Pop Culture and Walter Lantz Character Blog

Inspector Gadget Worth Checking Out

2012-01-21T11:26:00.000-06:00

I am watching the live-action Inspector Gadget movie from 1999. Although he is not from the Golden Age of cartoons, he is a great character and worth a post. For more information on Inspection Gadget, visit: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085033/

Look Back ...

2012-01-11T00:42:00.000-06:00

Top Film Stars of the 1940's

Author: Carl DiNello

Note from blog administrator: Let's take a look back at the 1940s. This is the decade when Woody Woodpecker, Andy Panda and other Golden Age toons were in their prime and America was engulfed in World War II.

Having to once again endure war years, Hollywood, and its top film stars of the 1940's, continued to provide quality entertainment to their audience. Although the early part of the decade provided financial challenges to the entire nation, Americas desire for entertainment was still in great demand. In an effort to meet the demand, and continue with its Golden Era, Hollywood was once again successful in providing a number of talented new stars and producing many popular films.

One of the most iconic movie stars of this period, or any peried, was Bette Davis. Davis has been regarded by numerous feminist historians as one of the most influential actresses in leading the way for more important and meaningful women's roles on the silver screen.

Her film accomplishments are legendary, having won two Best Actress Awards for her roles in Jezebel (1938) and Dangerous (1940). She would also receive five more Oscar nominations for her performances in Dark Victory (1940), The Letter (1941), The Little Foxes (1942), Now Voyager (1943) and Mr. Skeffington (1944). Her talent has firmly established Bette Davis as one of the most honored and respected actresses in Hollywood history.

During the 1940's, Davis would become one of Hollywood's highest paid actresses, and used her notoriety and wealth to contribute greatly to supporting the World War II effort by assisting the Hollywood Canteen's programs for GI's who passed through the Los Angeles area.

Another 1940's film icon, and one of Hollywood's most popular stars, was the great Humphrey Bogart. During this decade, Bogart deservedly earned his reputation in Hollywood as one of their most talented and hardest working stars.

Bogart's impact on the silver screen was huge. Some of his more notable staring roles included High Sierra (1941), The Maltese Falcon (1941), and the classic war time propaganda film Casablanca (1942). His role in Casablanca would earn him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, launching him into stardom and making him the highest paid actor in Hollywood.

Some of Humphrey Bogart's most popular roles were those in which he teamed up with actress Lauren Bacall. The most notable being To Have and Have Not (1944), The Big Sleep (1946), Dark Passage (1947), and the famous and memorable Key Largo (1948).

The success of their screen pairing carried over to their personal lives as the two stars would eventually be married and come to be recognized as the "star power couple" of Hollywood.

Another movie fan favorite to kick off a very successful film career in the 1940's was femme fatale Rita Hayworth. Although she began making films during the 1930's, it was her role in Gilda (1946) that put her on the map as major movie star and sex symbol.

With one little strip of a glove, while dancing in Gilda, she managed to cement her image into American film audiences. This audience would continue their love affair with the beautiful actress in the black satin dress with that sultry, wavy auburn hair for many years to come.

Take some time to explore these films as the 1940's was a great decade for film stars and the many enjoyable films they made.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/movies-articles/top-film-stars-of-the-1940s-3279870.html

About the Author

Carl DiNello is a Blog Owner whose passion is Hollywood history and those movies from the 1920s - 1950s that make up this rich history.

Hollywood Movie Memories...Movies to Remember and Discover!

Enjoy reading more Hollywood Movie Memories Reel Talent Articles.

Guest Article About Changes in Animation

2011-12-14T01:51:00.001-06:00

Early Cartoons - How Did the Animation Go Wrong?

Author: CaitlinFulle

For example, have you ever compared a 1940's Looney Tunes cartoon to a 1960's Flintstones cartoon?
You know before I begin, if you're interested, why don't you Google, sit back relax and take a look at the two cartoon videos I listed below. See if you can point out something different about them, and of course you don't have to watch them. But if you can for fun, just take a peak.

