Corpse Bride carries on the tradition of stop-motion. One source of inspiration for Tim Burton has been Gumby. © 2005 Warner Bros. Ent. Inc.

GR: In a best case scenario, what would be the best thing to happen in the world of Gumby over the next two years?

JC: The best thing is for Gumby adventures to be on TV, for a new series to be added to the old series and to make a series of Gumby movies. We have a lot of great scripts; Gumby has a lot to say in the modern world. What we want to do is become a full-time working studio where every few years we’re coming out with new Gumby adventures whether it be movies or TV shows. And then we could sustain that as they did in the ‘50s and ‘60s. There was a 15-year period where Gumby episodes were being constantly produced. We want to do the same thing.

Gumby has stretched now five decades. He is a part of Americana. Gumby connects with kids. He did back in the ‘50s and he does now. His kind of physical humor like Laurel and Hardy is timeless. Gumby has a bright future. It’s a new era. We have a new studio with creative writers. The animation techniques will continue to improve, but the love and imagination behind Gumby will always be there.

While it is clear that Gumby will return in 2006 and beyond, it is uncertain whether Gumby shows or movies that are not made by Art Clokey will again capture the hearts and imagination of children and adults everywhere. Nevertheless, Gumby has been a permanent fixture in the lives of America’s youth for the last half century, and it doesn’t look like he’ll be going anywhere anytime soon.

Gerard Raiti currently resides in Los Angeles where he is pursuing a graduate degree at USC Annenberg School for Communication. He holds an MSc in global media and communications from the London School of Economics and a B.S. in English and music from Vanderbilt University. His recent research has focused on the globalization of Cartoon Network in Australia, Brazil and Italy.