Author Archives: Jerry Beck

“Winnie The Pooh” teaser poster

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Disney has released this classy teaser poster for the forthcoming Pooh hand-drawn feature, opening in the US on July 15th, 2011:

Directors: Stephen Anderson, Don Hall
Producer: Peter Del Vecho
Narrator: John Cleese
Voice Cast: Jim Cummings, Craig Ferguson, Tom Kenny, Travis Oates, Bud Luckey

From the accompanying press release:

Inspired by five stories from A.A. Milne’s books in Disney’s classic, hand-drawn art style, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Winnie the Pooh” reunites audiences with the hunny-loving, philosophical bear and friends Eeyore, Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet and Owl in a wild quest to save Christopher Robin from an imaginary culprit. “Winnie the Pooh” welcomes a few new voices to the Hundred Acre Wood: Craig Ferguson (“The Late Show with Craig Ferguson”), Tom Kenny (“SpongeBob SquarePants”) and Bud Luckey (director of the Pixar short “Boundin’”). Actress/singer Zooey Deschanel (Indie folk band, “She & Him”) provides the vocals for a special rendition of the beloved “Winnie the Pooh” theme song.

Butler and Messick in “Blooper’s Soap Revisited”

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Everyone who loves the classic cartoon vocalizations of Daws Butler, Don Messick and June Foray is in for a real treat. Animator Mike Kazaleh found this rare recording in his collection and gave us the okay to post it online.

Mike says, “This is actually a sequel to another record. The first record took place at a recording studio as an animation director (played by Herschel Bernardi) is attempting to record a line of ad copy with actor “Morey Ziduals” (played by Shepard Menkin) while advertising man “Miltown Jag” (played by Daws Butler) is present. In this, the follow up, Daws Butler reprises his role as Miltown Jag with Don Messick as copywriter “Herb.” Doug Young and June Foray join in the fun.”

Blooper’s Soap Revisited is a 7″ record playing at 33 1/3 rpm. Note the wonderful Tee Hee caricature on the label. Was this released publicly – or (as I suspect) was this meant to be a voice demo for advertising work? It contains too many inside references to be something the general public would appreciate. All I know is, I certainly appreciate hearing this rare recording from the golden era of TV animation. Click the audio player embed after the jump to hear it.
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“Epic Mickey” endings

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This is the last post about Epic Mickey from me on Cartoon Brew. As someone with no intention to ever play the game, I think as a Disney fan this material should be archived here for future reference. Here’s both the “good” ending and the alternate “bad” ending to the game. It’s full of spoilers, but has some great Oswald scenes.

The good/nice Mickey ending– The end scenes starts at 6:09.

Here’s the bad/scrapper ending– I almost feel bad for Pete in this one.

(Thanks, Matthew Gaastra)

“Happiness Is A Warm Blanket”

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Last summer I moderated a panel at the San Diego Comic Con for Happiness is a Warm Blanket, the first new Peanuts special in five years. And “special” it is indeed. Produced by Wild Brain with Charles M. Schulz Creative Services, and directed by Andy Beall (Up, Ratatouille, Iron Giant) and Frank Molieri (The Simpsons Movie, SpongeBob SquarePants Movie). Craig Schulz, son of the Peanuts creator, served as one the executive producers and writers of the film along with cartoonist Stephen Pastis (Pearls Before Swine), who wrote the special as well. Paige Braddock and Linda M. Steiner (Duck Dodgers, Justice League) co-produced.

Warner Home Video just announced its DVD release date: March 29th, 2011. No television date or channel has been announced yet, but I’m sure it’ll get TV exposure. I’m working on getting a public screening, with director Q&A, for L.A. (details to be announced). I’ve seen the film and it’s terrific – the artists have created a loving tribute to Schulz and Charlie Brown with a story based directly on Peanuts strips from the 1960s, and art direction taken from Schulz’s drawing style circa 1965. It brings back Shermy, Patty, Pigpen and Violet, and will remind you why you loved all the Peanuts characters in the first place. A must see and a must-have. Don’t miss this one.

Letterheady

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In the decades before email and the internet, people actually wrote letters on physical pieces of paper. I know it’s hard to believe, but pictured above are a few examples from a new site devoted to them. If you are looking for an addictive way to kill two hours, check out each and every page of Shaun Usher’s Letterheady blog.

For the past year, Usher has been regularly posting rare blank stationary of the rich and famous, with an emphisis on entertainers, animators and comics creators. The letterhead site is a companion to his Letters of Note (P.S. Check out today’s message from John K.). Highlights (for me) include this 1930s Hal Roach Studios piece, and this 1959 Harvey Comics page. Imagine getting a letter from Jay Ward on this letterhead! Those were the days!

(Thanks, Devlin)

TONIGHT in LA: “Fantastic Planet” with live score

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The first Tuesday of every month I host Animation Tuesdays at the Cinefamily. This month an encore performance of René Laloux’s trippy 1973 animated feature Fantastic Planet with a live soundtrack performed by L.A.’s Jesus Makes The Shotgun Sound. This show was performed last month at the Los Angeles Animation Festival to a full house – you get a rough idea of the program in the video below. The show starts at 8pm at The Silent Movie Theatre at 611 N. Fairfax Ave. in Hollywood. If you are interested, I’d advise reserving tickets HERE.

“Beauty and The Beast” and “Lion King” coming in 3D

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Disney Home Entertainment announced its plans to release 15 movies in 3D Blu-ray in 2011. Among the fifteen are a pair of 3D-conversions of two classic hand drawn films, Beauty and The Beast and The Lion King.

A 3-D version of Beauty and the Beast was announced a year and a half ago (we first mentioned it in 2008) and was expected to be re-released theatrically for its anniversary. A clip of the 3-D version was presented in Hall H at the San Diego Comic Con in 2009. Instead, Beast and Lion King will go straight to video, where the 5% of of the public who have 3D flat screens can enjoy them.

“As our contemporary library of 3D content continues to grow, and the original artists and filmmakers meticulously ‘dimensionalize’ their work for release on the 3D Blu-ray format, we will be offering movie-lovers the most incredible in-home entertainment experience they will ever have,” said Lori MacPherson, EVP and GM, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Word is that Disney is “meticulously dimensionalizing” The Little Mermaid, The Jungle Book, Cinderella and about six others. I’ll be interested in seeing these. If they work, maybe someday they’ll dig into the vault and convert such titles as The Old Mill, The Three Caballeros and Der Fuehrer’s Face!

“Train of Thought” by Leo Bridle & Ben Thomas

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I love films made with paper cut-outs. Here’s a really amazing one by students Leo Bridle & Ben Thomas, Train of Thought – their graduation film from The Arts Institute at Bournemouth.

“Although we used digital compositing software, all the animation and models were done by hand, not with CGI. The film took approximately 9 months to complete, from storyboards through to the final edit.”

Also, don’t forget to check out the “making of” video.

(Thanks, Sean Dicken)