Holiday Gift Ideas: Thunderbean Animation Classics

Steve Stanchfield is one of the unsung angels out there who does the important work finding and restoring lost pieces of our animation history, and makes them accessible in attractive presentations on DVDs. He’s just finished two more volumes in time for last minute Christmas shoppers. I know that more time and money goes into these compilations than Steve will ever recoup. He does them for the love of the artform, and we should be very grateful. I certainly am. Both of these new releases are highly recommended.

Cartoon Commercials, Volume 1– features all animated commercials from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. It’s a totally entertaining disc with lots of “cartoon modern” stylized animation I haven’t seen elsewhere. I think the coolest thing about it is a subtitle feature that lists many of the animators, directors, voices and studios as you’re watching.

Return of the 30’s Characters follows in the same tradition as Stanchfield’s previous volume, Attack of the 30’s Characters. Great prints with original titles (or restored, and a few recreated). The highlights (for me) is Steve’s restoration of the lost Dick Huemor Toby Pup cartoon, The Museum (1930) and the Ub Iwerks’ ComiColor films, Balloonland (1935), Brementown Musicians (1935). Steve even attaches a strip of Cinecon 16mm to the box as a bonus. Fifteen other cartoons including Little Orphan Willie with Flip the Frog; Joint Wipers with Van Beuren’s Tom and Jerry; His Off Day with Puddy the Pup (Terrytoons); and The Hunting Season an RKO Rainbow Parade cartoon. Order it here.