The Brew strives to stay apolitical, but this very funny and trenchant Slate article by Jeff Greenfield is worth a mention: Bugs Bunny vs. Daffy Duck: Why voters always choose the wascally wabbit for president.

(Thanks, B. Baker)

Volume 2 (2007) of the Society for Animation Studies‘ peer-reviewed on-line journal is now available for download (as a PDF or html file) on the Animation Studies website.

The Animation Studies journal consists of academic papers written mainly by scholars and historians, making for a somewhat dry reading experience. However, the topics are interesting – and intelligent discourse on animation is always a good thing. The online publication is available free of charge, and the articles are licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Contents of Vol. 2 include: Animated Appeal: A Survey of Production Methods in Children’s Software by Tom Klein; (The) Death (of) the Animator, or: The Felicity of Felix by Alan Cholodenko; The Two Golden Ages of Animated Music Video by Gunnar Strom.

And last but not least, Amy Ratelle’s article Half-breed Dog, Half-breed Film: Balto as Animelodrama (which opens Volume 3) sums up the kind of article this journal specializes in. If this is your thing, click here.

Pete Mitchell, frontman of the band No More Kings, writes to Cartoon Brew:

“i’ve checked cartoonbrew pretty much every day for the past year and a half, and it never ceases to provide inspiration. i’ve always been a huge fan of ghostbot’s work, and i finally had the pleasure of hiring them to animate my new music video.”

The music video, for their song “Michael (Jump In),” can be seen below. More behind-the-scenes details about the production of the animation are being posted both at the band’s blog and on the Ghostbot blog.

The American Cinematheque and the Art Deco Society are presenting a lecture by David Pacheco, Walt Disney Art Classics creative art director, who will detail the history of Art Deco design in the art of film animation. A special focus of the presentation is on the deco stylization of Walt Disney’s FANTASIA (1940), along with examples of animation from various Max Fleischer short cartoons including Betty Boop and Superman. Hopefully they will screen Page Miss Glory, Merry Mannequins, and All’s Fair At The Fair (pictured above). The seminar will take place at the Egyptian Theater on Hollywood Blvd. on Saturday March 22nd at 2pm. Admission: Cinematheque and Art Deco Society members $5; Student/Senior $8; General admission $10. For more info visit the Egyptian Theatre website

Dark Horse Comics has announced a Disney Gremlins book-signing taking place next week. A special signing at the Disney Soda Fountain and Studio Store in Hollywood will be held on Wednesday evening, March 19th, to celebrate the release of The Return of the Gremlins. This new comic book, by Dark Horse publisher Mike Richardson, updates the characters created in the Roald Dahl’s aborted Disney wartime Gremlins project. Dean Yeagle, the artist on the comic book, and Leonard Maltin (who wrote the introduction to the hardcover Gremlins reprint) will be joining Richardson at the signing.

The Disney Soda Fountain and Studio Store is stocking up on the various Gremlins books, toys and statuettes. Here are the details: The event will be from 6:00- 9:00pm. Richardson, Yeagle and Maltin will sign between 7:00-9:00pm. The Disney Soda Fountain and Studio Store is located at 6834 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood, CA. Should be a fun event. See ya there!

What we used to do for home entertainment before DVD and VHS tapes:

(Thanks Clay Croker)

Once again, Disney marketing has invaded the frozen food aisle. Not sure how long this has been out there, but I just discovered Mickey Mouse Pizza. Is it me, or is there something just plain wrong about eating a beloved cartoon icon made of a tomato-like sauce and artificial mozzarella cheese?

I suppose it could be worse, I suppose they could top it with salami.

(Thanks, Michael Eilerman)

There is a reason I plug Steve Moore’s online FLIP magazine every month: It’s damn good! The latest edition, now up, features the amazing DEAN YEAGLE discussing Zander’s Animation Parlour – with clips of several classic Jack Zander commercials (Freakies cereal, Good n’ Plenty candy, Crest Cavity Creeps, etc.); features on artist SUE BLANCHARD, illustrator RICHARD MORGAN and an interview with toy collector/creator/Pixar character designer JEFF PIDGEON. Go here and flip out!