What a cool video. This is not the first animation of its kind, but it was a pioneering effort by Winsor McCay in 1911. The LA Times gives a bit context to how the animated film was conceived:McCay claimed that he got the idea for an animated film from flip books his son made. But […]
Brian Walker, comic authority and historian is releasing a new book entitled, “The Comics: The Complete Collection.” Looks like a great book. That bit of gone and long ago would not be news to Brian Walker, son of Mort Walker, the cartoonist who created “Beetle Bailey” and “Hi and Lois.” What he doesn’t know about […]
Rumors swirled last week that Will Smith wanted to remake the musical Annie and feature his daughter Willow. Turns out the rumors are now confirmed. “The time is right to bring back ‘Annie’ to the big screen. Of course, we’re true believers in Willow’s talent and believe she will be perfect in this role,” Columbia […]
Brad Mackay has posted what he believes is an early art contest submission by Art Spiegelman when Art was approximately 15 years old. This is a pretty great find. Recently Montreal cartoonist Rick Trembles was combing through a stack of old CARtoons magazines he nabbed from a flea market and spotted a winning submission to […]
Great news from the OSU Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum: The Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation has pledged $250,000 over five years to support the new Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum facility, part of the Sullivant Hall renovation at The Ohio State University. In recognition of this gift, the library’s seminar room […]
We’re closing in on the end of the year. 2010 was a good year, but mostly a blur. That said there were a lot of great books, services and products that came out this year. I’ve compiled a list of things I thought are above and beyond. If you’re still looking for a gift to […]
I noted earlier this week that it was 30 years ago that Bloom County debuted in newspapers. The Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco will be running an exhibit of Berkeley Breathed‘s art work ranging from Bloom County, his children’s books, and movie projects. A reception will be planned in April. It should also be […]
Geoff Boucher, writing in the Hero Complex blog of the LA Times, notes that last week was the 30 year anniversary of Bloom County. I grew up in south Florida and fell in love with newspapers by reading the Miami Herald, which had one of the most personality-packed staffs in America – crime reporter Edna […]
Brenda Starr, the 70 year old comic created by Chicago Tribune columnist Dale Messick, is set to retire on January 2. The strip is currently produced by another Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich and drawn by June Brigman. According to the Chicago Tribune, the two creators opted to end their association with the strip and […]
I’ve seen this website before – which has one of the best catalogs of all the work and art of Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson. His college cartoons are making their rounds through the blogosphere. I’ve got to admit either I missed this page completely or they’re a recent addition (new as in a […]
Comic Riffs blogger Michael Cavna has a detailed history of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” which airs tonight. Charles Schulz was long viewed as a man plagued by anxiety, self-doubt and fear of rejection. Yet when it came to the production of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Mendleson says, Schulz was the epitome of confidence and assured […]
An early cartoon (1903) by Henry Mayo Bateman will not be auctioned off by Christies after a Jewish amateur antiques dealer complained. The cartoon depicts a man with bearded Jewish man with a skull-cap with talon-like fingers and a tail. The auction house consulted with Scotland yard to see if the auction would violate a […]
As always, an interesting interview by Bob Andelman (AKA Mr. Media) with Andrew Farago, who is not only the curator for the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco, but the author or a new coffee table book Looney Tunes Treasury: Includes Amazing Interactive Treasures from the Warner Bros. Vault!.
Wicked Local (Concord) has an article about Beetle Baily creator Mort Walker and his career and beginnings. After basic training, he found himself stationed at Camp Crowder, which was the Midwest training center for the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He was to be a radio repair technician. Walker still has no idea why. ?Of all […]
Ted Key’s Hazel is being adapted for a Broadway musical with music by composer Ron Abel and lyrics by Chuck Steffan. The two began negotiations for the rights before Ted passed in 2008 and were since able to secure the rights with the Key estate. Lissa Levin, the Edward Kleban Award-winning playwright and Emmy-nominated producer […]