The first video is a Looney Tune cartoon short of Daffy Duck/Elmer Fudd called To Duck or Not to Duck. The cartoon short was a Warner Bros. production that was released to theaters in 1943. Yes, that's right 1943...

The second show is a Flintstones cartoon, No Help Wanted, which premiered on ABC's TV network in 1960. Yes, Once again 1960...

So go head, don't be afraid to give it a shot, take a look and I'll come back later. Trust me, I'll be right back.
Okay, so notice any differences? Yes? Of course you did! But for fun let's assume you didn't.

Though by looking at the two videos it's blatantly obvious that the animation in Looney Tunes seem much more fluent and exciting. Personally, I was drawn in by the exaggerations of the animation. Where as, the Flintstones portrayed little to no animation movements at all. In fact, I was getting very annoyed by the constant isolation of the bobbing heads.

I was having constant reminders of driving to work, seeing the Bobblehead bobbing back and forth in the corner of my eye on the dashboard. With all honesty, I can't believe this was even considered to be a form of animation. But hey, I guess it falls under the same thought of Taylor Swift being a country artist.

So why the step back? Why is a 1943 cartoon more visually appealing than a 1960 cartoon? (And even some of today's cartoons.)

Simple, ready for it?

Back in the 1940's and even before the 1940's, cartoons were called 'theatrical cartoon shorts'. These cartoons were originally released to theaters and only theaters. They were considered side shows or previews for a premiering live action film. Most cartoon shorts were only about 5-7 minutes long hence, the reason they were called 'shorts'.

Woody Woodpecker was among characters created in the 1940s.

But the real key to why these cartoon shorts were more appealing than early TV cartoon shows were due to a few things.

First, there were on average, approximately 10-13 theatrical cartoon shorts produced per year for a giving studio, with each cartoon being only a few minutes long. However, for TV cartoon shows, studios were producing a new show each week with a total run time of approximately 20 minutes.

Of course to effectively produce a 20 minute show each week, the quality of the animation had to be cut. Often times animation cells or backgrounds would be re-used multiple times in different shows. (You'd probably noticed this a lot.)

For animators and the animation studio, the process wasn't very fun, challenging or thrilling. But as for networks, they did not care if the animation was good or bad. The only thing they cared about were the ratings.

But wait... There's more...

Animation studios for TV networks were given very small budgets. In the early 1950's studios were given approximately $2,500-$3,000 to produce a 20 minute cartoon. Does it sound like a lot? Well it does until you compare the cost it took to produced the worlds first Technicolor cartoon short Flowers and Trees (1932), which turns out to be a whooping $27,500 with a runtime of 8 minutes.

Honestly, I can't even imagine animating a 20 minute cartoon show for a mere $3,000, talk about trimming out the fat. Though, if being pushed on the brink of an edge; there are only two options, fall over or push your way out. Luckily, these animators and animation studios found a way to push their way back into the cartoon animation business. Otherwise, we'd all be stuck here watching Desperate Housewives and Days of Our Lives.

Dominique Edwards is the founder and owner of Netoonime: The Evolution of Cartoonime, a website for cartoon and anime fans that offers fun and entertainment in many different forms, such as: quizzes, informed and personal articles, polls, discussions, trivia, puzzle games, and video clips that are based on cartoon and anime shows, movies, and history.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/early-cartoons-how-did-the-animation-go-wrong-4131520.html

Bugs Bunny WWII Cartoon!

2011-12-08T00:50:00.001-06:00

Bugs Bunny War Bond Drive World War II Cartoon http://dld.bz/3BcU

Check it out. I just love the Looney Tunes and Walter Lantz cartoons from the golden age of animation. I am glad kids who grew up in the 1970s and '80s still got to see these cartoons on television.

Funny Beast Graphic

2011-11-22T02:30:00.000-06:00

This graphic has been circulating on Facebook. I thought it appropriate to share this graphic of pop culture figures on my blog.

