Mickey Mouse comic by Basil Wolverton

Full Comic Here

No, this is not a premature April fool's joke, there really is a Basil Woverton drawn Mickey Mouse. I'm as surprised and awestruck as you.

Thanks to Comics Comics for the discovery.

Pals [aka Christmas Night] (by Jim Tyer)

(07:26)

There are many "what if" versions of cartoon history; what if the Flesichers had made feature length films during their prime(1930-1934)? What if Bob Clampett's unit came under Scribner's control, rather than Mckimson's? Perhaps something of an answer to the latter question can come with the above short. Scribner was a brilliant and crazy animator, as was Jim Tyer (although, admittedly both were also drastically different in many ways).

The above cartoon is one of Tyer's few directing credits, oddly enough for the Van Buren Studio, one of the "Little King" series. It's notably crude in design, even for the time. It's very proto-UPA, proving that that particular style isn't new (among other evidence) as well as how Tyer had this particular idea of form far before the 1950's.

It's also an interesting note in the question of "do great animators make great directors?". Tyer's entry is interesting in that because he is the director there is a notable lack of his insane animation --although to be fair he was still in his infancy as this stage--. It's also carried on Tyer's famous apprentice Ralph Bakshi. He was also a great animator, but as his film progressed he often like to let other carry out his ideas, rather than use his doodles as key frames(the complete opposite of Chuck Jones). Was this part of his live and let live attitude, famously leaned from Tyer himself(check the links at the bottom)? Who knows. In any case an interesting cartoon from the golden age of animation.

Also, this and every Little King short in in a wonderful Thunderbean DVD,with far better quality than the youtube coding. SO if you like this short be sure to support a great company who cares about classic animation.The Complete Animated Adventures of the Little King

Cover to Cover: Star*Reach

Howard Chaykin

Neal Adams

Frank Brunner

Howard Chaykin

Howard Chaykin

Jeff Jones

Barry Windsor-Smith

P. Craig Russell

Ken Steacy

Frank Brunner

Ken Steacy

Frank Brunner

Steve Leialoha

Ken Steacy

Steve Leialoha

Ken Steacy

Jeff Bonivert

Lee Marrs

All covers of the title series from the company with the same name. I think the first three are classic, the seventeenth good and the rest fine. Decide for yourself(and tell me in the comments).

Backstory

Mike Judge Interview by John Kricfalusi

(Image by Amir Avni)

(Beavis and Butthead) Interview-1994

Pogo's Special Birthday Special (by Chuck Jones)

Part 1 (08:25)


Part 2 (08:58)


Part 3 (07:41)

Made in 1969, for the 20th anniversary of the Pogo Strip, Pogo's Special Birthday Special was Chuck Jones'(along with Ben Washham) faithful adaptation, similar to the more famous Grinch Special. But while the latter was universally hailed, Birthday Special is a matter of debate among both fans of and not of the original strip(as well as Jones'); some viewing it as a failure to capture the spirit of Walt Kelly's original work(it should be noted that Kelly himself contributed to the story,as well as voicing some characters).

Personally I find it very much an enjoyable program, with the small caveat of it being rather wordy, which is odd considering how critical Jones was of illustrated radio animation, the guidelines of which Birthday Party rarely deviates from.

Tell you what, you decide whether it trashes the source material or not, with scans of it courtesy from the asifa archive, and an introduction from Mike Fontanelli.

Walt Kelly's Pogo

Extra:
Concept Art
(From Abe Levitow's site)

Forbidden Animation (thematically of Batman)

This single shot was promoted to show the glass ceiling of subjects the Batman animated series was allowed --which you can see by turning upside down--, although it was still a little looser than 1980's cartoons. Also, it's a really nice, well constructed picture (courtesy of Bruce Timm), which I always appreciate.

Bimbo's Initiation (by Grim and Dave)

Earlier today I was asked who my favorite animator was. I can never decide permanently, but I think Grim Natwick would be a good choice. When he worked with the great Dave Fleischer it made the cartoons that cement The Fleischers' as my favorite cartoon studio (until they started imitating Disney). The above cartoon is one of those defining cartoons, and also unfortunately the last of Natiwck's first era of the Fleischers'. This is probably the finest print you will find of this cartoon unless it's released on DVD or shown in a theater. Wanna be a member like me?