Yakko and Hello Nurse -- Best. Animaniacs. Cel. Ever.

Okay, maybe it's not the best Animaniacs animation cel ever.  But it's definitely one of the prizes of my limited collection.   The cel comes from the unedited version of "King Yakko."  While Yakko, as ruler of Anvilania, cuddled up to Prime Minister Hello Nurse throughout this half hour episode, the close encounter pictured in this particular cel set-up did not make it into the final broadcast version of the show.   

Thanks to Dave Marshall, who co-directed the episode with Alfred Gimeno, for not only saving this cell from the retake dustbin, but for framing it and sending it to me.  It hangs in a prominent location on my office wall.   Let the anvils ring! 

Animaniacs and Freakazoid Emmys -- 1996

This ad appeared in the trade papers, including Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, the week after the Emmy ceremonies in May, 1996.   

"Iggy" by Milt Gross

Of all the oddball characters drawn and created by Milt Gross, Iggy is by far my favorite.

   

In the "Count Screwloose of Tooloose" comic strip (1929-1934), Iggy is the emotionally unstable pooch with a Napoleonic complex who resides at the Nuttycrest Sanitarium along with the other patients, including Count Screwloose.   Iggy is hopelessly devoted to the Count, who is constantly escaping from the asylum, leaving Iggy behind in a state of utter distress and nonstop weeping at the thought of being away from the Count for even a moment.  Outside the walls of Nuttycrest, the Count invariably finds the real world to be much crazier than the nuthatch, and in the final panel of each Sunday strip, we find the Count racing back to Nuttycrest, where Iggy reacts with tears of joy at the return of his beloved pal.   Every time the Count jumps back into the compound, he calls out:  "Iggy, keep an eye on me!"

Milt Gross's drawings of Iggy were always a batch of fast and frantic lines that captured extreme cartoony emotions, filled with goofy expressions, tics, laughter and tears. 

At some point during the course of the strip -- and by the time Gross arrived at MGM to make a couple of Count Screwloose cartoons --  he had replaced Iggy with a different cartoon pooch named J.R., who didn't have a hundredth of the demented personality of Iggy. 

There have been many great cartoon dogs in the history of  comics, and while Iggy may not be one of the most famous of the group, he is truly one of the funniest and most emotive, quirky and unique canine creations in the realm of comics and cartoons.   

Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation

Question:  What part of the animation industry began with Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation? 

Answer:   Direct-to-home video animated features.  Steven Spielberg presents "Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation" was the first animated feature film released directly to home video by one of the major studios.  It hit the retail stores March 11, 1992.  Disney's first direct-to-video animated feature, The Return of Jafar, came in 1994, as did the first of The Land Before Time direct-to-video sequels.  

I just uncovered my copy of the original promotional poster, which I scanned and posted directly above.  

Below are a few of the gag credits that appeared during the end scroll of  How I Spent My Vacation...

Reason This Movie Went Straight To Home Video

Cuz It's So Darned Good!

Original Running Time:    

8 Hours, 47 Minutes

Hey, What About That Urkel Kid?  

Is He Funny Or What? 

First Theatrical Screening:   

June 8, 1991, Old Orchard Theatre,  Skokie, Illinois

Last Theatrical Screening:  

 (Same As Above)

This Film Has Been Edited 

For Your Protection.

Do Not Back Up 
Severe Tire Damage

Man In Sound Recording Booth Who Pushes That Funny Red Button A Lot 

Link Poonie

Moral of the Story (Pick One):

1. Enjoy Your Vacation.

2. Relish Your Youth.

3. Don't Pick Up Chainsaw-Wielding Hitchhikers.

4. Feature Length Movies Should Not Have 18 Different Plots. 

These End Credits

Are Interminable. 

Top 4 Reasons A Caricature Of David Letterman Is In This Video:

4. We Admire His Comedy Stylings.

3. We Wanted To Use Merv Griffin, But He Threatened To Sue.

2. We Needed Some Filler.

1. We're Brown-Nosing Weasels Who Want Him To Mention Us On His Show.

Other Stuff Done By

Some Guy Named Bob. 

And That's The Final End Credit. 

We Lied.

The Cast

Valhalla ....... As Himself 

Suggested Retail Price

$19.95 Without Rebate

With Rebate 

About A Buck And A Quarter

"Facebook Addiction" by Luke Ruegger

From the September 29th, 2011 edition of the Pepperdine University newspaper The Graphic, here's a visual commentary from my son Luke, who is the editorial cartoonist and art editor for the paper.  

Nice job, Luke!

