The Mouse on 57th Street

In honor of the new Chuck Jones documentary and marathon on tonight on TMC, I thought I'd post this underrated feature directed by Mr. Jones.

This cartoon has the honor of being the last Warner Bros cartoon written by Mike Maltese. It's really hard to find and just as hard to see on TV. I think I only saw it once on Cartoon Network before I rediscovered it on YouTube.

Anyway, this is one of Chuck's best and most unique cartoons he did at Warner Bros. I don't think he ever made another short like this during his career.

Merrie Melodies - The Mouse On 57th Street (1961)
by Cartoonzof2006

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

Woodsman, Spare That Tree

I'd like to drift away from all the big animation studios for a minute to talk about a wonderful, under-rated and rarely seen series of cartoons: the Fox and Crow cartoons from Columbia pictures. These are real gems from the golden Age and rarely ever talked about, even by today's big shots of the business.

I like that the whole series, like Tom and Jerry or the Coyote and Roadrunner, revolves around the chemistry between two different characters except that they aren't out to kill each other. The characters go well together, and never needed a third supporting character to make it work. I don't think they ever did.

Anyway, the example I'm showing you is the second one of this two-dozen titled series and my personal favorite out of all of them. I can't really say anything bad about this one. The backgrounds are amazing and the animation is the best of the series. I heard Emery Hawkins animated at least two scenes in this, but I bet he did more judging by some of the drawings and the way the Fox looks and moves. Also, the voices really fit the characters better than the first cartoon, The Fox and the Grapes to me. Here, they're voiced by Frank Graham and Paul Frees (God love them both!) respectively versus the first one where both were performed by Mel Blanc. (the greatest voice actor ever!) No offence to Blanc lovers, but Graham and Frees portray the pair better.

I also like the music and how the beginning of almost each one is introduced by a Johann Strauss waltz and makes up the bulk of the score. In this one, it's Künstlerleben (An Artist's Life), Op. 316.

Any who, take a look for yourself and see what I'm talking about. Feel free to comment if you like it. :)

Fox & Crow - Woodsman, Spare That Tree (1942)
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006

Jumpin' Jupiter

My favorite Porky and Sylvester cartoon. I love the way Chuck draws Sylvester in his cartoons. It's the best one to me next to Clampett's version. Jumpin' Jupiter has amazing backgrounds, funny jokes, and a good story with some good animation. Also, one of the instant martians from Hare-Way to the Stars makes an appearance.

Merrie Melodies - Jumpin' Jupiter (1955)
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006

Nelly's Folly

A rather Disney-esque version of One Froggy Evening, but still worth a watch or two. That giraffe's vocals are golden! Was also nominated for an Academy Award.

Merrie Melodies - Nelly's Folly
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006

All the Cats Join In

Eye and ear candy is the best way to describe this short from Make Mine Music. This Disney short is the jazziest cartoon I've ever seen. I'm not sure who directed it, but I do know that Fred Moore is the primary animator. He has a very appealing style of drawing girls here. (Not that I'm perverted or anything...)

The music is really what sets the cartoon in stone for me. Benny Goodman is one of my favorite jazz musicians and he was definitely a good pick for this short.

Below are some of the drawings by Fred Moore.

Make Mine Music - All the Cats Join In (1946)
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006

Pluto's Christmas Tree

This cartoon is pretty cute. It has good animation as usual, cute story, ect.
The thing about Pluto's Christmas Tree is that it has very beautiful backgrounds, especially during the scene where Chip and Dale look around their newly decorated home.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, or whatever holiday it is you celebrate! And may your every New Year dream come true!

Mickey Mouse - Pluto's Christmas Tree (1952)
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006

Tiger Trouble

The best of the Goofy cartoons. Period.

Like a lot of Jack Kinney's cartoons, this one has a Warner Bros feel to it. The music's very jazzy, the animation is close if not a little better, and the gags are hilarious!

Speaking of animation, Milt Kahl did this short, too! He did most of the animation on the tiger here. His animation of the big cat wrestling with Goofy is priceless! It's very fluid, solid, and very funny. Just the things that animation is all about!

Here's some sketches by Bill Beet, too.

Goofy - Tiger Trouble (1945)
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006

Lake Titicaca

This short Donald Duck cartoon is actually form the 1943 film Saludos Amigos

I posted this one due to my recent interest of Milt Kahl's great contributions to Disney. He really was a great animator with amazing drawings. Kahl was a very good draftsmen as well as one of my heroes. He really sets high standards for his work and achieves it better than just "okay". Here, he animates the scene with Donald and the llama on the suspension bridge as well as the scene before with the llama.

Other than Kahl's work, the backgrounds are terrific and the gags are cute as well. Enjoy this one 'cause there's more where that came from! :)

Donald Duck - Lake Titicaca (1943)
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006

Hippety Hopper

I just got into watching Robert McKimson cartoons more, and I must say that his early directing attempts were certainly better than what would come later. I find McKimson an adequate director, but that's only because he really was just an animator at heart.

His early cartoons he directed had very fun and fluid animation, and the cartoons with the very silent character, Hippety Hopper, are good examples of what I'm talking about. Hippety may not be as cute as he was later, but then again McKimson wasn't about cute.

I thought it was great watching Sylvester's reactions to the baby kangaroo and the dog trying to help him out. The ending was a real knee-slapper, too! I'll also post more McKimson cartoons later, so enjoy this one for now.

Merrie Melodies - Hippity Hopper (1949)
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006

Here's another great Hippety cartoon, Pop in Pop!

Merrie Melodies - Pop 'im Pop! (1950)
Uploaded by Cartoonzof2006