Craig Clark: July 2007

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Toons in the Heart of Screamland- MGM Animation

Here is a look back in time at a Culver City, California animation studio in the “The Heart of Screenland”, the MGM Animation studio in 1944. Here’s a link to MGM animator Irv Spence’s tribute Sketch blog called Cartoon Diary!

This is a photo of the outside of the MGM Cartoon studio on the corner of Overland and Montana on MGM lot 2, now the site of the Culver City Senior Citizens Center.

This was the home of Tom and Jerry, Droopy, Barney Bear, Screwy Squirrel, The Wolf, and the Happy Harmonies series. As well as the work place of directors, Rudy Ising, Hugh Harmon, Bill Hanna, Joe Barbera, Tex Avery, and many more.

Here's some cartoon nuggets from the Leo the Lion.

Peace on Earth - Hugh Harman (Oscar Nomination 1939 )

The Milky Way – Rudy Ising (Oscar Winner 1940)

Red Hot Riding Hood -Tex Avery-1943

Mouse Trouble - Hanna & Barbera (Oscar Winner 1944)

There are excellent DVD releases of Droopy and Tom and Jerry, now the balance of the MGM classic toon library needs DvD attention as well.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Fox and Crow- Fox and Grapes

Here's the very first Fox and Crow cartoon from Columbia Pictures directed by Frank Tashlin. This classic cartoon employed Disney and Warner's artists plucked straight off the picket line from the 1941 strike, hence the slick animation. These and other Columbia/UPA classic cartoons are more than worthy of an official DVD release.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Kustomonsters BG Peek

There will be some new wrinkles in the next Kustomonsters animated cartoon, namely the Kusto gang in their Kreepy hot rods. Finally! Here's a test peek at the main stomping grounds of Mummy DaddyO, Moonwolfy, Surfwitch and The Countess... Rodzilla's Drive-In. Order up, DaddyO!