This stop motion Krampus short, created by producer Michael Steed, visual effects producer Adam Lupsha and writer Anthony Bourdain for Bourdain’s Travel Channel series, No Reservations, was pulled from broadcast this week due to the recent Penn State scandal. Luckily Zero Point Zero Productions put it on You Tube for all to enjoy:

(Thanks, Yair Oelbaum)

The Hollywood Reporter offers a joint interview between Kung Fu Panda 2 director Jennifer Yuh Nelson, and the voice of Tigress, Angelina Jolie, who also recently directed her first feature film. While the interview doesn’t offer any earth-shattering insights, it’s a rare treat to see animation and live-action directors interacting as equals.

Feedback from our posting vintage Walter Lantz Christmas cards has prompted a search for more classic cartoon holiday cards. To the rescue comes our pal Tim Walker, who has unearthed a selection golden-age goodies – enough for us to post one or two each day from now to December 25th. Today we have two (click thumbnails below to enjoy at full size): the first, below left from Bob McKimson and family; the next (center) a postcard from animator John Carey sent to Carl Stalling (flipside, below right) in 1945.

Designer Todd Oldham, who played such an important role in the rediscovery of illustrator Charley Harper, has set his sights on another relatively forgotten mid-century designer. This time, it’s Alexander Girard. Girard worked across many disciplines—textile, typography, illustration, interior design, architecture—and his work has influenced many people throughout the years, including animation artists like Lou Romano. He was to textile design what Mary Blair was to animation and Sister Corita to silkscreening—a designer with exquisite taste and playful, folksy aesthetic sensibilities.

A lot more people are going to know Girard’s name now that Oldham, along with Kiera Coffee and Ammo Books, has put together the massive 672-page monograph simply titled Alexander Girard. The just-released book looks stunning and easily one of the must-have art books of 2011. The video above features Oldham speaking about the book, which is 40% off on Amazon.

Today I will sit down with Stu Shostack for another hard hitting interview, covering a wide range of animation subjects, on the internet radio program Stu’s Show. It’s being broadcast live at 7pm Eastern/4pm Pacific at StusShow.com. We will be discussing the latest events in cartoons – past, present and future. Looney Tunes on blu-ray, Tom & Jerry issues, UPA on DVD, I’ll give my opinion of the forthcoming Tintin movie and much much more… We’ll take questions via phone and email from listeners; we might also talk about Terrytoons. Join us and listen in here.

Nice to know the Preston Blair book has made it to Iran. Here’s a perfect area rug for a cartoon nerd (like me) who happens to have $2800 to spare (NOT me). Now on eBay, a 5×8 “Mickey Mouse” Persian Rug. Check the detail in the thumbnails below (click to enlarge pics), you’ll spot off-model images of The Pink Panther, Mickey Mouse, Tom, something like Bugs Bunny, a Ninja Turtle, and the White Rabbit. This’ll go great in the room with my Donald Duck black velvet painting!

(Thanks, Rick Law)

A few years ago, The Jim Henson Company Archives discovered material relating to an unfinished 1965 animated short by Jim Henson: Alexander The Grape. They combined the found footage with the storyboard and an existing soundtrack, and completed a reconstruction – which is now online. The complete story behind this find is here, on Jim Henson’s Red Book.

Brad Bird isn’t the only Oscar winning animator releasing a live action film this month. Clay animator Nick Park (Wallace and Gromit) has directed this music video (below) for UK group Native and The Name. It does feature some pixilation and other techniques. Park explains the process in this behind-the-scenes video.

(Thanks, Tom Gasek)