Donald's Camera

Since I'll be in DisneyWorld next week, I'd thought I'd show one of my favorite Disney shorts. Yes, it's Donald. And yes, it's directed by the guy who created the duck and one of the best cartoon directors, Dick Lundy. The story is rather basic, but as expected from Disney, animation is top notch. There's also a pretty cool running cycle from the woodpecker character. (Funny. 6 years after this was made, Lundy would be directing some of the best Woody Woodpecker cartoons at Walter Lantz' studio. Coincidence?)

The biggest reason why I like this short is because Lundy has a few scenes where Donald's expressions aren't the kinds you would see in the "How to Draw Disney Characters" manual. As in some of them look exaggerated, but not quite on the Warner Bros. or Tex Avery level. It's the scene with the toothpaste worm dance gag. The duck had never looked more evil! (especially in the third picture!)

Dog Tax Dodgers

I'm really starting to get into Walter Lantz cartoons. It's probably because almost every one that I've seen has been very cartoony and also appealing to me, not only to look at but also because they're very funny. This cartoon is a good example of what I'm talking about. I thought it was funny just to see Andy Panda and Wally Walrus together in the same picture. They seem to work well together in this cartoon. I wonder if there's more like it?
Pat Matthews' animation is superb as usual and I really like how Andy looks in this era with Dick Lundy.

Andy Panda - Dog Tax Dodgers (1948)
by Cartoonzof2006

Drooler's Delight

This is one of my favorite Woody Woodpecker cartoons. No suprise, it also comes form my favorite director from Walter Lantz' studios, Dick Lundy. It's not just the jokes and the really loose animation from Pat Matthews that makes me like Lundy's cartoons. He really seemed to help put Woody at the peak of his cartoon career. I've noticed, not only does Woody look his best with Lundy, but also his voice has better acting to it. Before with people like Shamus Culhane, who also did some good Woody toons, his actor Ben Hardaway seemed to not have too much experience acting. Woody's voice with Culhane and before this cartoon seemed to lack emotion. Here and with other late Lundy cartoons, it's improving. Maybe Hardaway got lessons or something. Who knows?

Anyway, Drooler's Delight is a gem from this era of animation, and it's definitely worth the watch. After this, I think Woody gave a new meaning to "booby traps".


Here's a model sheet drawn by Fred Moore. (I think that's who drew this.)



EDIT: By the way, I've heard that Ed Love was the only one who animated this. He did a great job for being the only animator here!

Woody Woodpecker - Drooler's Delight (1949)
by Cartoonzof2006

Wee-Willy Wildcat

Yup. Willy Wildcat. The meanest kid that ever lived!
Another great Barney Bear cartoon and another fine addition to the Dick Lundy film collection. I feel sorry for poor Barney because he tries everything to bond with the kid, gets practically killed. The end was the payoff of the short.
Yessir, that child psychology really works, don't it?

Barney Bear - Wee-Willy Wildcat (1953)
by Cartoonzof2006

Cobs and Robbers

I don't think I ever covered a Barney Bear cartoon before, but here goes...
Now, Barney was made back in 1941 by Rudie Ising. His earliest shorts were kinda Disney-esque, but rather dull to me. His last official cartoons were made in the 50's by Dick Lundy. I think these were the best thatnks to great comic timing. Lundy's cartoons weren't funny on the same level as Tex Avery's, but still laughable.
Cobs and Robbers is actually my favorite one from this era. The wind-up crow bait gag was just hilarious. Don't know who animated it, but combined with Scott Bradley's musical score - genius!
Oh, and look at the card around 1:27! ;)

Barney Bear - Cobs and Robbers (1953)
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006 - Full seasons and entire episodes online.

Musical Moments from Chopin

One superb musical cartoon. I'm a sucker for cartoons timed to music, and at the Walter Lantz studio, no one does it better than ex-disney animator Dick Lundy. He really knew how to time actions with music. I think Lundy may have been in charge of the "Musical Minatures" series. This one in particular has various pieces from classical pianist Frédéric Chopin instead of focusing on just one piece of music.

Musical Minatures - Musical Moments from Chopin (1946)
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