"Top Cat" -- 50th Anniversary

Fifty years ago today, Top Cat premiered at 8:30 PM (7:30 Central time) -- in color** --on the ABC Television Network.  

 
** See comments section about "color."

Tiny Toon Adventures' "Class Cut Up": Earl Kress

Here's a Tiny Toons cartoon that shows off a small sample of the big writing talent of Earl Kress -- who was not just an earl but a king of cartoons.  Earl passed away yesterday at the way-too-early age of 60.
 

This segment stars the vocal talents of one of Earl's favorite actors, the legendary Don Messick, who provided voices for Boo Boo, Ranger Smith, Pixie, Dixie, Dr. Quest, Bandit and so many other classic Hanna-Barbera characters.

Here, Don performs the role of Hamton J. Pig -- it's a unique voice created by Don for the porcine costar of the Warner Bros. Animation series Steven Spielberg presents Tiny Toon Adventures.

In this episode, directed by Art Leonardi, Hamton is the lone witness to the return of that singing and dancing amphibian, Michigan J. Frog. 

This came before Michigan became the spokes-frog for The WB Network.   And yes, that's June Foray as Granny!  

Check it out:  "Class Cut-Up"

The People Who Made "Tiny Toons" and "Animaniacs" -- Part Three

Earl Kress

Earl Kress and his wife Denise

Earl Kress was a major contributor to the writing of both Animaniacs and Pinky & the Brain.   Earl wrote or co-wrote many episodes which have become fan-favorites of the Animaniacs series, including the Slappy cartoon “Smell Ya Later” (co-starring Sherri Stoner and Jonathan Winters) and that Christmas gem "Little Drummer Warners" (directed by Lenord Robinson).  Earl was also part of the team that wrote the DVD animated feature “Wakko’s Wish.”

During the 90’s at Warner Bros, Earl also scripted some great segments for Tiny Toon Adventures (“Turtle Hurdle,” “Class Cut-up,” “Day for Knight”) and a handful of Road Rovers episodes.   Earl took home Emmy Awards for his writing on both Pinky and the Brain and  Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain.”  

I’ve known Earl since the early 80’s and have had the pleasure of working with him on a bunch of different animated series over the years, including Pound Puppies and Yogi’s Treasure Hunt during our time together at Hanna-Barbera.

Of course, Earl has worked on many cartoons outside of the Warner Bros./Hanna-Barbera spheres.  At Disney, for instance, he co-wrote the animated feature film “The Fox and the Hound.”

Earl and I grew up during the same era, and we were both big fans of the early Hanna-Barbara series starring Huck and Yogi and Quick Draw.  Earl is one of the world’s leading experts on Hanna-Barbara history and lore, and also studied voice-over acting with the legendary voice of Yogi, Huck and Quick Draw, Daws Butler.  Beyond these studies, Earl and Daws became good friends.    

You can hear some of Earl’s voice work on “Hanna-Barbera’s Pic-A-Nic Basket,” the definitive 3-CD collection of music and sfx from Hanna-Barbera shows of the late 50’s to the 70’s.  Earl not only performs on the album, he also hunted down and preserved many of the rare tracks, and produced the album as well.   

I’ve known Earl for 31 years and I’m proud to call him one of my best friends in this world of cartoons. 

 

Alfred Hitchcock's Forgotten Film

In 1962, the great director Alfred Hitchcock was determined to come up with a film worthy enough to be the successor to his recent horror blockbuster Psycho.  He tried several different themes and titles, ultimately settling on the concept that became the movie entitled The Birds.

But before making that final choice, Hitchcock was close to convincing the powers-that-be at Universal Studios to green-light a similarly-themed film in which the female protagonist is attacked by forces even more unlikely than birds.   Below is one of the prototype posters for that proposed movie.

But alas, The Spoons was not to be.  Thankfully for moviegoers everywhere, Hitchcock sobered up, became obsessed with Tippi Hedren, and went with the birds over the flatware.
  

Beware the Corndog

Sad news from Beantown tonight, where a head of lettuce wearing a ketchup fedora was cornered by five bowls of baked beans and then savagely stabbed by eight corndogs.  There was no known motive for the attack.  

Animaniacs Temporary Tattoos #12

These are the last two Animaniac Temporary Tattoos for now.  There are eleven more, and as soon as I find them, I'll post them.   

In the image below, Wakko seems to be turning his neck to the breaking point to take a gander at Hello Nurse.  

So, until next time...

                                                         Goodbyyyyyye, Nurse!

