Dec 23, 2019

This week it's Yuletide cheer times five from the Fleischer and Famous studios, with Popeye, Bluto, Olive Oyl, Grampy, Herman & Katnip, and Baby Huey! We discuss how these Christmas cartoons were mostly made by Jewish producers and animators, the incredible strengths of Seasin's Greetinks! from Popeye's first...

Dec 9, 2019

The Dean of Cartoons, Friz Freleng, is this week’s focus, zeroing in on his ‘40s golden era as Warner’s “senior director”, which birthed Warner superstars and earned the studio its first Oscar! Our cartoon discussion is the Freleng directed-and-written Rabbit Every Monday, one of his many classic Bugs...

Nov 25, 2019

Walter Lantz produced cartoons that rarely aspired to be more than gag-driven potboilers. But once in a while some talented guys strived to do more within those restraints. Hear the stories of Lantz's early days and his prized creation Woody Woodpecker. We also analyze the brutal and beautiful Who's Cookin'...

Nov 11, 2019

This week is our first installment of Myth-Guided History, where we set the record straight on common cartoon history fallacies. We chat about the conception and development of beloved Warner stars Bugs Bunny (who was never "Happy Rabbit") and Elmer Fudd! And our dissection of Wabbit Twouble offers a not-so-startling...

Oct 28, 2019

If you're at the end of your rope, you'd better give up all hope! We look at the uniquely chaotic world of Max and Dave Fleischer's Talkartoons, their early sound series, and just what makes these New York-brewed slices of the Depression so exciting to watch. And just in time for Halloween, our in-depth discussion...