Presenting....Beast and His Amazing Anthropomorphic Friends!

Golden Age Team JSA Set to Return

2011-10-28T11:24:00.001-05:00

DC Comics has finally announced the Justice Society of America will be back sooner than later!

Read More at: http://www.digitalspy.com/comics/news/a337530/justice-society-new-project-confirmed-by-dc-comics.html

Great Justice Society of American news also available at: http://ifanboy.com/articles/fanexpo11-dc-announces-justice-society-of-america-with-james-robinson-and-nicola-scott/

For a list of all Justice Society of America members visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Justice_Society_members

Cartoon: Woody Woodpecker in The Hollywood Matador

2011-10-07T14:40:00.000-05:00

Awesome Andy Panda Statue

2011-10-02T23:57:00.001-05:00

For all you Walter Lantz lovers, here is a nifty find--an Andy Panda statue.

This Electric Tiki Andy Panda statue was limited to 200 numbered pieces, according to my research. The base features Andy Panda’s nemesis from the Walter Lantz cartoon The Wacky Weed.

This miniature statue stands approximately 6-1/2″ tall. Furthermore, it is designed by Tracy Mark Lee and sculpted by Ruben Procopio. It was produced by Sideshow Collectibles a few years ago but some editions can still be found on eBay and online stores.

I plan to locate one for myself and was sure you other Lantz collectors would like to pick this piece up, as well!

Halloween Props, Halloween Decorations, Halloween Animatronics, Alien Props on Sale

2011-09-04T23:05:00.000-05:00

Halloween Props, Halloween Decorations, Halloween Animatronics, Alien Props on Sale

Origin of Chilly Willy

2011-08-25T00:06:00.000-05:00

Walter Lantz News Flash: I learned today that Chilly Willy came about because Walter Lantz wanted a new character to replace Andy Panda. (Andy's last cartoon – or cartune as Lantz often wrote the term – was in 1949.)

According to the Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia, “In 1953, Lantz wanted a new character, and one of his directors, Paul Smith, began work on a cartoon entitled Chilly Willy. This cartoon features a little penguin, more similar in design to the ones found in 1945's Sliphorn King of Polaroo than the Chilly Willy we think of today, voiced by Sara Berner. This cartoon set up the general formula of Chilly wanting to find warmth that most future Chilly Willy cartoons would adhere to...”

The Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia (a great site to check out) goes on to state that although the first Chilly Willy short was not a success, Lantz was determined to have a penguin as a lead character. “...when Tex Avery returned to the studio in 1954, Lantz asked him to make another attempt at getting the character to work. Avery didn't feel a 'little fuzzy wuzzy penguin' would be particularly funny, so he decided to pair Chilly Willy with funny co-stars. The first of these cartoons, I'm Cold … introduces Smedley the dog, Chilly's long time co-star.”

My research shows Chilly Willy's last cartoon was in 1972. He had a very good run, having cartoons reguraly produced for two decades.

Chilly Willy became one of Lantz' major stars.

Like many adults today, I have fond memories of watching Chilly Willy cartunes as a child. Along with Woody Woodpecker and Andy Panda, Chilly Willy is definitely one of Walter Lantz' main stars. I highly recommend renting or buying the Woody Woodpecker and Friends DVD sets. If you were a child between the 1940s and 1970s, you will love these sets of classic animation. They also make excellent gifts for friends and family members who grew up in the 1940s to 1970s.

DC Multiverse: Fawcett's Finest: Flying Females

2011-08-21T19:41:00.000-05:00

DC Multiverse: Fawcett's Finest: Flying Females: Typically, when a hero has found the template for success, others will be created to follow his winning ways. Among the first to replicate a...

Woody and Andy in Banquet Busters -- Classic Cartoon!

