Mar 30, 2020

It's all about Betty Boop this week as we discuss our favorite made-of-pen-and-ink moments from the Fleischer Studio. Red hot jazz, sex, charisma and girl power made her a superstar in the early sound era, and we highlight a prime example of the series: Betty Boop's Penthouse. Bonus: a "cancel"-worthy comment from...

Mar 16, 2020

The King of Cartoons finally gets his due! We examine the stunning new Blu-Ray release from Warner Archive with 19 of his classic MGM cartoons that illustrate just how Tex Avery was a master of his medium right down to the frame. Highlights include: Bob remembers the time he met Tex! The bad camerawork in these films!...

Mar 2, 2020

It's our first installment of Animation ID: an "insider baseball" look at specific classic animators and their scenes! We give an overview of Mike Lah, the funniest animator the MGM cartoon studio ever had. He breathed comic life into Barney Bear, Tom and Jerry, Droopy, and Spike and made Tex Avery even funnier. Bob and...

Feb 17, 2020

We finally discuss the most famous of the Warner directors, Chuck Jones, in his first decade! Hear about his early days and flops, the legend of his approach to character layout, his gifted animators, and his most important collaborator, writer Mike Maltese. Our highlighted cartoon is Jones' '40s zenith, Long-Haired...

Feb 3, 2020

Did you know Gabby Goat, Porky Pig's one-time miserable sidekick, helps illustrate a fascinating chapter in the story of Warner cartoons? Listen as we discuss Mickey Mouse co-creator Ub Iwerks' crash-and-burn directing for Leon Schlesinger, and how Bob Clampett took his place! And just why did Clampett's own...