We're back, presenting more cartoon characters who ran for president as an alternate to the current candidates. This week we have a rodent and a duck. America is certainly a land of opportunity...
Part Three: Alvin for President!
Alvin, lead singer for the Chipmunks, ran for president in 1960, beating Kanye West to the punch by sixty years. According to NEWSWEEK, when candidate John F. Kennedy heard that Alvin had entered the race, he commented, "I'm glad to know I have at least one worthy opponent."
Alvin started his campaign with a campaign song 'Alvin for President" released as a single by Liberty Records. It was the last Chipmunk single to hit the Billboard top 100. Alvin followed this up with a comic book and a performance of his campaign song on "The Alvin Show." Despite Alvin's popularity he was no match for John F., who beat out Alvin, Nixon and Huckleberry Hound (see our previous post for details on Huck's campaign).
Take a listen to Alvin for President:
Part Four: Daffy Duck for President!
In 1997, the Looney Tunes characters began appearing on US postage stamps. Daffy Duck decided this would be the perfect year to run for president since, after all, he is already on a stamp. Chuck Jones contributed to Daffy's campaign with the book "Daffy Duck for President," a children's book that explains the three branches of government. Unfortunately Daffy failed to realize that 1997 was not an election year, so it was all a wasted effort.
Seven years later, Daffy realized that 2004 is divisible by four and that this could be his year. He produced a film based on his campaign book from 1997, Daffy Duck For President. The film received minimal play time but must have done some good - He was elected senator. George Bush took the presidency that year. Take a look at "Daffy Duck for President."
BONUS: Here's Alvin's campaign song as performed on The Alvin Show. Not the best video, but included for archival purposes.
Bugs Bunny celebrated his 75th birthday last month, and I celebrated the occassion by posting my choice for top ten Bugs Bunny cartoons of all time. Now, here's a posting listing some of Bugs' most rare, most unusual, and most unseen appearances. We'll start with a 1942 film commissioned by the US Treasury. America had just entered World war II and the treasury was using all the Hollywood stars to promote the sale of US Savings Bonds, so why not Bugs Bunny? The short film features Bugs Bunny singing an Irving Berlin number, "Any Bonds Today?" and includes a short sequence of Bugs imitating Al Jolson.
Warner Bros. was not above using Bugs Bunny as a cameo in other shorts... one of my favorites occurs in Porky Pig's Feat, which I posted on my blog HERE. But Bugs made appearances in other places as weel. During World War II, Warners Bros. produced a series of cartoons for the armed forces that starred a less-than-perfect soldier named Private SNAFU. Snafu usually demonstaretd the wrong way to do things and was a big hit at the Army camps. The cartoons were never meant for public viewings but have recently been showing up on Youtube and in DVD sets. Here is a typical entry, GAS, with a short cameo by Bugs Bunny.
Bugs was so popular, he could even make a cameo in cartoons made by other studios. In 1944, Paramount released a stop-motion cartoon by George Pal, Jasper Goes Hunting. Take a look at who joins the film briefly at the 4:40 mark (and sorry for the poor condition of the clip)
Bugs Bunny also appeared in a couple of live-action features for Warner Bros.. In the 1949 Doris Day comedy My Dream is Yours, Bugs gets a full song and dance routine along with Day and Jack Carson. Friz Freleng directed the animation.
Next time, we'll hit a few other rare appearances of Bugs, including one of his several appearances at the Academy Awards! Stay tuned!
1940 was a banner year for cartoons. In that year we saw the debut of three cartoon characters that would go on to become among the biggest, most recognizable cartoon stars of all time - as well as the most successful characters for each studio. In February 1940, MGM released Puss Gets the Boot, which introduced Tom and Jerry to the populace. In November 1940, Walter Lantz produced an Andy Panda cartoon dealing with a crazy woodpecker who was pecking holes in Andy's roof, and Woody Woodpecker was born. And on July 27, 1940, Warner Bros released a cartoon that began very simply, with a hunter slowly making his way through the woods, pausing a moment, then turning to the audience to say, "Be vewy, vewy quiet... I'm hunting wabbits."
