Chris Diaz led me to the YouTube link (embed below) for that Krazy Kat stop motion that I mentioned in this post last month.

I could do without the narration, but the models, settings and animation are perfect. It was directed by Derek Mogford and produced by Spitting Image Productions for King Features 1n 1996.

I’m currently visiting Chicago for a few days so it seems appropriate to share the animated short Chicago For A Few Days by Brooklyn-based artist Ray Ray Mitrano. The film, which documents Mitrano’s train trip to Chicago, was made by arranging paper and found objects onto a scanner bed. It’s an unconventional piece of animation and the narration helps make it truly special.

Here’s a delightful Christmas gift to all our readers whose stockings went bare…

Kerry Cisneroz and Dom Giansante are lifelong H-B fanatics and have created a pool on flickr all to do with Hanna Barbera. The mission is to show as much of their collections as possible, highlight obscure characters, showcase art they have done and ask that contributors do the same. It’s a treasure trove of great pics and thanks to contributors, they’ve unearthed a lot of great paraphenalia. Dig in and enjoy!

How else could we end this but with an excerpt from A Charlie Brown Christmas, the greatest piece of holiday animation ever created, directed by the estimable Bill Melendez.

Sally Cruickshank (Quasi at the Quackadero) explains the genesis of this Christmas greeting on her blog. She created the animation in one week because, she writes, “Flash is so nifty for animating. A week! And mostly I was doing other things during that week!”

Our Christmas present to you: episode 15 of Cartoon Brew TV. Jerry Beck is back this week with a brand-new commentary edition of “Brew Vaults.” He takes a look at a rare episode of A Few Quick Facts. This cartoon was originally shown to servicemen during World War II as part of the Army/Navy Screen Magazine, a newsreel program produced under the supervision of director Frank Capra. This three-part episode honors the Navy’s latest battleships; praises the American soldier’s brain; and explains the cost and care of a G.I’s shoes. Jerry is joined on the commentary by animator and historian Mark Kausler. Head on over to hear Jerry and Mark’s thoughts about A Few Quick Facts only on Cartoon Brew TV!

A few nice collections of holiday-themed cartoon artwork to keep you entertained during the cold weather…

Beautiful drawings by “Walt Disney Staff” illustrating a short story by Pearl S. Buck that appeared in a 1956 issue of Family Circle.

Illustrations from Jingle Bells, a Little Golden Book by the great J.P. Miller.

An incredible collection of Disney Studio holiday cards from the 1930s-’50s.

Delightful and humorous holiday imagery from the early-20th century published in Life magazine.

Holiday comic art including some great Frosty comics, as well as the creepy Littlest Snowman cover above.