Animation news, reviews and features from the BCDB blog, 2011 to 2017, kept here to read.
January 24, 2013 · Big Cartoon DataBase
Isadore Sparber directed Musica-Lulu in 1947. By then, animated films were quite mature in production and story. The Little Lulu cartoons, at least story-wise were still a throw back to the thirties. Based on a comic strip by Marge, Famous eventually tired of paying her royalties on the character, and developed their own "cute little girl", Little Audrey.
January 23, 2013 · Big Cartoon DataBase
Today's CotD is Rebel Rumble, an episode from The Peter Potamus Show. Hana and Barbera took a new tack with this show, one that would pay of for years. The studio began selling animated half-hour blocks directly into syndication. The new outlet grew the studio faster than anyone thought possible. After winning in syndication, ABC saw the light and brought this show back to network television.
January 22, 2013 · Big Cartoon DataBase
Our first Tex Avery short of the year is Bad Luck Blackie, from 1949. Not his most popular character or short, but one worth watching if you are a fan of Avery.
January 21, 2013 · Big Cartoon DataBase
Robert McKimson paired Bugs Bunny with Gruesome Gorilla in 1950 for Hurdy-Gurdy Hare. Anytime Bugs got to play against the Gorilla it was fun, and this film was no exception. Seen it? Watch it today if it has been a while, or you need a good laugh or three!
January 19, 2013 · Big Cartoon DataBase
Probably the least known and least watch Disney animated film of all time, So Dear To My Heart is even less watched than Song of the South. Most people cab at least sing Zipitty Do Dah from Song of the South.... who can even tell you who starred in So Dear To My Heart?
January 18, 2013 · Ethan Minovitz
Six of the 20 highest-grossing North American films of 2012 were completely animated pictures, including Pixar's Brave, which was seventh overall with $237,262,307.
January 18, 2013 · Big Cartoon DataBase
The episode Bewitched Bear is from the The Huckleberry Hound Show, the first successful animated television series by Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera. After making the transition from theatrical to television, Hanna-Barbera became synonymous with TV animation, and were the pioneers in the field.
January 17, 2013 · Dave Koch
ShortsHD The Short Movie Channel, working with Magnolia Pictures, will release The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2013 in over 260 theatres across the United States, Canada and Europe on Friday, February 1.
January 17, 2013 · Big Cartoon DataBase
From the Fleischer Color Classics series, today we celebrate Somewhere In Dreamland. While this was not the first cartoon in the Color Classics series, it does have the unique distinction of being the first from the series produced in three-strip Technicolor. The prior shorts were all done in the inferior two-strip process.
January 16, 2013 · Ethan Minovitz
Excellence in both film and TV was recognized Tuesday as the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television announced its nominees for the inaugural Canadian Screen Awards.
January 16, 2013 · Big Cartoon DataBase
Easily the most controversial of all Bob Clampett's films, Coal Black And De Sebben Dwarfs was never intended to offend, but rather to entertain. What Clampett had intended as a celebration of Black music and culture of his time has turned into a touchstone of racist film making at Warner Bros. Additionally, being a War film, there are some very disparaging comments about the Japanese in the film. So what do you think- is this cartoon historically significant enough to rise above it's racial overtones, or is this more of the man keeping prejudice alive?
January 15, 2013 · Ethan Minovitz
Due to lackluster box-office results for 3-D releases of Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo and Beauty and the Beast, Walt Disney Studios announced Monday that it's scrubbing plans for a 3-D version of The Little Mermaid in September.
January 15, 2013 · Big Cartoon DataBase
From 1949, Hare Do is one of the great Bugs Bunny-Elmer Fudd meetings. Directed by Isadore Freleng, the short was animated by Ken Champin, Virgil Ross, Gerry Chiniquy and Manuel Perez, this short has a surprise character in addition to the two stars.
January 14, 2013 · Ethan Minovitz
The highest-grossing animated film of 2012 won the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film on Sunday night.
January 14, 2013 · Big Cartoon DataBase
An early Looney Tune, Bosko In Dutch is generally unremarkable in its story telling, animation or direction. However, the short is important because this was the first cartoon that one of the greatest cartoon directors ever supervised- albeit uncredited.
January 13, 2013 · Big Cartoon DataBase
Back to World War II with Herr Meets Hare, an Isadore Freleng propaganda film from 1945. And who wouldn't want to see Adolf and Herman face off against.... Bugs Bunny!
January 12, 2013 · Big Cartoon DataBase
Not a cartoon per se, but one of the most famous animated sequences ever on TV.... the 1966 Batman Opening Titles paved the way for a whole generation of super hero cartoons on television. As a mid-season replacement series, Batman began on ABC on this date in 1966.
January 11, 2013 · Ethan Minovitz
"Brave," "Frankenweenie" and "ParaNorman" are the three nominees announced Wednesday in the Animated Film category of the EE British Academy Film Awards, also known as the BAFTAs.
January 11, 2013 · Big Cartoon DataBase
Not a whole lot to choose from today, so I decided to go for unusual. The Sunshine Makers is from Van Beuren Studios Rainbow Parade Theatrical Cartoon Series, and while it may not be the most obscure choice I could make, it is certainly not a series many are knowledgeable of.
January 10, 2013 · Dave Koch
It's Oscar time! This morning, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for this years Oscars. There are two main areas of competition for animation, the Feature Length and the short awards. This year, the nominees are...