2011-07-27T01:57:00.003-05:00

Justice Society Rocks

2011-07-27T00:05:00.001-05:00

Besides enjoying old Woody Woodpecker and Andy Panda cartoons and comics, I am a big fan of DC Comics' Justice Society of America. The Justice Society is often abbreviated to JSA, too. I do not have many posts on my Justice Society of America blog yet, but I invite readers to check it out!

http://justicesociety.wordpress.com/

I'm loving the current storyline, which will end with the series soon.

JSA Members List

2011-07-20T02:01:00.004-05:00

Very cool site that lists all the members (ever) of the Justice Society of America: http://www.comicvine.com/justice-society-of-america/65-27589/members/

Queen Hippolyta joined the JSA in recent years.

Classic JSA members!

DC Loves Its Starmen

2011-07-03T11:49:00.000-05:00

Whether we are talking about classic cartoons about Woody or Andy Panda or about superhero comic books, I am a big fan of the Golden Age. One of my favorite Golden Age comic books is The Justice Society of Ameria. DC Comics original Starman was a longtime member of the JSA. Who else has used the name? Plenty of guys!

There have been many DC characters that use the name Starman. This Wikipedia entry has awesome information about all the Starmen in history. (Side note: I recently picked up the first appearance of Prince Gavyn, one of the Starmen. I'm looking forward to reading it.)

I love this drawing of all the characters to use the name Starman.

Check out information on all the Starmen here.

New JLA Line Up Shown

2011-06-29T01:46:00.000-05:00

Today I ran across the new JLA membership and wanted to share it. I am not overly positive about the changes coming from DC Comics in the fall. But, I am not negative about the changes either. I am taking a wait-and-see approach.

Check out: http://furiousfanboys.com/2011/06/heres-the-new-justice-league/

Forgotten Walter Lantz Star

2011-06-12T14:11:00.002-05:00

Who is Oswald the Rabbit?

Author: John Allsopp

Oswald, sometimes called the Lucky Rabbit, is an animated cartoon character who starred in a series of cartoon motion pictures of 1920s and 1930s released by Universal Studios.

Oswald, as he looked at Disney.

Created and animated by Walt Disney Company, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was first introduced in 1927 after Walt Disney's series of Alice Comedies had run its course. Walt Disney wanted to go with something new and signed a new contract with Universal Studios; head Carl Laemmle, to produce a series of cartoons under Charles B. Mintz and George Winkler, which seemed like to be, just the ticket.

The first Oswald cartoon, "Poor Papa" was rejected by the Universal studio heads. After this, Disney, together with Ub Iwerks created a second cartoon called "Trolley Troubles". The short film officially launched the series, and proved to be Walt Disney's greatest success to date. However, when Walt asked Mintz for an increase in the budget, Mintz instead offered a budget cut? Walt Disney angrily refused and quit, taking Iwerks and a loyal apprentice artist, Les Clark, with him. Mintz, meanwhile, opened his own studio consisting primarily of former Disney employees.

Oswald was redesigned by Walter Lantz. Above is a cell from an Oswald cartoon.

Dissatisfied with Mintz, Laemmle selected Walter Lantz to produce new cartoons using the character, the first of which was 1929's "Race Riot"; many sources erroneously list "Ozzie of the Circus" as the first. However I am unable to confirm this? Over the next decade, Lantz would produce 140, "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons" making for a grand total of 192 films, that the character Oswald starred in over all three producers.
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit's last cartoon was "The Egg-Cracker Suite" in 1943. Oswald the Rabbit made occasional reappearances as a character in other cartoons as late as 1951.

Angered by the loss of Oswald, Walt Disney learned to retain full ownership of his animated characters and went on to find immense success with another animated character, Mickey Mouse, who is now one of the most widely recognized icons in the world. You can see Mickey and his partner Minnie, daily in the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Orlando Florida.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/who-is-oswald-the-rabbit-2834439.html

About the Author

John Allsopp
orlando-florida-holidays.com

Plan Ahead for Fall

2011-06-01T01:55:00.000-05:00

Child Back to School | Child Room Decoration

Author: vikas

For kids (and for some parents) the summer vacation months fly by and all too soon it's time to head back to school. As fall approaches, so does back-to-school stress. Kids worry about everything from their new teacher to missing the bus to forgetting their lunch. The worrying can be especially bad for kids starting school for the first time, or those moving on to middle school or high school.

