Flying Bus
- Studio
- Cambria Productions
Synopsis
Clutch tests an experimental rocket for a flying bus.
Characters
Clutch Cargo, Spinner, Paddlefoot, Swampy
Credits
Producing
- Producer
- Clark Haas
Writing
- Created By
- Clark Haas
Voices
- Voice
- Richard Cotting (Clutch Cargo), Margaret Kerry (Spinner, Paddlefoot), Hal Smith (Swampy)
Production notes
Cambria pioneered its patented Synchro-Vox™ system (developed by Edwin Gillette for "talking animal" commercials in the 1950s) with this cartoon. The Synchro-Vox systems combined still animation cels of the characters and live actors' lips superimposed over the characters heads to make the "animation." Producer Clark Haas referred to Cambria's process of limited animation as "motorized movement." Cardboard cutouts of the character sometimes would be moved by hand past the background. To produce Synchro-Vox, the voice actor would be filmed in closeup, with a mask hiding everything but the actor's lips. Heavy makeup was used to ensure that the actors' skin color matched that of the cartoon characters
When in action, rather than animate the character, the cels were shaken, or the camera zoomed to simulate the motion.
This was one of 52 Clutch Cargo adventures produced. Five five-minute episodes combined to make a show or complete story arc. The first four chapters ended in cliff-hangers, with the fifth chapter wrapping up the adventure.
When in action, rather than animate the character, the cels were shaken, or the camera zoomed to simulate the motion.
This was one of 52 Clutch Cargo adventures produced. Five five-minute episodes combined to make a show or complete story arc. The first four chapters ended in cliff-hangers, with the fifth chapter wrapping up the adventure.
Reviews
The Flying Bus?
Clutch tests a new jet to be used in a new flying bus (vertical take off passenger plane), villains try to thwart the project but Clutch saves the day. Richard Cotting, Margaret Kerry, Hal Smith are the only 3 voices in all the Clutch Cargo episodes. They usually have some tongue in cheek gags which you'll only catch as an adult. In this episode the villains, Tom, Dick, and Harry (the smog brothers), are also the comic relief. Harry always says "I don't Know" and then he gets told he's out voted. The economy of animation is cool to me, consider the time (1959) It's a fun series and this one is one of the better ones. Of course it's silly, of course it's cheap. It's supposed to be. Cheapness rules. The cliffhangers of the first four sub episodes are pretty good in this episode. All in all one of the the better Clutch Cargo episodes. Of course growing up with this makes me biased. I love Clutch Cargo.