Rooty Toot Toot

This is one of my favorite cartoons ever! I just can't see anything wrong with it. Even if I'm used to seeing more characters drawn like Bugs or Mickey, I love the way UPA drew their cartoons because they seemed to be the only ones who could do this style with perfection. (After all, they invented it!) I also like the way Frankie does almost every movement on tip-toe, like a ballerina. Wonder who animated her? Maybe Pat Matthews?

I also love the timing of this cartoon. Everything is in tune to the song, Frankie and Johnnie, even if they aren't singing. Oh, and Thurl Ravenscroft plays Honest John, Frankie's lawyer.

This one was also nominated for an Oscar in 1952 for Best Animated Short Film. It lost to the Tom and Jerry cartoon, The Two Mouseketeers. Shame. It's such a brilliant movie.

Peace on Earth

One of the best cartoons to come from Hugh Hartman's department at MGM. A great cartoon for the holidays.

Invitation to the Dance

I know I posted another scene from this movie, but I really wanted to share this clip from YouTube with you guys. It's a scene from a documentary about how the movie involved using a reference model for the animators. The end result is a very beautiful scene from the movies: the colors, the dancing, the music, the flawless mixing of Gene Kelly with this animated princess, everything was just beautiful. Just watch and see!

The Walt Disney Animation Archives series

I just bought the newest book from this series of books. I have to admit that like the first two books, this one is very captivating. The book covers almost every era of Disney animation, chock full of wonderful storyboards, character designs, and concept art. I'm especially fond of Mary Blair's contributions. Below is a picture by Mary Blair from Alice in Wonderland and a sketch from The Jungle Book.

If you're a classic Disney animation fan (like yours truly) then this book along with the other two in the series is worth the buy. The catch is that they're really expensive if you try to buy them at a book store (they're about $50 a pop!) Luckily, Amazon.com has this book and the other two for about $31.50 (37% off!) So yeah, I recommend reading all three.

Lucky

This is Lucky, a rabbit who surprisingly looks very similar to Ralph. Well, don't be surprised. In the show's history, Lucky was the original Ralph on A Day at the Zoo, being very popular until his contract expired and the studio heads quickly replaced him with Ralph. Ever since, Lucky had never been the same, plotting against and seeking vengeance on Ralph for what happened to him.

Lucky on the whole is a very twisted and evil character. He can be called the polar opposite of Ralph. Where Ralph is kind and good-natured, Lucky is cruel, relentless, and somewhat a glory-hound. He merely wants to be back in the limelight and will get there by any means necessary.

Professor Axel

A brand new character. This is Professor Axel, a highly intelligent and somewhat eccentric axolotl. He is an expert in virtually anything scientific and mathematical. He's also an accomplished inventor... in his mind. His only flaw is that he's limited to living in water, thanks to the gills on the side of his head.

Oh yes! He also is fluent in over 20 languages and has a German accent when speaking English.

Turkey Jerky

No, it's not the Tex Avery cartoon.

And now for something completely different...

I've been on an Animaniacs kick lately. I admit, it's a wonderful show with great animation and stories throughout. I could go on about this great show, but I want to keep this post short.

In a nutshell, this episode is the only Thanksgiving episode that I know of and it's a nice satire of the story of the first Turkey Day and Miles Standish, chock full of the zany, fast-paced, Marx-Bros-esque humor found in the Warner Bros cartoons. Enjoy it and happy early Thanksgiving.

Good night, everybody!

New Colors for Ralph

What do you folks think? These colors or the original light brown Ralph?

(Blooper) Bunny

This is one of the Bugs Bunny shorts made in the early 90's. This one was made for the 51rst birthday of everyone's favorite rabbit. The designs on the characters may be stock images from WB of that time, but the writing and directing here is worth mentioning. It was directed by Greg Ford and Terry Lennon, who previously directed Invasion of the Bunny Snatchers. Like the shorts from the 50's, this and Bunny Snatchers have sort of a very risqué sense of humor, considering when it was made. Both cartoons actually hammer how big-shot executives seemed to have ruined classic characters we love. However, Bunny Snatchers examined this more and with funnier results. (Blooper) Bunny is still worth a look. After all, it is a product of the early 90's.

Ganesha

My version of my favorite Hindu god.