Parents can help make the transition back to school a fun and exciting experience. Share a story from your school days with your child. Did you go to school one day in second grade without your homework? Did you get teased in middle school? Did you get lost the first day of high school? Sharing these stories will let your child know that you have been through what they're experiencing and that you lived to joke about it.

Here are a few additional tips for making the switch from summer to school go more smoothly. While these suggestions are especially helpful for dealing with younger kids, some of them will be useful with older kids as well.

1. A week before the first day of school, have your kids start going to bed at their school-night bedtime instead of the summertime bedtime. Establish a routine that includes taking a bath or shower, brushing teeth and relaxing with a book. Set an alarm clock for the correct wake-up time. This will help with fears of not waking up and missing the school bus.

To help establish those important bedtime routines, give your children something to look forward to. Kids can brush their teeth with toothbrushes and toothpaste featuring the dinosaur characters from the popular "The Land Before Time" videos or Woody Woodpecker and slip into fun pajamas sporting Curious George.

2. Make shopping for school supplies a family affair. Most schools provide students with a list of required items, but even these necessities can be fun to shop for. The wide variety of styles and themes to choose from lets kids express their individuality.

3. If your child is worried about getting lost in a new school, arrange for a tour before the start of the year. Use the tour to find your child's classroom, the lunchroom, the bathroom and other landmarks. If your child is riding the bus for the first time, do a dry-run of the bus route in your car so your child knows what to expect.

4. Get in the habit of choosing school clothes the night before. This will help the next morning get off to a calm start. If your children pick their own clothes, you'll also avoid arguments about what they want to wear. Having fun and comfortable clothes to put on in the morning makes getting dressed less of a battle. Kids love to wear their favorite characters on t-shirts and hats -- like the ever-popular Curious George, Chilly Willy, Woody Woodpecker, Butt-Ugly Martians and "The Mummy" television series.

5. Have your kids load up their backpacks the night before, too. Check for lunch money, library books, school supplies and anything else they may need. This eliminates a mad rush around the house in the morning looking for that misplaced homework.

Sometimes kids need some encouragement to develop new, more efficient habits. For example, they're more likely to use that new backpack if they have a say in picking it out. Younger kids will love a backpack featuring Curious George. Older elementary school kids might choose a backpack featuring characters from "The Mummy" or the "Butt-Ugly Martians." If your child takes their lunch to school, they can choose a matching lunchbox as well.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/child-back-to-school-child-room-decoration-3210868.html

About the Author

http://childroomdecor.blogspot.com/2010/08/child-back-to-school.html

My Picks For New Avengers Team

2011-05-17T21:11:00.001-05:00

I am excited by all the different Avengers teams coming out from Marvel Comics nowadays. Wow! There have not been as many Avengers books as we have now since the early 1990s. In the early 1990s we had Avengers, West Coast Avengers and Solo Avengers (plus various annuals). Now, we have a ton of Avengers titles with different teams in each one.

Speaking about Avengers teams, I am one of those Avengers fans who actually liked the team from Avengers No. 300. It was different. There was Steve Rogers as The Captain, Thor, Gilgamesh, Mr. Fantastic, and Invisible Woman. (There are some really interesting stories I've learned about how that team came to be and why it changed again five issues later. But, that is all info for another blog post.)

