Brew readers are always sending us photos of the cartoon culture all around us. Occasionally I post the really odd ones. Elliot Cowan took the above pic at a local junk store: Alex the Lion (from Madagascar), Chicken Little, Mr. Incredible and Shrek all in the same bootleg toy package.
Elliot says this “Fantastic Hero” toy has “been there over a year and has yellowed considerably in that time.”

A reader identified as “Purple Penguin” snapped this photo of a storefront at the corner of Reno and Beverly in Los Angeles. As Penguin noted when he sent the pic, “Made me laugh; made me cry”.

If you spot any odd cartoon culture in your area, please share it with us.

I picked up the latest Comics Journal (October 2008, No. 292) at the Comic Con last week and it’s essentially a book length interview (well over 150 pages) with the Deitch family – writer Seth, artists Simon and Kim and their dad, animator Gene Deitch. Gene’s interview reveals additional information about his career at UPA and Terrytoons not included in his online book. A must-read. Should be at your comics shop this week, or from Fantagraphics Books.

Apparently lots of Latino people think they look like Betty Boop. This article in Swindle Magazine discusses the popularity of the character in East LA, from wall murals to look-alike contests:

During the competition each age group is given a different challenge, other than the babies, who just look cute. The 2-year-olds must blow a kiss. Three-year-olds say “boop-oop-be-doop.” Girls aged 4 and 5 must sing a song. Every child gets a trophy for participating. The contestants have ranged from 20-days old to the cut off age of 5. She’s had over 1,000 children in the contest over the years, 90 percent of whom are Latino. And for 15 years Denise has been able to place the winners in the annual Montebello parade, for the crowds to marvel at tiny Betty Boops on procession through town in sparkles and strollers.

A friend of mine, who happens to be a huge Spumco fan, was looking for a new home in California and came accross this listing on a street just off the Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach: John K Drive.

Here’s what I want to know: I wonder what time the Rubber Nipple salesman come around? And is the George Liquor store open 24 hours? For those who are curious, here’s the location on Google Maps.

Disney has posted a teaser trailer for their return to hand drawn animated feature films, The Princess And The Frog. If the film is as hot as The Princess, then we’ve got something great to look forward to.

Variety is reporting that Warner Bros. is developing a live action/CG feature film starring Marvin the Martian. Alcon Entertainment (Racing Stripes, Dude Where’s My Car) is planning a Christmas themed family film around the character, who first appeared in Haredevil Hare (1948) directed by Chuck Jones.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills has scheduled yet another program of particular interest to Cartoon Brew readers. Joe Dante is hosting George Pal: Discovering the Fantastic, a centennial celebration of the pioneer stop motion animator and fantasy film producer. The program will include the screening of two newly restored Puppetoons, Rhythm In The Ranks (1941) and John Henry and The Inky Poo (1946). Dante will moderate a panel of Pal collaborators, including actors Barbara Eden, Russ Tamblyn, Alan Young, puppetoon animator Bob Baker and special effects producer Jim Danforth. The evening concludes with a screening of Pal’s 1953 sci-fi classic The War Of The Worlds.

Tickets are $5.00 ($3. for students). Doors open at 6:30pm. For more information click here.

If I were in San Francisco this Friday, I’d attend this. The Harvey Comics Art Show, which began June 28th at the Cartoon Art Museum, will host an opening reception on Friday, August 1, from 7-9pm. Lots of original artwork (including pages by Kremer, Post, Muffatti, Taras and others) tracing the history of the comics company are on display and Harvey scholars Mark Arnold and Dave Holt will be on hand Friday to answer questions.

I hope to make it out there in October to sign copies of the Baby Huey book. Details to come. The Harvey art will be on display in San Francisco through November 30th. A New York show is in the planning stage.