An interesting article, but one that does not acknowledge the shift in the drive behind making today's animation- profit. The wartime cartoons that you mentioned were made in a time before animated characters were created solely with liscencing in mind. Animation was still something of a "pure art form" then, not to mention the fact that censorship was not as rampant as it is now, and animation was not intended (as a mass-market strategy, anyway) almost exclusively for children's entertainment. One could express one's opinions more easliy through the art of animation. With that in mind, it would be a little awkward for say, Hasbro to proudly trumpet the war efforts, (directly, at any rate, for it can be quite easily said that the re-emergence of G.I. Joe is a sign of the times as opposed to cashing in on nostalgia,) whether they used current characters or new. In order to remain profitable, it is wisest to remain neutral or best yet, unspoken, in situations like that. Large companies cannot usually afford to make political stands like that, and the poeple who would make a stink about it, pro or against, usually don't have the kind of funds to let their handiwork be seen in such a wide venue, much less have readily recognizable characters at thier disposal. It is interesting to note that Tiny Toons (contrary to views presented in the article) *did* take a stab, however small, at Hussein. There was an episode during or after the tensions in the Gulf (forgive me, I was about 11 at the time, and did'nt really make a note of the political ramifacations,) that featured a character called "Soddarn Insane", who was attempting to take over the world, and was thwarted, naturally. While this pales in comparison to anything that may have aired in the days of pre-nuclear war, it was something. And considering the politically correct world that it had been produced in/for, perhaps it was more than a little something. So in short, it is easier to keep selling products (and one's head down,) than risk all on making one's voice heard in the name of a cause that maight not even find suport within your organization.

Life depends on what you dream...so DREAM BIG and best wishes.

Hey hey , from Wales, being nearly 18 tis a bit strange that i actually watch this program . - But i realise that there are about ten other ppl that watch this program tooooo. - and there are more ppl getting hooked by the day. Newayz i managed to get here by searching for the Tiny Planets soundtrack so - IF NE-ONE MANAGES TO AQUIRE THE TINY PLANETS SOUNDTRACK PLEASE TELL ME....I NEED IT TO SURVIVE, - Bing & Bong, theres a tiny planet calling......

Very good piece, Marty. I think that people have (relatively speaking) become less innocent in some ways (though I guess that can be debated given the atrocious amount of flag waving, song-singing,and bumper stickers U.S. trophy wives and their ilk still cling too), there is more information out there. Online we (well..in my case, as a Canadian, we've always had that good fortune)... there are tons of online periodicals and foreign newspapers. Nothing is as cut and dry as it once appeared to be. It's also interesting that McLaren made his anti-war bit, Neighbours around the time of the Korean war (1953 or 54)...so it's almost like McLaren was a bridge from pro-war to anti-war cartoons. And off the top of my head...I suspect there's a slew of anti-war cartoons out there since Neighbours.... chris robinson

jhonen should be world ruler.

I met the half brother of Gene Deitch yesterday. His brother is a doctor outside of Houston, Texas. Can you believe that!! I was embarrased to be an animator and not know who Gene was. This site's great!

Konnichiwa! I am a desperate anime fan, that is really into anime drawing. I wish to improve my skills, and take them to a higher level, but I'm still a high school student, so schools cannot come into play right now. Please at least put links on your magazine, that would show people to sites where they can have tutorials, or lessons online. Thank you ever so for your attention, sayonara! Jade

I LOVE U JHONEN!!!!!!!!!!!

Look just after the parenthesis on #12, Dave. Gene mentions there that he's adding #'s 13 and 14.

"SPARX" the rising studio has got the intense creative spark in the field of NEW AGE MEDIA.

Mark of Kri has been the best animated game I have ever interacted with. How can I go about freshing up on my skills to land a job doing similar character animation? What do game companys look for in character animators?