Thinking back to how interesting Avengers No. 300 was...what would be my choice for a new and unique team? I have listed my picks below. Unfortunately, Woody Woodpecker and Andy Panda can't be on the team, since they are not Marvel characters. LOL

My All-New, All-Different Avengers

Captain America / Steve Rogers – I'll always see Steve Rogers as Captain America. I don't care if he is calling himself The Captain or just going without a codename, he is Captain America and the heart of the Avengers. I think he showed this by rebuilding the east coast team from scratch after the team dissolved in the Fall of the Avengers storyline.
Thor - Next to Captain America, I see Thor as key to the Avengers. He's a founding member and a powerhouse to the team. Plus, he's a god. To be earth's mightiest team, the Avengers need Thor.
Gilgamesh – I am one of the handful who liked Gilgamesh and his addition to the team. In Marvel mythology, he is the world's oldest hero. He has been many heroes throughout history, too. It was a nice move adding him to the Avengers. I think what hurt him was he never really was fleshed out. He never had a writer who really cared about him. Walt Simonson quit right after setting up the new team and never got the chance to show what he had planned for Gilgamesh. (Again, I understand why Simonson quit but that is a story for another blog.)
Mr. Fantastic – Again, I liked the team from Avengers 300. Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) is the Marvel Universe's smartest man. He will always be known as leader of the Fantastic Four but I liked him joining the Avengers (even if it lasted just a handful of issues). I'd like to see him join back up. He would if I could write the team.
Invisible Woman – I also liked Sue Richards being on the Avengers. She is the first female hero in the Marvel Universe and her powers are unique. Plus, her blond hair on top of her blue uniform makes for a rockin' look!
Vagabond – Vagabond is a little known characters who appeared in Captain America comics in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I don't believe she has been seen for years. She is a normal woman who has no powers. But, she learned some fighting skills from Nomad (a former partner of Captain America) and I always liked her costume. Actually, she's had two costumes. One is pretty simple with a Robin-like face mask. The other costume is a very cool America flag-type costume that I always thought was under-appreciated. She could fill a spot on the team as the normal person swept up in the world of super humans. Check her out here: http://www.angelfire.com/comics2/crimsoncowl/vagabond.html or http://comicbookrealm.com/report/character/4082/vagabond
Blue Eagle – I'm a big Hawkman fan and always thought the Avengers needed a high-flying hero. Sure, there is the Falcon but his wings just don't impress me like Hawkman's wings. Marvel Comics has Angel, but I think Angel is best with the X-Men. However, Marvel has its own version of Hawkman in the Blue Eagle. He was a member of the Squadron Supreme. The Squadron is a group of characters from a different universe than the normal Marvel Universe. I would like to see Blue Eagle cross dimensions and join the Avengers. See him at http://marvel.wikia.com/James_Dore_Jr. Now, there was a second Blue Eagle who appeared right after Civil War but I still prefer the original from the Squadron Supreme. The newer Blue Eagle has only made a few appearances and doesn't use an old-school superhero costume, which this old-school fan likes to see most of the time in comic books and cartoons.
Captain Marvel / Photon / Pulsar – Captain Marvel II (now called Pulsar) was on the team for years in the 1980s. She had interesting powers, as she could transform into different kinds of energy. Also, I liked her outfit. It was black, white and more original than many costumes. She was very dedicated to being an Avenger, and Monica even became leader for a short time. She was created by Roger Stern and John Romita Jr. Once Stern left the Avengers, she was depowered for a time and taken out of the Avengers for years. I understand she was recently used in a comic called Nextwave and another called Heralds that I have not had the pleasure to read.
Spider-Man – Everyone knows Spider-Man. He is likely the most popular character from Marvel. To make the team earth's mightiest heroes, I agree keeping Spidey on the team. Plus, Peter Parker is a fun character to whom readers can relate. He is the everyman who accidentally became a hero and deals with daily life struggles.
Sunspot (from New Mutants comics) – I have a soft spot for the New Mutants. I've collected comics since the late 1980s and have always liked the team. Sunspot has been one of my favorite New Mutants. I like his look when he is charged up. His form gets dark and he crackles with energy. He is strong and can project energy. Plus, he is just a fun character. He's a younger character and I feel the Avengers could use more youthful energy.

