CNN has a round up of obscure, yet beloved holiday TV specials. Included in the list: “The Star Wars Holiday Special” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (not so obscure) “Claymation Christmas Celebration” “Batman Returns” (not sure why this is even on their list) “Christmas Comes to PacLand” “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians”/”Santa Claus” (1959) “Futurama” (holiday […]

I’d just arrived home from the airport last night with a brand-new, nine-week-old puppy, and we were bonding by watching Thursday Night Football on the NFL Network together.This little fellow, innocent as he was the day he was born (October 2), arrived at the Burlington airport late Thursday afternoon, fresh out of Orlando, which means […]

Hollywood Reporter is reporting that DreamWorks Animation has been sued by a gentleman who claims he pitched a “spiritual kung-fu fighting panda bear” to the studio in 2001 and that the studio passed on the idea only to later create the movie Kung Fun Panda with Jack Black.From the story, it appears the case is […]

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 […]

Darrin Bell treads some interesting lines with his strip, “Candorville.” From what little I know of his personal life from Facebook and suchlike, it does, in some ways, reflect what he’s going through, but not in a journalistic sense.  Rather than recounting real-life events in the strip, he seems to use them to inform the […]

Over on ComiXology Michel Fiffe writes how to jumpstart a career in comics. The suggestions are all geared a career in comic books, but easily adapted to all comic forums. Ok, so you’re in it to win it, right, pal? The important thing is that you’re ready to do some comic books. Whether you start […]

New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly gave a talk at a TED conference dedicated to women in Washington D.C. yesterday. Her talk was about using cartooning to tackle “global issues with humor, intelligence and sarcasm.” Her involvement with TEDWomen includes curating an exhibit of international cartoons entitled, “The Folly, Fun and Flexibility of Women.”I’ll post video […]

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 […]

Derf manages to pack a lot of content into four outsized panels, and it’s tough to comment beyond saying, “Yeah, no kidding.”Yeah. No kidding.And maybe toss in a quick quote.”Though thou shouldest grind a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.” — Proverbs, 27:22

Tom Heintjes has posted this year’s profile of Christmas cards by famous cartoonists. This year’s cartoonist is Dik Browne, creator of Hi and Lois and Hagar the Horrible.

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 […]

I reported last October that Caitlin Sanchez, the voice behind Dora the Explorer, sued Nickelodeon claiming the company forced her to sign an “unconscionable” contract. ABC News reports that the suit has withdrawn her lawsuit. Sanchez also claimed that reps from the network had promised her substantial compensation from merchandising and residuals, but later cut […]

The International Animated Film Society (ASIFA-Hollywood) has announced the nominees for this year’s best in animation.Here they are:Best Animated Feature Despicable Me – Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures How to Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks Animation Tangled – Disney The Illusionist – Django Films Toy Story 3 – Disney/Pixar Best Animated Short Subject Coyote Falls […]

Amherst College alum Bill Amend and Darby Conley were brought together to discuss their work in cartooning. Bill is the creator of Foxtrot and Darby does Get Fuzzy. To my knowledge, Darby is a bit reclusive, so this interview is somewhat rare.Download or listen through browser.

Interesting interview with Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau on The Colbert Report. Host Stephen Colbert describes Garry’s early strips as looking like they were drawn by a child with palsy and that Garry’s 40 year run is only eclipsed by Charles Schulz but notes that Sparky’s work has ‘tapered off.’