Cartoon Brew

ARF MUSEUM

Last year I raved about Craig Yoe's Modern Arf, but I just got a copy of Yoe's follow up, Arf Museum, and it's even better. Is it a book? Is it a perodical? Whatever it is, it's a series of publications (from Fantagraphics) that seem at first glance like a surreal stream of consciousness direct from Yoe's brain - but upon closer inspection, it's clear this is cleverly compiled and meticulously researched, with rare art from the masters of the form; a highly entertaining volume you'll peruse over and over again. Any book that can artistically connect Picasso, Cliff Starrett, Rube Goldberg, Chester Gould and Curt Swan has got my vote. In this volume, Yoe presents examples of cartoonists and their relation to 20th Century modern art. He also examines the girly gag cartoons of Reamer Keller, cartoonists and tattoos, comic strip giant apes, Charles Bennett's evolutionary cartoons of the 1800s, unpublished paintings of The Yellow Kid by Outcault, and much much more.

If you know who Keller, Bennett and Outcault are you need to get this book now. If you don't know who they are - you really need to order this book immediately. Buy it here.

PIXAR'S Ratatouille

The teaser trailer for Ratatouille is now on the internet - click here to see it. Note the voice of the French waiter is none other than director Brad Bird. I have no doubt he will serve up another great film in 2007.

MEET ALICE

Walt Disney’s first movie star, Virginia Davis, will appear in person at a screening of two of her Alice Comedies from the mid-1920s at the Hollywood Heritage Museum on June 22, 2006. Included on the program will be Michael Broggie, son of Disney’s first Imagineer, Roger Broggie. Michael is the author of Walt Disney’s Railroad Story and an upcoming book on the history of the Disney Studio. Broggie also spearheaded the opening of Walt’s Barn, a museum in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park dedicated to Disney. For more information on the Alice event, go to hollywoodheritage.org.

THINKING ANIMATION

Traditional animator Jamie Oliff (Mulan, Hercules) and CG animator Angie Jones (Scooby Doo 2, Stuart Little) have teamed up to produce a new book Thinking Animation: Bridging the Gap Between 2D and CG, which will be published next month.

Thinking Animation is a one-of-a-kind book that emphasizes how artists can use traditional animation techniques and principles with today's computer generated animation technology. This full-color book includes numerous interviews with experienced contributing authors from a wide range of backgrounds, including stop-motion, visual effects, traditional animation, and CG.

Thinking Animation includes forewords written by traditional animator Floyd Norman and animation designer Richard Taylor - and interviews with Eric Goldberg, Ed Hooks, Conrad Vernon, Tom Sito, Bert Klein, Dave Brewster and many more.

Check out the book's website for more information.

POPEYE ON DVD

Here's the news I've been dying to announce for over 20 years.

Warner Bros. and King Features have come to an agreement - at long last - which will allow Warner Home Video to release the original Max Fleischer Popeye cartoons. The deal clears up a rights muddle that has kept these films from prior VHS and DVD home video release - and grants Warner Bros. the video rights, in perpetuity, to the entire Paramount Popeye theatrical library. (Warner Home Video will also be the official distributor of the King Features and Hanna-Barbera TV Popeye cartoons - but that will wait for now).

Warner Bros. will commence restoration (with the original titles) of all the Popeye theatricals from the original negatives, and the first DVD boxed set (of the entire series, in original release order) is planned for 2007 release. I am already involved as a consulting producer.

Thank you Warner Bros. (especially George Feltenstein) - and thank you, King Features - for making this cartoon DVD "Holy Grail" a reality.

CRAZY CRUISE

Once again, our buddy Bob Bergen (current day voice of Porky Pig) is hosting another Voice Over Cruise up the west coast. Says Bob:

My 2006 VO cruise was such a hit I've decided to do another one in April, 2007. I'm promoting now because the ship needs to reserve cabins way in advance. Prices and cabin availability are subject to change after August 16, 2006.

Here's the scoop on my next one. This is a five night cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver, with stops in San Francisco and Victoria, BC. In addition to my animation VO workshop, this excursion will also include commercial workshops with Leigh Gilbert and promo workshops with Joyce Castellanos. We only have 60 cabins held!

One more thing!!! If people mention they heard about the cruise on Cartoon Brew I'll give them 10% off the workshop! (This is good only for the workshops, not the cruise itself!)

See, it pays to read CARTOON BREW! Check out Bob's website for more details on this exciting animation vacation. And Bon Voyage!

RARE LANTZ COMIC STRIP

Yo! Check this out on Craig Yoe's ARF LOVERS website. Scroll down the blog to see a rare 1928 magazine cartoon by animator Walter Lantz.

YO GABBA GABBA

Could this be the coolest kids show since Pee-Wee's Playhouse? YO GABBA GABBA has that surreal-1970s Kroft-meets-New Zoo Revue vibe, and it looks like a lot of fun. If Cartoon Network insists on showing live action, this is the sort of thing they should consider picking up. Check out the groovy trailer here.

(Thanks, DRAWN!)

A SHORT NOTE ABOUT CARS

Animated humanoid automobiles aren't new - (Friz Freleng's STREAMLINED GRETA GREEN (1937), Tex Avery's ONE CAB'S FAMILY (1952), and Disney's SUSIE THE LITTLE BLUE COUPE (1952) - not to mention Hanna-Barbera's WHEELIE & THE CHOPPER BUNCH (1974) and Ruby-Spears' TURBO TEEN (1984) - are several prior vehicles in this genre) - but as usual Pixar has put a fresh spin on a classic concept and made it their own. Yes, I saw Disney/Pixar's CARS this weekend - and it's great.

It's been a year and a half since the release of THE INCREDIBLES. A year and a half filled with the likes of VALIANT, HOODWINKED and THE WILD. CARS reminded me, in many ways, of what separates Pixar's product from the rest of the pack. Other producers simply take a premise, hang a lot of one liners and gags on it - and vocalize it with an all star cast. That's what Hollywood sees when they watch a Pixar film. However, one of the secrets to Pixar's success is that their films contain larger themes woven within the surface story. Subtexts that really enrich the film and leave you with something to think about afterward. This time, it's not just about talking cars, it's about Route 66, and about a part of America that we've lost. It's about how the race we all run is not the most important thing in life. It's about slowing down and stopping long enough to admire the view.

I highly recommend CARS. It's another triumph for Pixar. (No automobile pun intended)