WR: Kinda like California, but with alligators.

ML: We did a lot of things at that studio, including a TV special, which was completed in early February of '96. It was probably the last animated TV special to be done entirely in the U. S.

WR: Who else worked on it?

ML: Art Leonardi, Frank Andrina, Gerard Baldwin. I did about half of it. The camera work was done in L. A. by Ted Bemiller and Sons using Playhouse's camera.

WR: You designed a book cover that's on just about every animator's shelf.

ML: I did?

WR: I'm referring to the Beck/Friedwald reference book, Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies.

ML: Oh, yeah. Warner Bros. had somebody redraw the thing.

WR: One place where that kind of "collaboration" doesn't happen is in your own comic books. How many have you done by now?

ML: A couple dozen of my own. Counting books for other publishers, about a hundred.

WR: I assume writing and drawing your own books is more satisfying than some of the work-for-hires.

ML: Yeah, but it doesn't necessarily pay as well. Let me tell you about a studio, which shall remain nameless.

WR: Good. We strive for discretion around here.

ML: Well, this studio, which I won't name --

WR: Good.

ML: -- had an excellent staff of cartoonists who really knew the studio's characters and, if left on their own, could produce the kind of comic books that these funny animal characters were known for throughout the world. However, the studio brought in as supervisors guys who'd only worked on superhero-type books. They had no feel for funny animals. So I'll never forget one day, one of these writers that was brought in to supervise us cartoonists at this studio which I shall not name --

WR: Good.

ML: -- actually said to us, "We're going to do Mickey Mouse like Floyd

Gottfredson did, only we're going to do it right this time!"

WR: Say, are you implying -- ?

ML: I'm implying nothing. The nameless studio shall remain nameless.

WR: Good!

* * *

Mike Kazaleh is the creator of many comic books, including those starring Captain Jack. He has also illustrated comic books featuring the likes of Mighty Mouse, Roger Rabbit, Ren and Stimpy, Cow and Chicken, Donald Duck and other loony luminaries.

Will Ryan is the creator of the Annie Award-winning animated series Elmo Aardvark: Outer Space Detective! He is currently writing a book on animation pioneer Pat Powers.