Pat Matthews - "Jungle Jive" Animation

This is a short clip of some of Pat Matthews' animation in the Shamus Culhane directed short "Jungle Jive". I love the way Matthews animates a character being surprised. A quick pop straight up with little to no inbetweening. There's a lot of that in his scenes from the Woody Woodpecker short "Banquet Busters".

"Keep It Cool Baby"

I came across this cartoon on Youtube written by Shamus Culhane and Ruth Kneitel (Max Fleischer's daugther) and rather enjoyed it. I didn't know what to expect as I'm really unfamiliar with the cartoons made at Paramount when Culhane was running the studio. I'm not too fond of the overly simple character designs but the voice acting is great.

Hemo The Magnificent

"Hemo The Magnificent" is an old educational film with animation produced by Shamus Culhane Productions. Though Culhane had probably little to no creative input as the animation was directed by Bill Hurtz. It features the voices of Mel Blanc, June Foray, Marvin Miller, and even an on screen appearance by Sterling Holloway. Here's the introductory scene from "Hemo". I have to say I love the background used in the first animated scenes.

Hemo The Magnificent-Intro

Uploaded by klangley

Shamus Culhane - "Jungle Jive"

Here's a clip from "Jungle Jive", directed by Shamus Culhane. I'm very fond of the Lantz Swing Symphonies series even though they're not loaded with a ton of gags. I particularly love the ones that Culhane made with Art Heinemann as his layout/color stylist. The simplified, flat colored backgrounds are unlike what was being done in most other cartoons at the time.

Jungle Jive-Shamus Culhane

Uploaded by klangley

Andy Panda - "Meatless Tuesday"

Now that everyone's gone out and picked up the new Woody set I wanted to share one of my favorite Andy Panda shorts. I was dissappointed to see that "Meatless Tuesday" wasn't included on the set. But since "Playful Pelican" is on part of that "Spook-A-Nanny" bonus I got over it. Besides I've still got my VHS copy of it. Shamus Culhane directed this short, he had no real interest in Andy Panda as a character but I think the few he did were great. While this short is as great as "Fish Fry" it's definitely better than the Andy Panda shorts that were being made before his arrival at Lantz. This is also Pat Matthews first screen credit at Lantz. Thank god for that Woody set, I spent the other night freeze framing his animation. He is brilliant.

Meatless Tuesday

Uploaded by klangley

The Boogie Woogie Man

Here's another cartoon that I posted that was taken off of Youtube a while back. It's of poor quality but it's the only copy I have. Another great Culhane short.

The Boogie Woogie Man

Uploaded by klangley

Cartoons and Timing to Music

The timing of cartoons to music is a subject I've been spending a lot of my time on. I should really be drawing instead, but it's something I really want to learn and be able to put into practice. Here's some short scenes that I particularly like and have been studying closely, along with many others. I didn't include any Tom and Jerry clips only because I'm going to do a separate post on Bill Hanna, who is really one of the best at timing to music, at least in my eyes he is.

This first clip is Shamus Culhane's animation from the Disney short "Hawaiian Holiday". Culhane, to me is one the best at timing to music. I think a lot of his cartoons at Lantz Studios really stand out because of his feel for music. Watch this scene with the sound off and then with it on to see how effective his animation was.

Culhane-Hawaiian Holiday

Uploaded by klangley

This clip from Dick Lundy's short "Banquet Busters" is more subtle. The rhythym is used to accent actions. Watch when Wally Walrus first starts walking with the platter, even the steam puffs out on the beat. I wonder if Lundy indicated that on his bar sheets or of the animator worked that out on his own?

Banquet Busters

Uploaded by klangley

This dance from Milt Gross' "Jitterbug Follies" is just great. (Is this not one of the funniest cartoons ever?)

Jitterbug Follies

Uploaded by klangley

Another one from Dick Lundy, this one's from "Apple Andy". I could watch these apple cores dance all day without ever tiring of it. Even when they first scramble around and about is right on the beat. Could anyone tell my why every Culhane and Lundy short from Lantz isn't out on DVD!?!? I love them.

Apple Andy

Uploaded by klangley

This dance from "Mickey's Birthday Party", animated by Ken Muse (ID by Thad) just floors me. I think it's perfect, so entertaining. It actually made me like Mickey, who I disliked for many years.

Mickey's Birthday Party

Uploaded by klangley

I don't have to say anything about any scene from "Coal Black", it's just pure entertainment. Clampett certainly had a feel for jazz.

Coal Black

Uploaded by klangley

Barber of Seville Storyboard

I was going to post these storyboard pictures from Barber Of Seville starring Woody Woodpecker last night but I was tired so I just went to bed. Today, I checked Thad K's blog Animation ID, like I do everyday, and by coincidence he had posted the whole cartoon with the promise of why it's one of the greatest cartoons ever. Which it is. So you can really get you fill of this great cartoon between the two posts. Be sure to check Thad's blog for more incite into this cartoon.

Barber Of Seville was the first Woody cartoon that Shamus Culhane directed. It really shows why he was such a great director. He had a real knack for timing his cartoons to music. He also used this cartoon as an opportunity to employ fast cutting. As the music gets faster through the cartoon he just cuts from one scene to the next faster and faster. Even cutting between just twelve and even as little as six frames without ever losing the viewer. Just watch the cartoon on Thad's blog to see it action. This cartoon also features a more appealing and simplified Woody design care of layout man Art Heinemann. Besides, how could you not love a cartoon with line "The rinky dink with a stinky kink" in it?

Pied Piper of Basin Street and Boogie Woogie Man

I used to love watching Walter Lantz cartoons as a kid. I'm especially fond of Darrell Calker's music. You can't beat the combination of swing and cartoons. It's too bad this stuff isn't out on DVD. Here's a couple of Swing Symphonies I uploaded to Youtube. Enjoy! Thanks to Amid at Cartoon Brew for the link.