So, there is my Avengers team. Other Avengers I love are Dr. Strange, Hulk, Namor, and Hellcat. But, I'd prefer to see them on a Defenders team. (A new Defenders comic is long overdue.) Let me know what you think! Agree or disagree? I love to hear from readers.

Woody Woodpecker T-Shirt

2011-05-17T19:20:00.003-05:00

I was surprised to see a Woody Woodpecker T-shirt at J.C. Penney the other day. J.C. Penney has many neat cartoon and pop culture shirts and Woody was among them. Check it out.

Woody Woodpecker T-shirt

2011-04-19T17:33:00.000-05:00

I ran across this Woody Woodpecker T-shirt from a company called Stylin Online. I love this shirt. I've been looking online and Woody Woodpecker shirts are actually few and far between. It's cool to see that some companies are still making them.

Review of Saturday Morning Cartoons' Greatest Hits by Robert Stukowski

2011-04-18T12:44:00.002-05:00

Looking for animation soundtracks can be a daunting task. The studios don't release soundtracks for their television animation, and trying to find stuff from years ago can be almost impossible. Thank God for the existence of inspired compilations. These compilations give us cartoon music fans the outlet we need. One such outlet is Saturday Morning: Cartoons Greatest Hits.

Released by MCA Records in 1995, Saturday Morning: Cartoons Greatest Hits offers nineteen (19) tracks of classic theme and insert songs from the Twentieth Century, performed by some of the Twentieth Century's best performing artists.

Listening to the CD while writing this review, it is quite clear why I am an animation music fan. The CD starts off strong and doesn't stop once it gets going. There are no sound bite tracks to get in the way of the music. The artists sound like they were enjoying performing their songs, which adds to the fun. The artists seem to be natural fits for their individual tracks as well. I feel like I could pop the CD in and drive around the country several time just listening to and singling along with the music and it would never get old.

Speaking of singing, the booklet includes the lyrics to all tracks. Each track is listed with a description of the original cartoon, as well as a quote from the artist that performed it. The booklet ends with a commentary essay from the compilation's producer, Ralph Shall.

Writing a review of a soundtrack compilation of inspired works shouldn't just be about the disc itself. Each individual track deserves to be mentioned on its own.

The first track on the disc is "The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)" from The Banana Splits Adventure Hour. Performed by Liz Phair and Material Issue, "One Banana, Two Banana" is a fantastic start to the show. I have never seen or heard of this puppet series, but Phair and the Issue's rendition of this song make me want to find out what I have been missing.

Sponge's rendition of the English Speed Racer theme, "Go Speed Racer Go," captures the spirit of the show. It's fast and relentless. Sponge's Vinnie claimed that "as Speed Racer gave to me, we gave back in the form of a musical monument," and it shows.

The third song is "Sugar Sugar" by Mary Lou Lord with Semisonic. The track from The Archie Show was a hit single on the music charts back in 1969, and, with Lord and Semisonic's rendition, I can see why.

No cartoon soundtrack compilation would be a cartoon soundtrack compilation without a Scooby Doo song or two, and Saturday Morning is no different. Matthew Sweet's "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?" is a fun take on this old classic. I wonder if this track was what gave Sweet all he needed to be chosen to do the theme song for the new Scooby Doo series, Scooby Doo Mystery Inc.

The other songs on the album include thtme songs from Josie and the Pussycats performed by Juliana Hatfield and Tanya Donelly, The Bulldogs by Collective Soul, Butthole Surfers' Underdog, Gigantor by Helmet, Spider-man by the Ramones, Fat Albert by Dig, Popeye by face to face, The Grovie Goolies by the Toadies, Sublime's Hong Kong Phooey, H. R. Pufnstuf by the Murmurs, and many others.

The final track, "Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy" from Ren and Stimpy, performed by Wax, was a great choice. The song embodies the emotions one gets from listening to this disc.

