Movies Unlimited Releases “UPA: The Jolly Frolics Collection”
Movies Unlimited “Does It Again” with UPA: The Jolly Frolics Collection, A Compendium of Cartoons Not Seen for Years
Long-awaited by fans of classic animation, UPA: The Jolly Frolics Collection is a three-disc set of rare cartoons created for Columbia Pictures in the 1940s and ‘50s.
Philadelphia, PA — May 01, 2012 – Movies Unlimited is proud to release UPA: The Jolly Frolics Collection, a set of 38 cartoons produced by United Productions of America Studios (UPA) at the height of animation’s golden age and these cartoons have been sought by collectors for years. Columbia Pictures released the UPA short films in theaters during the late 1940s to the late 1950s. UPA was known for their inventive and stylish work, creating cartoons enjoyed by children and adults alike.
The UPA cartoons were the home of the cantankerous, near-sighted Mr. Magoo, who is featured in this collection in his debut, the 1948 short The Ragtime Bear. The studio also played host to the Dr. Seuss-created Gerald McBoing Boing, a boy who speaks in sound effects, featured in three shorts here including his self-titled Oscar-winning first effort released in 1950.
Additionally, UPA: The Jolly Frolics Collection showcases cartoons featuring The Fox and the Crow directed by animation great John Hubley; the Academy Award-nominated Madeline, based on the beloved children’s book; an animated translation of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart, narrated by James Mason; and The Unicorn in the Garden, based on the writings of James Thurber.
Each of the 38 shorts on the collection has been digitally re-mastered and animation experts Leonard Maltin and Jerry Beck contribute commentaries. Extras include examples of production art, marketing materials and a bookÂlet that covers the UPA animators and their work, retailing for $39.99. UPA: The Jolly Frolics Collection is being released in conjunction with Turner Classic Movies.