And so it began. Bugs Bunny popped out of his hole for the first time 75 years ago this week, and his first line, was, of course, "Eh, what's up doc?" The classic line, then completely unexpected from the subject of a rabbit hunt, instantly became the rabbit's trademark and solidified his personality. Bugs Bunny was not going to be the typical cartoon star that we had seen before 1940. Bugs was calm, cool and collected in the face of adversity, and was always able to overcome his opponents in every situation (unless you were a turtle... or a gremlin). Bugs Bunny has always been my favorite cartoon star, and I am glad to be able to post this 75th birthday tribute to the wily rabbit.
Model sheet from "A Wild Hare" the first true Bugs Bunny cartoon
As a kid, the Warner Bros. cartoons were shown continuously on TV. I've seen them all so many times I know them by heart. However, as new generations come and go, I am finding that there are some younger people out there who are much less aware of the Warner Bros. cartoons. Worse yet, I have heard that there are people who can listen to Wagner's Der Ring Des Nibelungen without singing "kill the wabbit" to themselves. To them, I am offering my list of Top Ten Bugs Bunny Cartoons. After watching these ten classics, I am sure you'll understand why I can't turn off the TV whenever that rabbit comes into view.
I was able to find posted versions of most of the cartoons, with the exception of Hillbilly Hare. If you look around the Internet a bit more you can probably find it.
10. Hillbilly Hare (1950) Robert McKimson
I had to include one cartoon from Robert McKimson. Bugs Bunny vacations in the Ozarks, where he runs afoul of the Martins and Coy's infamous feud. The last half of the cartoon, where Bugs directs a square dance like no other, is embedded below with subtitles added so you can sing along!
9. Little Red Riding Rabbit (1943) Friz Freleng
At this point, Bugs is only three years old, and the directors were still figuring out exactly how to handle him. There is still some issues drawing him consistently from one scene to the next. However, this cartoon has a lot of great things going for it, especially an unexpected ending that comes out of nowhere. Follow the link and watch the full cartoon!
8. High Diving Hare (1949) Friz Freleng
A classic encounter with Yosemite Sam. Freleng takes a one-joke premise, adds in some great gags and some razor-sharp timing, and ends up with one of the best Bugs cartoons there is.
7. Rhapsody Rabbit (1946) Friz Freleng
One of the more controversial cartoons on the list, due to its resemblance to a similar Tom and Jerry cartoon. However, it's a great film on its own.
6. Long Haired Hare (1949) Chuck Jones
Bug's first encounter with classical music, and in my opinion, the ultimate Bugs Bunny cartoon that defines all that is Bugs. Bugs has no inclination to bother anyone - in fact, he is provoked three times until he finally delivers his famous line, "Of course, you know this means war." From then on, it's Bugs getting revenge on his opponent in hilarious fashion.
5. Baseball Bugs (1946) Friz Freleng
The best Bugs Bunny cartoons pit him against a worthy adversary, place him at a disadvantage, and have him come out on top. In this cartoon, Bugs is bullied into playing a baseball game, by himself, against an entire team of thugs and cheats called the Gashouse Gorillas. Guess who wins.
4. What's Opera, Doc? (1957) Chuck Jones
I'll probably get berated for not putting this higher. This cartoon takes the classic Bugs Bunny formula (Elmer hunting Bugs), uses the same gags we have seen a million times (Elmer not recognizing that Bugs is a rabbit, Bugs in drag, Bugs faking death, etc.) and sets it in the world of a Wagner opera.
3. Rabbit Seasoning (1952) Chuck Jones
It was hard not to put all of the Bugs / Daffy / Elmer cartoons in here. I settled on the next two. I doubt there's anyone out there who hasn't seen it, but it's definitely worth seeing again...
2. Duck! Rabbit! Duck! (1953) Chuck Jones
The less famous of the three "hunting trilogy", but in my opinion the funniest. If you've never seen it, you're in for a real treat...
