If you are reading this blog and didn’t purchase Volume 1 of Woody Woodpecker and Friends last year… well shame on you! You still can still order it here. If cost was an issue, or if Walter Lantz cartunes aren’t your thing, I urge you to seek out this special “spotlight collection”, Woody Woodpecker Favorites (box art above center) which goes on sale March 10th, 2009.

The disc contains 15 Woody Woodpecker Cartoons (Knock Knock, Pantry Panic, The Barber of Seville, Ski for Two, Chew-Chew Baby, The Dippy Diplomat, The Loose Nut, Who’s Cookin’ Who?, Bathing Buddies, Fair Weather Fiends, Musical Moments from Chopin, Banquet Busters, Wet Blanket Policy, Sleep Happy, The Redwood Sap), plus bonus cartoons: Fish Fry with Andy Panda, Pied Piper of Basin Street a Swing Symphony, and these Tex Avery classics: The Legend of Rockabye Point (with Chilly Willy), Sh-h-h-h-h-h and Crazy Mixed Up Pup. If that isn’t enough, the disc includes two bonus episodes of The Woody Woodpecker Show: Episode #53 (Featuring Kiddie League, Charlie’s Mother-in-Law, The Bird Who Came to Dinner, Fish & Chips) and Episode #56 (Featuring Billion Dollar Boner, Coming Out Party, Romp in a Swamp, Pest of Show).

Sounds like a bargain at $19.98 (it’s going for $13.99 on Amazon.com). Now you have no excuse not to try some classic cartoon goodness from Universal Pictures.

The Blu-Ray release of Sleeping Beauty has generated a lot of attention, not only from the media, but also from animation fans who have noticed this version’s oversaturated colors, poor color timing and DVNR. The changes in color have also been noticed by industry professionals like Lou Romano, art director of The Incredibles, who writes on his blog that he prefers the 2003 DVD release and also posts a bunch of frame grab comparisons. I agree with Lou and everybody else; to my eyes, the colors in this new version look way too hot. It’s a shame that they can’t get the colors right on a film in which color plays such an integral role.

On sale tomorrow is Popeye Vol. 3. This 2-disc set features the classic wartime cartoons (banned from TV for several decades) with Popeye versus the German and Japanese armies. Restored cartoons, bonus documentaries and special features - the perfect video to watch after the election results come in! Here’s a tip: Best Buy is offering a bonus “vintage mini-comic book” if you buy it at the store.

Hey Laaady…

We usually have a problem when Hollywood takes a classic animated property and creates a CG update. I’m not sure what to make of The Weinstein Company’s new Nutty Professor direct-to-DVD CG animated feature (on sale November 25th from Genius Products) but it features the voice and participation of Jerry Lewis himself, recreating his iconic role as Julius Kelp!

Drake Bell (Nickelodeon’s Drake and Josh) is cast as his grandson Harold. The plot goes like this:

When Harold gets his hands on the recipe for his grandfather’s secret elixir, he creates a potion that drastically transforms his personality to be more confident and suave. Unfortunately his alter ego is also obnoxious and destructive. Much like his grandfather before him, Harold must face his insecurities and fears while learning to believe in himself without the help of any special concoctions.

I love Jerry Lewis (heck, I even enjoy Drake Bell) so I’m hoping its a decent film. Maybe they’ll send me a review copy (hint, hint)?

Take your pick: yours truly, Jerry Beck, will appear on stage, on screen and in print tomorrow, Tuesday October 21st.

In Print: Tuesday is the official publication date for my latest book - a tie-in to Dreamworks latest box office blockbuster, The Art of MADAGASCAR: Back 2 Africa. As usual with these books, the behind the scenes art - pre-viz material in pencil, ink, and conceptual paintings - is incredibly gorgeous. Craig Kellman was the chief character designer and the book is loaded with his sketches and paintings. Whatever your opinion of the Madagascar films, this art is worthy of collecting and keeping in book form - and I’m proud to have been a part of it.

On Screen: I appear both on screen and in voice-over on the indispensable Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 6. Over 60 restored, digitally remastered Warner Bros. cartoons from the golden age of animation. A Mel Blanc documentary, Christmas Party blooper reels, and uncut World War Two era cartoons including Russian Rhapsody, The Ducktators and Herr Meets Mare. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn, The Three Bears, The Goofy Gophers, Tweety, Sylvester, The Road Runner and Coyote. Here are 28 reasons to buy it today!

On Stage: Live and in person Tuesday night at 8pm I’ll be screening a selection of strange and creepy Halloween related animated cartoons at the Silent Movie Theatre on Fairfax Avenue in Hollywood. The vintage prints will be in 16mm and 35mm and special guest animators will show their films and discuss their ghastly influences. To buy tickets for this Animated Spook-tacular - click here.