Arbirtary Classic Cartoon Discussion Thread

[Avaitor]

So in hopes of getting more talk about the classics, I'll occasionally pull out a short from one of the studios for you all to watch and possibly discuss.

For now, I'm going with "The Dover Boys". Yes, this is partly inspired by a recent thread a GAC, but if there's any place to think about which classic to watch and/or talk about, that's it.

Let's see, what is there to say about this cartoon. It's one of Jones first great comedys. The characters each have great, distinctive animation styles that add to their personality, which is already fleshed out. The writing is sensational, featuring some of the most memorable liens in Warner history. Oh, and it recently became a meme, which is always worth note, I guess.

Anyone else got something to add about this classic?

[Mr. Big]

Bobe Cannon really shines in that short. He does alot of smear animation in it, his trademark style when he was animating for Jones at Warners.

[Mr. Big]

Just to give this thread something to go on...

Somebody uploaded "Flebus" on YouTube with original screen credits, although it's unfortunately cropped (it was originally made in CinemaScope).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btJBKccpOGo

This was made at Terrytoons during the brief period Gene Deitch was in charge. I consider this to be one of my favorite cartoons to come out of East Coast animation. Even more amazing is that it was animated by Jim Tyer, known for wacky, stretch-and-squash animation.

I got to see this in widescreen in LA last year, projected from a 35mm Technicolor print. It's amazing how cartoons look good when projected on the theater screen.

Gene Deitch was present at the screening and he said that the film's director, Ernest Pintoff, quit before it was even completed, so Deitch had to take over. He quipped that the executive producer, Bill Weiss, hated the film.

[Avaitor]

Since tomorrow is Tex's birthday, I do want to ask, what do you think of this, my all-time favorite cartoon?

[Foggle]

It's funny, but it was so overplayed on Cartoon Network back in the 90's/early 00's that I don't enjoy it all that much anymore.

[Avaitor]

Aww, really? It did get played a lot back in the day, but it's like "Duck Amuck", which is probably my second-favorite cartoon, in that it never gets old no matter how many times I see it.

[Foggle]

Don't get me wrong, it's an amazing short and I still like it a lot. I'd consider it one of the best of all time, in fact. But in spite of that, I just don't really like watching it anymore. Hope that makes sense.

Of course, I do love me some Duck Amuck. Might be my favorite cartoon, actually.

[Avaitor]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I get that way with some shorts, too. A lot of Tom & Jerry and "What's Opera, Doc" in particular.

[Commode]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpHYxNpWft0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se6vESeL5Eo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeBsACB7NDA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOH7ZCyonBg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AdagShiC64

Pretty great range.  Happy birthday Tex.

[Avaitor]

According to Jerry Beck's FB page, TCM is going to air the UPA short Rooty-Toot-Toot at 11:45 tonight, as a taste of their new DVD set. I wish they'd air more cartoons like this. Turner owns the rights to an insane amount of great ones, and can easily obtain airing rights to even more, and they have aired some on the channel before, but just haven't in recent years.

Anyway, what do you guys think of the short? If you haven't seen it yet, check it out tonight or whenever. I'm not much of a UPA fan, but it is one of the studio's more creative endeavors.