1. The Rabbit of Seville (1951) Chuck Jones
Here it is, my favorite Bugs Bunny cartoon of all time! As near a perfect cartoon as there ever was. Great characters, great music, great animation and truly funny gags all combine to make this a true tour de force.
BONUS! A Wild Hare (1940) Tex Avery
Here it is, Bugs Bunny's first true appearance, 75 years ago. You can see how many of the gags and situations in this first film were carried on in the series.
There you go! I hate to leave of so many true classics... Slick Hare, Rabbit Fire, Show Biz Bugs, Buccaneer Bunny, Hare Trigger, Racketeer Rabbit, Bully for Bugs, The Old Gray Hare and Rabbit Punch are among the cartoons I was sorry to leave off. I welcome you to leave your own top ten in the comments below. Next week, I will post some rarely seen Bugs Bunny appearances. Stay tuned!
Sorry for the delay, it's been a busy week. I had to go out to the mailbox twice this week. And those darn girl scouts keep ringing my door asking if I want cookies. One day I may have to turn them down. We're back to giving you our ratings for the worst cartoon characters of all time. Competition is getting fierce, but I think when the final list is unveiled you will agree with at least 30% of the choices. If you agree with less than that, I'll be happy to post your list in a subsequent column. But let's move on to number 7, as we move up the list to number one...
Okay, let's get one thing straight right now. THIS is a baby kangaroo:
...And THIS is a giant mouse, better known as a Capybara, native to South America.
See any resemblance? Sure, I guess they are both brown and furry, but then again so is a brown bear. And yet Ranger Smith never mistook Yogi for a giant mouse. A bear from outer space, yes, but never a giant mouse.
However, this mistaken identity is the basis for every Hippity Hopper film released by Warners Brothers from 1948 until 1964. In case you're not familiar with the premise, the cartoon usually begins with a baby kangaroo escaping from a zoo, a circus, an Outback restaurant, or any other place you're likely to find a baby kangaroo. He inevitably ends up in the neighborhood of Sylvester the Cat, who mistakes the baby kangaroo for a giant mouse and spends the rest of the cartoon trying to subdue the creature, and getting beaten to a pulp in the process. Every cartoon in the series was directed by Robert McKimson.
The first couple of cartoons were interesting and fun, but soon after that the cartoons fell into the same repeated formula that would curse such cartoon stars as Pepe Le Pew, Casper, and any Famous Studios cartoon star.
Hippity Hopper, the name of the baby kangaroo, has almost no personality and really doesn't do much in his own films. He is the star of these cartoons much like the Roadrunner stars in a Roadrunner cartoon. Let's be honest, the real star of the Roadrunner cartoons is the Coyote, and in the Hippity Hopper films it is Sylvester that really carries the film. However, the Warner Bros. cartoon department seemed to think that Hippity Hopper had the star power, as you can see from these title cards:
Pop 'im Pop, 1950, Hippity Hopper's third film. At least Sylvester is still getting second billing.
Lighthouse Mouse, 1955
Too Hop to handle, 1956. At least Sylvester made it onto the title card.
Hippity Hopper went on to appear in comic books, some merchandise, and the occasional resurrection of the Warner Bros. characters in TV and movies such as Space Jam. Below I've posted a Hippity Hopper cartoon that has a plot somewhat different than all the others (but not very), Bell Hoppy from 1954. The nice thing about this one is Sylvester gets top billing...
I've posted very few Chuck Jones cartoons on this blog... the reason for that is because everyone has seen his best work practically everywhere. In this blog I'm trying to bring you the different stuff, the stuff you don't see all the time. For instance, you will NEVER see What's Opera Doc posted on this site. They show that darn cartoon at every animation festival I attend. I have seen it so much I can no longer enjoy the Der Ring des Nibelungenwithout singing "Kill the Wabbit!" And if you knew how much I enjoy the full 15 hours of the cycle, you'd understand my frustration.
