Baseball Bugs

A reenacting of the last Astros game.

With baseball season coming to a close, I figured this would be appropriate. Baseball Bugs is one of my favorite Bugs cartoons because I think Bugs as a single ball team reminds me of many of the underdog teams we all root for and want to see win. In my case, that would be the Houston Astros. Good God, those poor guys had a bad season. 

The last game I went to personally, they lost 13 to 6. The conga scene with the Gashouse Gorillas at bat really reminds me of the way the Astros practically let the Cardinals win that night.. Even the scoreboard looked like it did in this 'toon.

Well I like this cartoon because of that and it's friggin' hilarious! Oh, and look out for some good Virgil Ross animation in this one. Enjoy! ;)

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Life With Feathers

Nominated for the 1946 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, but lost to the Tom and Jerry cartoon, Quiet, Please! It's funny how it's Freling's cartoons are the ones to get nominated for this award.

Also the first appearance of one of my favorites and also Freling's baby, Sylvester.

Knighty Knight Bugs

So far, the only Bugs Bunny cartoon to win an Oscar. Nice entry, but I think Hare-Way to the Stars would have been a better choice for this year.

And, as a bonus, here's a video of the cartoon actually winning the award.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6AipTOMpd0&feature=related

Birds Anonymous

It's February! You know what that means? OSCAR MONTH!!

This February, I'm posting cartoons that have been nominated or won an Oscar for Best Animated Short. I posted Rooty Toot Toot earlier today, but this one is one of my all-time favorite cartoon that was recognized by the Academy as well as, what I think, the best Sylvester-Tweety cartoon.

I just love the black humor in this one. What Sylvester goes through in this cartoon is a definite parallel to anyone that has ever tried to give up an addiction, whether it's smoking, alcohol, drugs, sex, or anything else. There' s also a pretty good morale summed up by Tweety at the end. And of course, it's pulled off with the traditional Warner Bros. slapstick.

Ed Seltzer had died before this cartoon won, but Mel Blanc accepted it for him. He later went on to say that this was one of his favorites to voice for, especially Sylvester.

Do I think Birds Anonymous deserved it's Oscar?

Yes. Yes I do.

Two Crows From Tacos

This post is dedicated to two forgotten characters in Looney Tunes history: Jose and Manuel, the two Mexicali Crows. They were made as part of WB's funny Mexican cannon and made around the same time as another Mexican who overshadows them, Speedy Gonzales. While Speedy is quick and smart, these two are the polar opposite, happily being lazy and very, very stupid.

Jose is the short, fat one and is always quick to say that he's the "bre-ains" of the two. Manuel is the skinny one and possibly, the dumber of the two. They first appeared in Two Crows From Tacos, an underrated 1956 gem by Friz Freling and perhaps one of the most controversial cartoons he ever made.

The biggest controversy over this one are the sterotypes portrayed here. Even though the stereotypes are horrific, the art, slapstick, and dialogue are what make it work. Art Davis, I believe, animated a huge bulk of this short and Virgil Ross (seemingly) animates the scene where Jose and Manuel beat up the cactus for having their "grlass-hopp-er". There's also a very unique ending to this cartoon. Instead of an iris out, we get to see a beautiful Mexican sunset as they sing their favorite song, offbeat but happily, with the immortal words, "That's all, folks!" written over the background.

The two crows reappeared in a 1959 Speedy Gonzales cartoon called Mexicali Shmoes (this time as cats), where they try to catch Speedy the same way they tried to catch their grasshopper as crows. With the same result, of course! It's probably my favorite cartoon the two crows were in. It was also nominated for the 1959 Academy Awards for Best Animated Subject and introduced Speedy's cousin, Slowpoke.

Their final appearance together was in the 1962 short, Crow's Feat, again directed by Freling. They're back as crows and manage to be outwitted by, of all people, Elmer Fudd! (they mistake him as a"scares-crow")

Hey, Jose! A ticking corn!

The Pink Panther (1963)

In my mind, the original Pink Panther from 1963 is one of the best movies ever made. Not only did this movie jump-start the careers of Blake Edwards, Peter Sellers, and musician Henry Mancini, it also opened a huge door for Warner Bros directors Hawley Pratt and Friz Freleng. In general, the movie is wonderful and if you haven't seen it, then go rent it (or buy it) and watch it.

Anyway, I made this post to concede with my previous posts on Pink Panther opening credits. The very first one from '63 has, in my opinion, the best look for the coolest pink feline around. Freleng and Pratt made this character very sleak looking, but it fits the character well. The claws are cool and I also love how he doesn't look so anorexic here. The panther trying to sneak his name in the credits always makes me laugh.

Well, anyway, here is the video. Enjoy!

Pink Panther titles

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge fan of The Pink Panther movies. The best were the ones with Peter Sellers and Blake Edwards involved of course. However, I also love the animated sequences from each movie's start, so I picked a few of my favorites and posted them here.

#1: A Shot in the Dark (1964)

A Shot in the Dark Titles (1964)
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006. - Classic TV and last night's shows, online.
My personal favorite Pink Panther movie of all. While not the first Pink Panther or the best animated, but the musical score by Henry Mancini is charming and perfectly fits Inspector Clouseau's personality.

#2: The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)

The third Pink Panther movie. This scene was animated by Richard Williams and Ken Harris and is arguably very good considering the year it was made. Williams and Harris used 24 frames a second here vs. 12. They also animated The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) and a few commercials.

#3: Trail of the Pink Panther (1982)

Trail Of The Pink Panther - Intro (1982)
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006. - Watch feature films and entire TV shows.
Animated by Freleng-DePatte studios, this one was one of the more creative intros done with the series. Sadly, this was Sellers' last P.P. movie before he died of a heart attack. He was only 54. At least this movie was dedicated to him and remains one of the funniest in the series.

#4. The Pink Panther (2006)

I won't get in too deep with this one. I thought this one's intro had a quirk similar to the originals, but the movie itself sure wasn't. Steve Martin was o.k. in this movie, but nothing compared to what Sellers did with Clouseau.

Foxy by Proxy

What Friz Freling lacks in animation quality, he makes up for with really funny cartoons, like this one. Foxy is definitely one of my favorite Bugs Bunny cartoons directed by Freling. The train track scene always leaves me howling wth laughter! I swear, It also looks like one of Bob McKimson's animators did a scene on this one. It's the scene where Bugs tries to lose the other hunting dogs after the stupid one caught the train. If I'm wrong let me know.

Here's some good drawings from the cartoon. A little light on the lines, though...

Merrie Melodies - Foxy by Proxy (1952)
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006

Rabbit Transit

The last, but certainly the least, of the "Tortoise vs. Hare" bugs cartoons. Friz Freling tried to make the theme of Bugs vs. Cecil more down-to-earth for this one. Well it worked.

Now don't get me wrong, I thought this one is funny, but it doesn't have the energy and fun of the previous two shorts. Anyway, watch it here:

Wild and Woolly Hare

Just a Bugs Bunny cartoon I posted at someone's request. It's a lot of fun to watch, so enjoy!

Person to Bunny

Nothing special here other than it's fun to watch. It's a nice parody of the TV show, "Person to Person", a popular TV program back in 1960. Nice acting from Mel Blanc, Daws Butler, and Arthur Q. Bryant (This was the last time he voiced Elmer Fudd.) So enjoy "Person to Bunny". :)

Merrie Melodies - Person to Bunny (1960)
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006