Who hasn't seen "Star Wars"

You've heard "Star Wars" according to a 3 year old...well now, here's "Star Wars" according to someone who hasn't seen it.


Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn't seen it) from Joe Nicolosi on Vimeo.

Cartoon a Day: The Spirit of '43

The Spirit of '43
1943
Directed by Jack King (uncredited)
Available on: Walt Disney Treasures - On the Front Lines

We continue with out look at the animation studios contribution to the war effort with Disney's "The Spirit of '43." This short begins as a Donald Duck film. It's pay day and Donald has a big wad of cash. Of course, according to cartoon tradition, two alternated versions of our main character come out to tell Donald how what to do with his money. The thrifty version is telling him to save his money so he has enough for taxes, while the "spendthrift" wants him to live it up.



The very vivid imagery you'd expect in a war propaganda short begins when Donald realizes that the swinging doors of the saloon he's being lured to are in the shape of a swastika. From there the film takes on a style more like Disney's animated propaganda feature "Victory Through Air Power."

What follows is very stylized animation of factories producing shells and "guns, guns, guns." The sequence of enemy planes and ships being shot down are very dark and not at all what you would expect from Disney. The large metal Nazi monster is an image that looks more like the animation from "Pink Floyd: The Wall" than something the house of the mouse would produce.

I'm sure this short achieved it's purpose. People probably felt a bit more spirited about paying their taxes..."taxes to sink the axis." It definitely takes an interesting approach, combining a beloved character with horrific and ultimately very patriotic imagery.

Cartoon a Day: Herr Meets Hare

Herr Meets Hare
1945
Directed by Friz Freleng (as I. Freleng)
Available on: Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 6

"Herr Meets Hare" is a cartoon that has been rarely seen until it's recent release on DVD. It is essentially a Bugs Bunny / Elmer Fudd hunting picture. But here's the catch, instead of Fudd as Bugs' nemesis we have Hitler's second in command Hermann Goring.

Bugs ends up near Goring's hunting lodge in Germany's black forest having, of course, forgotten to make a left turn at Albuquerque. By the way, this is actually the first film that features that line. The gags that follow are pretty much in line with what you would see if Fudd were in the picture, though customized a bit to make jabs at the Nazis. The sequence in which Bugs impersonates the fuhrer features some great poses for Bugs.

One segment of the film that is particularly interesting is essentially an early version of the classic cartoon "What's Opera Doc?" which was still 12 years away at this point. Just like in that more famous film, you have Bugs in the Brunehilde role and Herman Goring (Fudd) in the Siegfried role. The scene is very funny, particularly the animation of Goring who looks like a giant baby with a viking hat.

I realize some of these wartime cartoons often have some elements that are uncomfortable to watch in this day and age, but it so great to see the studios interested in not just preserving the history of these cartoons but sharing them in a major DVD release. This one is real classic.

Why are there so many starving people?

The other day I started reading a book I got for Christmas, "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. Chan is pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA. My neighbors actually went to his church when they lived in California. I enjoy listening to his sermons, though at time his style is a little bit too much like free form jazz for me. Still, he's got to be one of the most upfront and honest preachers I've heard. He tells you what goes through his mind when God speaks and I can sure relate to a lot of the emotions he describes.

I'm only a little ways into the book, but I am enjoying it immensely. So far I think I've highlighted more things in the first two chapters than I have in some entire books. One passage in particular really grabbed me. Chan writes:

"Psalm 115:3 reveals, "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him." Yet we keep on questioning Him: "Why did You make me with this body, instead of that one?" "Why are so many people dying of starvation?" "Why are there so many planets with nothing living on them?" "Why is my family so messed up?" "Why don't You make Yourself more obvious to people who need You?"

"The answer to each of these questions is simply this: because He's God. He has more of a right to ask us why so many people are starving."