I'm posting a Warner Bros. Merrie Melodie cartoon from 1952, Feed the Kitty, directed by Chuck Jones. This cartoon has none of the famous Warner characters in it... No Bugs, Daffy or Sylvester. It stars a typical Warner Bros. bulldog and a kitten. But in this short 7-minute film, Chuck gives the bulldog a personality and range of emotion that gets you instantly caught up in the proceedings. The results is one of his best, and one of my personal favorites. In 1994 it was selected as #36 on the list of 50 Greatest Cartoons of all Time. Enjoy!
As a kid, one of my favorite movies was The Incredible Mr. Limpet. Keep in mind, this was at a time when DVD's and videotape didn't exist. We were subject to whatever movies were available on TV, and Mr. Limpet was one that was broadcast often. I looked forward to it whenever it was screened.
For those of you not familiar with the film, it's the story of Henry Limpet, a mild-mannered fish enthusiast who longs to join the navy. A fall into the ocean causes a fantastic metamorphosis that turns him into an animated dolphin. As such, he becomes the Navy's greatest secret weapon against the Nazis in World War II.
The movie was released in 1964 and was a beginning and an end, of sorts. This film launch the film career of Don Knotts, who went on to star in other classic movies such as The Shakiest Gun in the West and The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, both of which made up a big part of my childhood viewing. On the downside, this was the last animation produced by the Warner Bros. cartoon studio. Once the film was completed, the studio closed their doors, ending an almost 35-year stream of great animated cartoons.
There has been talk in recent years of a remake, and stars such as Jim Carrey and Zach Galinfiakis have been associated with it from time to time. Currently Richard Linklater is pinned as director.
We all know that Don Knotts went on to bigger and better things, but what became of the animated fish? Many people are unaware that the fish found work at the Walt Disney studios. Limpet played a cameo role in The Little Mermaid. In the Under the Sea number, you can see Mr Limpet in the big finale at the end. See the photo below for unequivocal proof.
Click on photo for a larger view. You can see Mr. Limpet near the top, to the right. Look for the fish wearing glasses.
Limpet made such a big impact in the movie that when it came time to build a Little Mermaid attraction at the theme parks, it was imperative that he was a part of the ride. So, next time you ride Ariel's Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventures, keep at least one eye open during the Under the Sea scene. Near the end of the scene, look to your left, away from the action. There, you can see Limpet, swimming over to join in the fun! Again, look below for more unequivocal proof.
It's good to know that Limpet is still making a nice, steady income as he waits for his chance at a remake. Hail to Henry Limpet!!
In our never-ending efforts to be timely, this week we bring you Yankee Doodle Bugs, a 1954 Looney Tune from Friz Freleng. I donm't have much to say about this one, except this note to trivia fans: This is one of only two cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny's nephew, Clyde. His other appearance was in His Hare Raising Tale, released three years earlier in 1951. (He also appeared in a television special, but we don't count that). Enjoy!
This week's cartoon is a little-known Warner Bros. gem from 1960, The High Note, directed by Chuck Jones. By 1960, the Warner Bros. cartoon studio was nearing the end, but was still capable of producing some great cartoons. In the coming months, they would lose their top two writers, Mike Maltese and Warren Foster, to Hanna-Barbara. The quality of the cartoons dropped dramatically at this time until the studio closed in 1963. However, enjoy this one, one of the last great ones from the studio!
Foghorn Leghorn is one of those cartoon characters that some people love, and some people hate. I fall in the middle. Some of his early cartoons are among the best cartoons Warner Bros ever made... in fact his first one was nominated for an academy award. On the other end of the spectrum, some of his later cartoons are among the worst ever made. Check out Mother was a Rooster, The Slick Chick or Strangled Eggs to see the worst. Look for Walky Talky Hawky or The Leghorn Blows at Midnight to see the best. You'll notice I didn't create links for the worst; you'll have to find them yourselves. I won't take blame for that.
A little history about Foghorn Leghorn might be appropriate here. He started out as a supporting character to Henery Hawk, a character who had already debuted in a cartoon directed by Chuck Jones. Foghorn debuted in Walky Talky Hawky and literally stole the show from Henery. The cartoon earned an Academy Award nomination for director Robert McKimson, and a new cartoon series was born. Twenty eight Foghorn cartoons were made, all directed by McKimson.