It should be noted that several of these theme songs did not come from a cartoon, but from puppet shows. This is my only gripe with the disc. Puppet shows are great, but they aren't cartoons, and shouldn't be on a compilation calling itself cartoons' greatest hits.

With that said, Saturday Morning: Cartoons Greatest Hits is a great pick up for any animation fan. It is a great set of classic cartoon theme songs performed by some of the best voices in music. Even if you are no longer into cartoons, you should pick it up just for the music. The compilation still holds today, fifteen years after its original release, and I expect it will remain that way well into the future.

Robert Stukowski is the owner of Toon Radio, an internet radio station devoted to animation soundtracks.

Why Classic Cartoon Characters Change

2011-04-09T01:10:00.000-05:00

Original Woody Woodpecker was wild.

A friend and I were discussing classic cartoon characters, such as Tom and Jerry and Woody Woodpecker, around the water cooler. We discussed why many cartoons from the golden age of animation were more adult than childish. We also discussed why characters like Woody Woodpecker changed from crazy to responsible adult throughout the years. There are many reasons why the pre-World War II characters and cartoons changed over the years.

Most people are aware that cartoons in the 1930s, 40s, and even 50s were more adult in nature. Characters drank, smoked, and worried about taxes. For example, I remember a Woody Woodpecker cartoon in which Buzz Buzzard was determined to sign Woody up for a life insurance policy. But, Buzz was going to make himself the beneficiary, knock Woody off and keep the insurance money. Pretty heavy stuff. Let's dive into why cartoons were more adult like in this example.

First off, cartoons were more adult back in the golden age of animation because cartoons used to be shown before theatrical movies. Many of us Generation Xers and those who have come after us are used to seeing cartoons on television. (Who doesn't remember the classic Looney Tunes opening used in the 1980s in which all the famous Looney Tunes characters paraded across the stage?) But, before cartoons were on television, they were in the movie theaters. For example, Tom and Jerry cartoons were shown before MGM movies. Woody Woodpecker and friends were shown before Universal movies. Of course, Looney Tunes cartoons preceded Warner Bros. movies.

Now, as for why the pre-World War II characters like Woody Woodpecker acted in insane ways is because the animators and creators were young men feeling their oats. It makes perfect sense that early Woody Woodpecker, for example, was wild and crazy. Later on, as the creators began settling down and raising families, characters like Woody became more domesticated. Woody started caring for his nephew and niece, Knothead and Splinter. Meanwhile, over at Looney Tunes, Sylvester the Cat began raising his son. Even Foghorn Leghorn became a father figure to Miss Prissy's son, Egghead, Jr.

Yes, the post-World War II cartoon characters were different from how they were before the war and for good reason. Part of the reason is because of the fact cartoons were shown in theaters before adult audiences. Also, animators' real-life personalities seeped into the characters and the characters changed as the creators' lives changed. And, of course, the fact cartoons started being shown on television meant characters needed to be tamed down a little. But, we'll get into cartoons being edited for television in another article.

Bugs Bunny has changed a lot over the years.

The wonderful thing is all the classic cartoon characters, such as Wood Woodpecker, Andy Panda and Daffy Duck, live on in television reruns and DVD sets. I thoroughly enjoy watching the adventures of old-school characters, such as Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig, whether we are talking about their early cartoons or later episodes. That's all folks...for now.

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Disney Film Project: Duck Pimples

2011-04-05T15:57:00.000-05:00

Be sure to check out another famous bird besides Woody...Donald Duck!

Disney Film Project: Duck Pimples: "There is a mold to Disney shorts that usually follows the traits of the characters. The Mickey shorts feature a good natured Mickey having ..."

The Big Blog of Kids’ Comics!: Andy Panda in "The Mighty Mites"

2011-03-27T00:22:00.002-05:00

Be sure to check out a classic late 1940s Andy Panda comic over at Bigblogcomics.com. The comic in question is Four Color No. 198, September 1948.

See it at the link below.

The Big Blog of Kids’ Comics!: Andy Panda in "The Mighty Mites"