It's that last sentence that got to me. I imagined that scene we all imagine, being in Heaven and asking God all those questions we want to know. "Why did you make mosquitoes?" "Who shot JFK?" Stuff like that. Oh, and while were at it, "why are there so many people dying of starvation." Would He respond with something like, "Shouldn't I be asking you that? I did tell you that you would do even greater things than I did when I was down there. So what happened?" We pray that God would move in mighty ways to do things like feed the hungry and cure diseases. Perhaps we're the ones that are supposed to be moving.

Cartoon a Day: Der Fuehrer's Face

Der Fuehrer's Face
1942
Directed by Jack Kinney (uncredited)
Available on: Walt Disney Treasures - On the Front Lines


Having looked at a cartoon yesterday that was so influenced by the world at war, I decided to continue with another World War II cartoon. Most of the major animation studios contributed to the war effort in some way, both with educational films and films designed to boost the spirits of the war weary public. One of the best cartoons from this time is the Donald Duck short "Der Fuehrer's Face."



This cartoon wasn't shown much after the war. Though it is very funny, it is also somewhat disturbing. After all, Donald is forced to read Mein Kampf in one scene. The film's title comes from the song that is played throughout the film which was made famous by Spike Jones. Having spent many Sunday nights of my youth listening to the Dr. Demento Show, I knew of the song long before I knew of this cartoon.


In the film, Donald is living in Nazi-land. It's actually kind of interesting that it isn't revealed that this is all a dream until the end of the picture (sorry to spoil the ending there folks). It must've been strange for movie audiences to see Donald cast as a Nazi and have no explanation as to why America's favorite duck had gone to the dark side.




The whole Nazi-land environment is played out hilariously with the background designs. We see trees, windmills, even fire hydrants all in the shape of a swastika. Even Donald's house ends up being a caricature of Adolf Hitler.



The film moves at a frantic pace and by the end even becomes somewhat psychedelic in it's style as Donald ends up in a sequence similar to the pink elements on parade scene from "Dumbo."


This Academy Award winner is a brilliant piece of animation and one of the best examples of Disney's contribution to the war effort.

Cartoon a Day: The Yankee Doodle Mouse

The Yankee Doodle Mouse
1943
Directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
Available on: Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection

As the title cards says, this Tom and Jerry short won the Academy Award for 1943. As usual, Tom is chasing Jerry, but this short gives the antics a military setting.



Some parts of this short are very familiar, and others not so much. It could be that some sequences from this short were reused in other Tom and Jerry films, which did happen a few times. It's interesting to see some of these gags, which I've seen before, but to see them in light of the fact that this was made while our country was deep in World War II. Jerry flying around in a cardboard box dropping light bulb bombs on Tom suddenly takes on new meaning.

Like most Tom and Jerry cartoons, this short is, at times, cringe-worthy in it's level of violence. I mean, Jerry scrapes Tom's rear end with a cheese grader folks...twice! The humor of this short still holds up after 65 years. I'm sure it was a great spirit booster for folks worn down by the realities of a world at war when it first was screened.

Cartoon a Day: Minnie the Moocher

Minnie the Moocher
1932
Directed by Dave Fleischer
Available on: YouTube

Well folks, I'm sorry for the big gap in my cartoon a day posts this past week. I was at the Children's Pastor's Conference in Nashville, which I figured might make time to post slim, but I sure didn't count on the awful internet service. This is the second year in a row that I've been able to stay at a friend's time share, it was nice but the internet service was so undependable. Even when I could get on I didn't think the signal was strong enough to upload anything. So far, I've gotten better internet service at most Super 8's than I got in these fancy time share joints.

Anyway, on with the cartoon. Since it's a Betty Boop short, here it is thanks to YouTube...



The opening live-action sequence of this film shows exactly why rotoscoping was an important part of this movie. There you get to see the actual Cab Calloway, it would be a challenge for any animator to match his moves. It makes perfect sense to rotoscope him as was done later in the film.

This film continues the creative, if not bizarre, nature of the Betty Boop films. The premise is a bit weird...Betty doesn't like the food she's getting at home so she runs away with Bimbo and ends up in a haunted cave where a walrus like creature sings "Minnie the Moocher." Seen it a thousand times before, right...yeah right.