How do you go from an Intro to Animation class to a job with Disney Online making animations? Did Travis know someone? I've seen a lot of talented people with far less luck (or breaks...Travis obviously is talented). Is career like real estate? Location..Location...Location?

My 2 year old daughters love this cartoon, and I ADORE it! The characters, the song, the story, all of it. I started to sing the song in the car last night, and stopped when I didn't know the next line. I thought my daughter said "row row", so I started to sing "row, row, row your boat", and she said "no mommy, no - bing bong". As short a song as it is, I better learn the lyrics!

Good article

Travis Kotzebue is a badass!

I have Digital Cable. All 3 Billion channels of Digital Cable. And while there might be signals coming from the different television stations to my cable box, and subsequently to my TV resulting in a corresponding moving picture on the screen, there is rarely anything on that screen worth watching; especially during the late night/early morning hours. Last night, with all this knowledge at hand, I proceeded to browse the many stations of nothingness just to confirm that there was nothing to watch, when a glimmer of light came from that 27 inch box of darkness, that light was titled "Saddle Rash." Light in the form of a sarcastic, whimsical cartoon about life in the Wild West. I want to take this time to thank all those responsible for making this cartoon possible, for you brightened my nights of darkness and despair, and utter misery. I now see the reason the television was created - Saddle Rash. - CountChuckula

Storyboard people can often add a lot to a script. Also, some writers are artists and have had storyboard training or naturally think very visually. The storyboard contribution varies from studio to studio and director to director. Some directors encourage their board people to make major contributions. Some do not. If the story depends greatly upon structure and less on gags, then gags can hurt that structure. If the gags are the important thing, then additional gags can contribute to a much better finished product. Also, in a story that's already on the long side, too many additions upset the timing. Some directors request shorter scripts to allow for those extra additions from the board people. A good animation writer who thinks visually (as all animation writers should) can be just as funny as a good board person. Not all animation stories are created to be very gag oriented. There are different kinds of animation stories just as there are different kinds of live action stories. Live action films are also a visual medium.

Finland is the last place that a non-drinker should visit. Yikes. Animation festivals are mostly boozy affairs broken up by screenings of cartoons. If you're lucky and female Bill Plympton will saunter over and share food vouchers with you. I feel for you pal...being at any animation festival and trying to maintain sobriety sounds like one of those sections of Dante's Inferno. Love to know what was said to the Bros. Quay. Sincerely Deb Dawson

I am happy to draw; thats all i know I am happy to paint; thats all i feel I am happy NOT to explain; thats all i "think" Do we really have to dissect our happiness ? Do we really have to dissect Art? Do we really have to tell why ? why must we? Y Y Y Y Y

Thank you to Heather Kenyon to have given me the card of AWN in Annecy last year. Your site is very interesting. I have some comments on the activity of Winsor McCay concerning the beginning of animated cartoons between 1914 and 1919. Emile Cohl (1857-1938) has drawn the first animated cartoon in 1908. The title of the film was "Fantasmagorie" in France, "Metamorphosis" in U.S.A.. It has been released in the Théâtre du Gymnase in Paris on August 17. Many others animation films were produced by him at the end of 1908 and during the following years (many are lost, but I have the titles, dates, length, etc.). So I have been rather surprised when I read some years ago, at the beginning of the film "Gertie the Dinosaur" : "This is the first animated cartoon in the world". It seems that Emile Cohl had already had a knowledge of this notice as I have found in his archives a note expressing his surprise. I have also in the documents left by Emile Cohl some flipbooks dating about 1908/1910. Emile Cohl has also built the first drawing table (or animation table) at the end of 1908, as it was absolutely necessary for his job. I have presented the relative photos and documents in a conference at the Domitor Congress in Montreal last June. When he worked in Fort-Lee, N.Y., between 1912 and 1914, Emile Cohl had the occasion to meet George McManus, who appears later on in a film by McCay on Gertie. Maybe McCay has learnt several things from Emile Cohl ... I apologize for my English, but I hope the readers will understand everything.