Famous Era Popeye Model Sheets

Here's a few Popeye model sheets from the Famous studio days. I really like the Famous Popeye's made in the 40's but the series definitely ran out of gas in the 50s. Anyone know if that's Tyer handling the scene in "Mess Production" when Olive punches in at the timeclock? Looks like it to me.

Marty Taras

Here's a two page Baby Huey story by Famous Studios animator Marty Taras from Little Audrey #27. It's up for auction but the price is too steep for this guy.

Tom Ford Painting For Sale

I was asked if I could possibly help sell a background painting that was by Tom Ford, who was a background painter at Famous Studios. I don't know much else about Ford's career but if anyone knows anything please feel free to share it here. I'm not sure what cartoon it's from but Linda sent me a few shots of it and if you're interested just email me and I'll pass along your info to her.

Herman Model Sheet

Here's an early model sheet of Herman from Famous Studios.

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.

Little Audrey Model Sheet

These are for Kevin. I don't know what the Melvin model sheet is from. In fact, I don't even remember where I found these.

Baby Huey - "One Quack Mind"

I'm really looking forward to the upcoming Harvey Comics Classics book featuring Baby Huey so I thought I'd share another short. There's a really fun walk cycle in the beginning of this one. Robert Little painted the backgrounds on this short. Check out the Famous Studios label for more backgrounds from other Famous artists.

One Quack Mind

Uploaded by klangley

Popeye - "Klondike Casanova"

I'm a pretty big fan of most all the Famous Studios shorts I've seen, in spite of the shortcomings of a lot of them. Though during the first few years after the studio's formation they released some pretty damn good cartoons. The animation is really great in a lot them. The early Popeye and Little Lulu shorts being the best, IMO. "Klondike Casanova" has some great animation in it, courtesy of Johnny Gentilella. Popeye's voice was provided by Harry Foster Welch as Jack Mercer had been drafted by the Army.

Klondike Casanova

Uploaded by klangley

A G-G-G-Ghost ?!?

Here's a great take from the 1952 Casper short "Spunky Skunky". Yes, that's right I said Casper. What can I say, my boys love Casper so we watch the cartoons quite often. And I'm a sucker for most Famous cartoons. Even when it's the same story over and over.

Uploaded by klangley

Famous Studios - "The Voice Of The Turkey"

Here's a Thanksgiving themed cartoon, the 1950 short "The Voice Of The Turkey". I really love Famous Studios cartoons. I know a large percentage of them rely heavily on the same story formulas for each character but I've always loved the animation, the backgrounds, music and voice acting. The backgrounds in this short are really great and were painted by Tom Ford, one of my favorites from any studio.

Tom Ford's backgrounds

The Voice Of The Turkey

Uploaded by klangley

Baby Huey - "Git Along Lil' Duckie"

I mentioned in the Three Bears post my love for overgrown cartoon morons. Well, here's a cartoon of another of my favorites, Baby Huey. Marty Taras animates the beginning scene of Huey and his mother, ain't he great? Plus there's some great backgrounds by Robert Connavale.

Git Along Lil Duckie

Uploaded by klangley

Famous Studios Backgrounds-Robert Little

Here's some screen grabs of Robert Little's backgrounds from various cartoons. I know nothing about him, but his backgrounds in a lot of the Casper shorts make them worth watching. I love the backgrounds he did in the Little Lulu short "Cad and Caddy".

Little Audrey-"Song Of The Birds" (1949) Check out more screen shots here.

Little Audrey-"Tarts and Flowers" (1950)

Casper-"Too Boo Or Not to Boo" (1951)

Baby Huey-"One Quack Mind" (1951)

Casper-"Spunky Skunky" (1952)

Caper-"Boo Moon" (1954)

Little Audrey-"The Seapreme Court" (1954)

Herman and Katnip-"Rail Rodents" (1954)

Herman and Katnip-"Cat In The Act" (1957)

Casper-"Hooky Spooky" (1957)

Casper-"Ice Scream" (1957)

Noveltoon-"The Animal Fair" (1959)