"Gerald McBoing Boing's Symphony"

Though the original Gerald McBoing Boing short is by far the best I do enjoy this one as well. The story doesn't quite getting the handling that the original had but there's still great designs and animation. I particularly like the station owner's design.

Gerald McBoing Boing's Symphony

Uploaded by klangley

"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.

Baby Huey Comic

So, the other day I actually got off my ass and left my office during lunch to take a short trip up to the Museum Of Comics and Cartoon Art to check out he Harvey Comics exhibit. Not as large of an exhibit as I thought but the original art they had was amazing. A couple of pieces by Howie Post stood out immediately and a strip from Johnny Gentilella. I had my phone with me and snapped a couple of pics. Here they are along with a Baby Huey comic from Paramount Animated Comics #4.

I didn't notice how bad this Gentilella pic came out until after I left. Damn.

Art Lozzi

I was watching some Yogi shorts last week that Art Lozzi had painted backgrounds for and noticed that even though different layout artists, Tony Rivera and Ernest Nordli, worked on the shorts the backgrounds were very similar in design. Below are some examples. This got me wondering how much leeway the background artist had when painting the backgrounds. I asked Art this very question and he was kind enough (as always) to respond. Here' what Art had to say.

Hey Kevin,

Great hearing from you, nice to close the gap.
It's a steady amazement to me that you, John K and others are still interested in backgrounds that I painted more than 45 years ago. Yes, I recognize the ones you attached, and swift memories shot by. I'll try to explain the routine.
Keep in mind that Hanna and Barbera was still a new company then. There were the old-timers from MGM who worked very close to eachother and followed strict patterns: layouts, and then backgrounds (usually Bob Gentle and what's-her-name who married Ollie Hanson, -Vera Ohman). The style was established and classic and Monte went in a gave them a hand occasionally.
At the new H-B studio there was not enough time to draw and redraw the layouts. They were being done fast, and by a lot of guys, to get it all done in time. It was a grind. I liked it because we -Monte and I- were given a wide leeway as to style. This is where I began using and developing my own. ..esp with the Flintstones, etc.
I still like the Yogi ones you sent me. Thanks.

Here in Greece, they don't show the HB cartoons. I have seen only about a dozen since I've lived here. They don't even know who Yogi Bear is. So I've been totally out of the picture and in the dark.
The answer to your question is Yes, I was able to exert more control -practically total- over the backgrounds, etc. The layout guys did not establish or instist on a particular style. They more or less sketched what had to be shown... fast, fast, fast... and left the rest up to us. Thank God for Ed Benedict however, who set the first Flintstones styles. Me, I stuck to it more or less. Great stuff, and great person. But the colors and painting techniques were mine.



Also, here's one of the shorts I was watching, "A Wooin' Bruin".

A Wooin' Bruin

Uploaded by klangley

Another Mickey Model Sheet

Here's another model sheet of Mickey that I copy from in what seems to be my eternal quest to draw Mickey properly. Just can't do it. Maybe someday. I'll try and post more often but I've had little time to spare for blogging lately.

Jim Tyer Comics

There's some really great and funny drawing in this Jim Tyer comic.

Tex Avery - "Field And Scream"

Gotta love this cartoon for Ed Benedict's layouts alone and the loads of corny gags. Johnny Johnson's backgrounds are something else here too. He's just as good with more stylized backgrounds as he is with realistic ones. I suppose these are the types of backgrounds we could have seen in the early Hanna-Barbera cartoons had they had more time and money to spend on them.

Field & Scream

Uploaded by klangley

MGM - "The Hungry Wolf"

"The Hungry Wolf" has some great animation in it, then again most of the MGM shorts from the Harman/Ising period on do. I love the scene when the wolf is chasing the mouse and tearing up the floor. Who incidentally, looks like a precursor to Jerry. Think Joe Barbera worked on this short? I don't know who animated that scene or any other for that matter. My knowledge of the Harman/Ising era is pretty limited and what I did know I have since forgotten. My books have been collecting dust in a box.

Looks a little like Jerry huh?

Hungry Wolf

Uploaded by klangley

Chuck Jones - "Scent-Imental Over You"

I realized I rarely post anything by Chuck Jones. What's up with that? Though I don't find all the Pepe Le Pew shorts to be that great I enjoy "Scent-Imental Over You" mostly for the design of the scrawny little thing below.

Scent-Imental Over You

Uploaded by klangley

Harvey Eisenberg - Pete And Tweet

Here's some more Eisenberg from Foxy Fagan #7. Great drawings.

Popeye Model Sheets

I received the Popeye Volume 3 DVD as a gift and have been enjoying it immensely. I wasn't as familiar with the wartime era shorts so some of the cartoons are new to me. I forgot that I have model sheets that I haven't gotten around to posting. These were sent to me by the Masked Stinker so let's all give him a big thanks for sending them. THANKS! Update: Also, many thanks to Bob Jaques for sending me a much higher quality version of the model sheet below. The copy I had was a tease, you couldn't really make out the details on these great poses.

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