Animation: The Next Wave!

Forget Mo-Cap! I've just discovered the next big wave in animation: The Federal School method from 1927! The enterprising student interested in SUCCESS and ADVANCEMENT will make a thorough study of the following images. At the completion of the course the student will receive a certified Federal Schools diploma, a plug of tobacco and a polio vaccination! 

 

Ghost Gallery 1

While on the subject of things haunted here are some grabs from some of my favourite ghost cartoons. They did a lot of these in the 30's and most of 'em are pretty good. Not that 30's cartoons ever made much sense but I think once the cartoon had a supernatural setting the artists were able to go even a little wilder then they might have in, for instance, a typical barnyard type scenario.

'Snow White' has to be the king of all ghost cartoons. 'Swing You Sinners' has more but there's something really satisfying about seeing Koko the Clown turn into a ghost ... I have no idea why. 

You don't see much of the ghosts until the end of 'I Heard' but it's well worth waiting to see that ghost light his cigar with a bomb! 

It's really sad that 'Swing You Sinners' isn't widely available except for an expensive French PAL DVD set. There are a lot of ghosts in this one but my favourite has to be the razor ghost. 'Brother, you sho gonna get your face lifted ... and a permanent shave"!

'Midnight Frolics' ranks among the best cartoons to be produced from the Color Rhapsodies series. I like to think of this as Iwerks' swan song (although I'm not really sure how much, if at all, he animated on it) before returning to Disney.

*can anyone out there tell me who was animating at Iwerks at this time? I think I read Natwick was there at this time (free-lancing) but who else?*

More Ghosts later!

McCay Monday

New Logo & Links

Added a new (wobbly) logo and a few links. 

'Cartoon Research Garage Sale' is where most of my frame grabs come from. If you haven't already go over there right now and purchase a disc! Jerry Beck (and CO.) have done a great service to cartoon lovers everywhere and shed badly needed light on to some really wonderful cartoons!  

'Doombuggies' has too many ads but there's some neat stuff on my favourite ride as kid: The Haunted Mansion.

 'Virtual Victrola' has a lot of interesting information and downloads of 20's jazz. Who in the world would want to see a quicktime of an old Victor batwing of 'Clementine' spinning on a victrola? Me, that's who!

Bimbo Playing Cards

What always used to drive me crazy was what exactly was on the face of the Betty Boop/Bimbo playing cards which were licensed by the Fleischer Studios in the 30's. Basically no ebay seller ever shows the faces (two of diamonds, ace of spades etc.)  when they come up for auction. So here I solve the mystery: they are just ordinary playing cards except for the image on the back. I have posted the back and front of the joker which is about as (not too) interesting as it gets.

The Nosepickers

Just a design idea I did for my older (and smarter) sisters from an idea they had when they were little in beautiful Hinkley, Ohio. They're called 'The Nosepickers' because they're pick old time bluegrass music (as well as noses)!  

A bit bit more ...

I must be on a 'Piano Mover' kick. Here Krazy and Kitty meet an old perverted dog ...

He 'slaps' the outside of the window - you figure it out ...

He's singing 'That's My Weakness Now'

Do you think he's wearing pants back there?

enter the rolling pin

wow, what a drawing!

whoa.

brilliant!