp-tongued feline philosopher brimming with scathing humor and a less than pure love for the rabbi’s voluptuous teenage daughter. Set in Algeria in the 1930s, an intersection of Jewish, Arab and French culture.” Co-Director Joann Sfar is an award winning filmmaker and one of France’s most celebrated comic artists.

Huggtopus in “So Much Love”

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This is an uber-cute, beautifully designed kids music video starring “Huggtopus”, a Kimochis character. Kimochis are “Toys with feelings inside”, a plush doll line created by Nina Rappaport Rowan. Directed by Rowan with Gordon Clark; Daniel Peixe did the rough animation of the characters, following Gordon Clark and Mike Overbeck story boards. Zach Gill wrote and performed a the song.

Art director Santiago Agusti wrote to tell us:

I’m from Spain (and living in Spain) and animator Dani Peixe is now living in L.A. and working at Disney. Once I had the roughs on my hands, I did the clean-ups, added colors, some extra animation, types, compositing and vfx there. All the other people who appear on the credits are from the U.S., mainly The Bay Area. I`m doing some art direction for them, as well as animation, mini comics which come with the Plush Toy Box, iphone games, etc. Here is a 7-second video where I put animation on real footage, playing with my kid.

“Hammer And Hand” by Colin Hesterly

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Seattle-based animator/designer Colin Hesterly is the Creative Director of the filmmaking agency The Academy. Check out their first hand-drawn film, its very short, but its pretty spectacular.

Says Hesterly, “Hammer & Hand follows the mysterious journey of one man creating something bigger and better than himself”. Some cool behind the scenes material is posted here. Character Design and animation is by Yassir Rasan.

Looney Tunes Super Stars: Sylvester & Hippety Hopper

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Who says DVD is dead? Warner Home Video has announced the latest release in its Looney Tunes Super Stars series: Sylvester & Hippety Hopper: Marsupial Mayhem.

This DVD features 18 classic cartoons re-mastered to perfection (17 of these Looney Tunes never-before-seen on DVD), featuring Sylvester versus the “giant mouse” (aka Hippety Hopper). In addition to every Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies appearance of the baby kangaroo, the disc also includes each and every cartoon featuring Sylvester’s long suffering son, Sylvester Junior.

The single-disc release is scheduled for April 23rd priced at $19.98 SRP ($13.99 on amazon for 18 Robert McKimson cartoon classics. Titles included are listed below:

HOP, LOOK & LISTEN
HIPPETY HOPPER
POP ‘IM POP!
WHO’S KITTEN WHO?
HOPPY-GO-LUCKY
CATS AWEIGH!
BELL HOPPY
LIGHTHOUSE MOUSE
TOO HOP TO HANDLE
SLAP-HOPPY MOUSE
MOUSE-TAKEN IDENTITY
HOPPY DAZE
FREUDY CAT
CAT’S PAW
FISH AND SLIPS
BIRDS OF A FATHER
CLAWS IN THE LEASE
GOLDIMOUSE AND THE THREE CATS

(via TV Shows On DVD)