The closing sequence where the ghosts chase Betty and Bimbo out of the cave was the highlight for me. There is some great animation and character design, and one can't help but think that Disney's artists may have looked at this sequence when planning 'A Night on Bald Mountain' from "Fantasia." I think the whole film would've been a bit stronger if there had been more interaction between Betty and the ghosts, but it's still a fun short.

Muppet Mug Shots

Here's a disturbing trend. Amongst the fresh 2009 mug shots collected over at The Smoking Gun are two apparent Muppet fans who ended up at the lock up. Both are sporting shirts featuring a picture of Kermit and the slogan "It's Easy Being Green." Of course we all know that it's actually NOT easy being green. Perhaps having the wrong idea is part of what landed them in this trouble in the first place.

Cartoon a Day: The Chain Gang

The Chain Gang
1930
Directed by Burt Gillett
Available on: Walt Disney Treasures - Mickey Mouse in Black and White

"The Chain Gang" is a very early Mickey Mouse short. I remember watching it several years ago and not being that taken with this particular short. I think I have a better appreciation of this film now, but it still is not a "Wow" moment for everyone's favorite mouse.

The premise is a bit strange, Mickey is in prison. Think about that for a second...Mickey Mouse in prison!?! What on earth could he have done? He charges too much for a large Coke at his amusement parks, but prison?!? Anyhow, the first half of the film is musical antics around the prison yard. The second half is about the goofiest prison riot ever put on film.


There are certain moments of this cartoon where the animation seems more polished in some scenes than others. It's understandable considering how early in Mickey's history this film is. The animators were still working out their craft. You can see them experimenting a bit with perspective towards the end of the film. There are genuinely funny moments too, such as when Mickey breaks the chain attached to his leg yet he still picks up the ball it was attached to and carries it with him as he escapes.

Cartoon a Day: Betty Boop, M.D.

Betty Boop, M.D.
1932
Directed by Dave Fleischer
Available on: YouTube

Here's another Betty Boop cartoon available for viewing in full thanks to YouTube and the public domain. Enjoy.




This is a truly bizarre cartoon featuring Betty, Koko, and Bimbo as part of a medicine show. By the time this cartoon get rolling, their wonder product, Jippo, has got people's skeletons jumping out of their skin, babies turning into monsters and all sorts of other weird stuff. The cartoon is almost psychedelic.

It's pretty weird, but it is a great example of the originality that went on at the Fleischer studio. Whereas many cartoons from this era are repetitious in their animation, this is anything but. We don't see the same gag, not to mention the same animation, over and over. This cartoon quickly moves from bit to bit.

I've certainly seen some Betty Boop shorts over the years, but I guess I've never looked at them as closely as I am now. There is really a lot of innovation in them. I finding the Fleischer studio to be one of the under appreciated gems of early animation.

The Stories Behind the Muppets

The blog over at Mental Floss has a great little post about the stories behind the origins of 20 favorite Muppet characters. There are a few that I'm not sure aboout the accuracy of, but it's a fun post for all Muppet fans. Enjoy it here.

Cartoon a Day: Ration Bored

Ration Bored
1943
Directed by Emery Hawkins and Milt Schaeffer
Available on: Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection.

Well, we missed doing a cartoon yesterday. Out too late on New Year's eve. But today we have a Woody Woodpecker short, "Ration Bored."


This is a descent short, but it does have a few strikes against it. First off, it's premise comes from something that audiences today just can't relate to, rationing of gas. But this is one of those shorts where you can't help but wonder how Woody Woodpecker became so popular, because he just isn't that likable here. In this short he's they guy who sees himself as being above everybody else. The rules don't apply to him.

The "villains" in this short are just trying to do their job. Their the honest folk. Woody is really the bad guy here. So while this short has a few chuckles it's hard to get on the side of the so-called hero of the story.