Most people think that Foghorn Leghorn was patterned after Senator Claghorn, a character that lived on Allen's Alley on the Fred Allen radio show. In fact, in his early days he was patterned after a sheriff character that appeared on a 1930's radio show called Blue Monday Jamboree. However, as the character developed, he began to sound more like Senator Claghorn, picking up many of his catchphrases ("That's a joke, son!" is among the most obvious)
The interesting thing about Foghorn is that, although it may seem like his cartoons are all the same, the writers and directors actually tried to create some variety in the series. They created several characters to inhabit the Foghorn universe, and each cartoon may differ depending on the supporting cast. Henery Hawk, the weasel, Miss Prissy, Little Egghead, and Barnyard Dog were among the regulars. Sylvester and Daffy Duck also made appearances in the series. This is in contrast to Pepe Le Pew, Hippity Hopper or the Roadrunner, in which every cartoon had the same basic plotline.
The cartoon I'm posting below is Foghorn's fifth cartoon, A Fractured Leghorn, from 1950.. It's a bit different than most of the others, and was rarely seen on television. No Barnyard Dog, no Henery Hawk in this one. Enjoy!
Here's an odd little clip from the 1949 film, "My Dream is Yours," starring Doris Day and Jack Carson. In this dream sequence, Doris and Jack dress up as Easter bunnies to sing a ditty based on the Hungarian Rhapsody #2. Of course, they get help from another famous Warner Bros. star...
In honor of the 85th annual Academy Awards, I present What's Cooking Doc?, a 1944 Bugs Bunny cartoon directed by Robert Clampett. No need to say anything else; you'll get the reference soon enough. Enjoy!
Okay, I know I'm a bit behind in postings. I haven't posted a cartoon in a while, so to celebrate the holidays, I'm posting a 1952 Christmas-themed cartoon: Gift Wrapped, starring Sylvester and Tweety. In keeping with the true spirit of the season, there are , explosions, gunplay, dynamite, and the chance to watch Sylvester swallow Tweety (and be swallowed, for that matter) at least three times. Enjoy!
Only three more days until election day! For today's cartoon I've picked a standerd Bugs Bunny / Yosemite Sam cartoon from 1950: Ballot Box Bunny, directed by Friz Freleng. This cartoon contains the infamous "Those Endearing Young Charms" exploding piano gag (used at least three times by the Warners crew) and a unusually dark ending that in recent years has been edited out of television showings. I wish all elections could be determined this easily. Enjoy!
Here's a classic Warner Bros. cartoon from 1943, Puss 'n' Booty, directed by Frank Tashlin. I've mentioned several times before on this blog what a fan I am of Frank Tashlin's work, and here's a prime example of his directorial skills. This was the last black-and white cartoon released by Warner Bros., and Tashlin makes use of the limited grays to create a real film noir feeling in this cartoon. Parts of this cartoon were re-made five years later with Tweety and Sylvester in "I Taw a Putty Tat," but that's a cartoon for another time. Enjoy!
Happy Easter, one and all! In keeping with the holiday, I'm posting the 1947 Bugs Bunny cartoon, "Easter Yeggs," directed by Robert McKimson. The Easter rabbit in this cartoon is based on the "Happy Postman" character that Mel Blanc portrayed on the George Burns and Gracie Allen radio show in the 1940's. Not the best cartoon, but hey, it was a choice between this and "Funny Little Bunnies." I'll save that one for next year. Enjoy!
It's once again Cartoon Saturday! I'm surprised it's taken me this long to post a Warner Bros. cartoon, But here is one of my all-time favorites: "The Great Piggy Bank Robbery" directed by Bob Clampett and released in 1946. It was one of the last cartoons made by Clampett before he left Warner Bros., and one of his best. Clampett eventually moved into early television with his puppet characters Beany and Cecil. Enjoy!
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