Animaniacs Temporary Tattoos #11

I think many of these images came from the Animaniacs style guide issued by Warner Bros. Worldwide Consumer Products.  The animation department rarely had any input or sway at the licensing division.   

Animaniacs Temporary Tattoos #10

This one of Dot reminds me of a grade-school Valentine's Day card.   

As for Pinky, he looks like he has been pondering the mysteries of the universe and has come up with an enigma inside a burrito.  

Animaniacs Temporary Tattoos #9

Animaniacs Temporary Tattoos #8

A double dose of Dot...one with a 'doo from another era.   I think disco had been finished for at least a decade before these temporary tatoos were marketed.   

Along with the two Dots:  Skippy's review of "Cowboys & Aliens."   

9/11/11

Animaniacs Temporary Tattoos #7

"Talking Toons with Rob Paulsen" -- Episode 14

Hey!

Rob Paulsen, the extraordinary Emmy award-winning actor who gave us the unforgettable voices of Yakko Warner, Dr. Scratchansniff, Pinky (of Pinky and the Brain fame), Mr. Opportunity, 50% of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and countless others characters, has his own website where he posts an informative and funny podcast each week.  

In this week's episode, Rob tests the patience of his fans by inviting me to share the microphone with him.  Is this the tragic end of Rob's heretofore wildly successful podcast career?   "Toon in" and find out here.

Animaniacs Temporary Tattoos #6

Animaniacs Temporary Tattoos #5

I like that Pesto never gives Squit a break, even as a temporary tattoo. 

Animaniacs Temporary Tattoos #4

Animaniacs Temporary Tattoos #3

This sticker is remarkable just for the fact that Chicken Boo actually made it into some Animaniacs  merchandising.  I also like the concept that Yakko is taking Plotz's convertible for a joy ride.    

Animaniacs Temporary Tattoos #2

Animaniacs Temporary Tattoos #1

Topps put out a set of Animaniacs collectible playing cards in the mid-90s.  Among the cards was a series of temporary tattoos/stickers featuring the cast members.   Here's the first set of images from those stickers.  (BTW,  for all those wiser than myself:  scanning these things, with the sticky side down, was not a great idea as far as my scanner was concerned.) 

The People Who Made "Tiny Toons" and "Animaniacs" -- Part One

Here's Part One in a gallery of some of the very talented people responsible for making Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs.


Barry Caldwell

Barry Caldwell, director, designer and storyboard artist on both Animaniacs and Tiny Toons, is pictured here in his office at Warner Bros. Television Animation in Sherman Oaks, California, circa 1994. 

Among Barry's many achievements, his story board designs breathed new life into the personalities of Babs Bunny, Shirley the Loon, Fifi LaFume and Elmyra in many of the best Tiny Toon episodes, including "Prom-ise Her Anything" and "Fields of Honey."  

And Barry's boards and direction gave us some of our funniest and most memorable Animaniacs segments, including "Bumbie's Mom," "Sir Yaksalot," "Ragamuffins," "The Flame Returns" and "Puppet Rulers."  

 

Also on Animaniacs, Barry directed both the first Minerva Mink cartoon produced ("Meet Minerva") and the first Mindy and Buttons cartoon produced ("Cat on a Hot Steel Beam").


                                                                **************

The People Who Made "Tiny Toons" and "Animaniacs" -- Part Two

Sherri Stoner

Sherri Stoner served as a writer, story-editor and producer on Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs.  Here, she holds up one of the segment cards from Tiny Toons.

Sherri started writing cartoons with Babs Bunny's very first Tiny Toons script, "Debutante Devil," and Sherri hasn't stopped since.  She wrote a bunch of Tiny Toon episodes that have become fan-favorites, including "Hollywood Plucky," "Fields of Honey" and "Thirteen Something."  

In the photo above, Sherri stands in front of the Wall of Cards, which we used to build half-hour shows from various segments, each segment written up on an index card.  Sherri is holding up the card for the Tiny Toons segment "Milk It Makes A Body Spout."

By the way, directly behind Sherri is a Steven Spielberg Bop-Bag, drawn by Bruce Timm (on the back of a Yogi Bear Bop-Bag™.)   This sits in my office to this day, still fully inflated with 1992 air!  

On Animaniacs, Sherri not only helped write and produce the series, but provided the voice for one of the show's stars, the cranky octogenarian, Slappy Squirrel.  

Above, Sherri and fellow Tiny Toons story-editor Paul Dini  celebrate Easter 1991 by posing with the Easter Bunny at the Sherman Oaks Galleria.  Apparently, Paul was traumatized by the bunny and had a meltdown.