Friday, 20 January 2012

Annotated reference list/ Bibliography

For a lot of my primary research, I watched several Looney Tunes cartoons as well as behind the scenes features on the 'Looney Tunes: Golden Collection volumes 1-6'. These DVD's were an invaluable source of research information as all the information was straight from the mouths of those who worked closely on the production of the films including the great Friz Freleng. There was also a lot of information from those who were closely related to the production team - including Mel Blanc (voice artists) son and Bob Clampett's daughter. Not only did they provide an insight into the production values but were also able to give their opinions on the animated content as fans of the show. I was able to learn about the back story behind certain characters like Porky Pig as well as the ideas behind the narrative. It was fascinating to watch and an incredible research source.

Many of my on line sources came from Wikipedia. Although Wikipedia has a huge breadth of interesting knowledge, it isn't the most reliable of sources. As Wikipedia is user generated (information is uploaded by the users), not all the information can be treated as fact. However I used the website to source information (on the history of Warner Bros as well as the early Bosko Looney Tunes cartoons) as a starting off point for further research. In doing this, I was able to get a huge amount of background information whilst checking my sources compared to other Internet sources making it a very helpful source.

One of the best sources of information I used was http://toonopedia.com/warner.htm. This website has an extensive piece of research on all things animated created by Donald D. Markstien. Markstien is a Disney comic creator and is someone with a real passion for animation. He has been collecting research for more than half a century which makes him a very reliable source of information. The source wasn't only reliable but also very useful. It told me everything I needed to know about the Looney Tunes past. From the creation of new characters to their comparison with rival Disney, this source was very helpful in filling in the blanks from sources such as Wikipedia.

Another great source was http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17874931, an on line article written by award winning journalist JJ Sutherland. Looking at his past experience (covering events such as the conflict in Iraq), it makes him a good source of information despite it being quite opinionated. Sometimes it is better to have some opinionated sources rather than all straight facts. It helped me understand just how popular Looney Tunes was with its viewers and how adored the characters were with various generations of fans.

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Thursday, 19 January 2012

Source List

List of my sources:
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Pinky and the Brain

'Pinky and the Brain' was the cartoon spin-off to 'Animaniacs' and ran from 1995-1998. "Pinky and the Brain were a duo of lab rats, one goofy (Pinky), one bent on taking over the world (Brain). The Brain's best-laid plans always went astray, but he kept trying with Wile E. Coyote-like persistence" [http://www.tv.com/shows/animaniacs/].

Like Animaniacs, 'Pinky and the Brain' also parodied popular culture including a mock of Disney's 'Winnit the Pooh' in 'Brainy the Pooh'. They could also be placed in any time ear; whether it be modern times )appearing in an episode of 'The Real World', the wild west fighting for hippy freedom or in the French renascence meeting (and impersonating) Napoleon.



Much like the Roadrunner Looney Tunes cartoons, 'Pinky and the Brain' followed 2 lab mice (living in ACME labs) who were determined to take over the world every episode despite failing in every attempt thus far. Every episode, the Brain would think of another hair-brained scheme to try and take possession of the Earth - my favourite being building another Earth out of Papier-Mache and luring everyone from the real planet Earth to it using free t-shirts in "It's only a paper world".

"It's only a paper world" - screen shot


Sources:
http://www.tv.com/shows/animaniacs/

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Animaniacs


'Animaniacs' is the collaborative effort of both Warner Bros Animation and Steven Spielberg and was the company's 2nd animated series since the release of the Looney Tunes franchise. The series followed the exploits of the Warner siblings Yakko, Wakko and Dot who are deemed 'too zany' for studio use. As a result, the 3 were looked in the studios water tower until they escaped in the early 1990's only to run wild around the lot, being pursued by the studio CEO and several security guards. The show was "even nuttier than its predecessor 'Tiny Toon Adventures'" [http://www.tv.com/shows/animaniacs/], as they themselves say in the opening theme, "We're Animaniacs, And we're zany to the max"

Animaniacs Title Sequence

The show often featured random short skits from other regular characters in a sort of animated anthology (Animated series featuring a collection of short subjects. Often uses recycled material that was originally intended for an adult, movie-going audience and can result in controversy and censorship) - the best example of this was the shows later spin-off 'Pinky and the Brain' [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AnimatedAnthology].
Another thing the show did very well was insert the characters into popular Saturday morning cartoons throughout the 60's-80's; parodies of shows such as 'Yogi bear' and 'Scooby-Doo' [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AnimatedAnthology] (See Art Shift [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ArtShift]). They also parodied key scenes from their rivals Disney including the opening scene of 'The Lion King'.
Sources:
http://www.answers.com/topic/animaniacs
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105941/
http://www.tv.com/shows/animaniacs/
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AnimatedAnthology
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ArtShift
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Other Warner Bros Animations

Although Looney Tunes is by far the most well-known and popular of the Warner Bros animations, they have created several others. There first being 'Tiny Toon Adventures' (1990-1995) - a series produced by Amblin Entertainment. Amblin Entertainment is a film and television company founded by Steven Spielberg. Warner Bros worked closely with Amblin in the production of all its television animation series'. All the animation made post-Looney Tunes all continued with the theme of slapstick humour - including 'Animaniacs', it's spin-off 'PInky and the Brain' and 'Freakazoid!'.

Some more of Warner Bros. Animations Success's


Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros._Animation#Television_shows
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros._Animation#1989_-_1997:_Moving_into_television_animation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amblin_Entertainment
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Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner

Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner were created as a parody of traditional "cat and mouse" cartoons (such as Tom and Jerry) which were increasingly popular at the time [http://www.cartoonspot.net/looney-tunes/wile-coyote.php]. The concept follows a coyote as he goes through plan after plan trying to catch a roadrunner to eat. The cartoons are full of slapstick humour and is a great example of how animation can use repetition to increase comic effect; "all of his elaborate schemes end up injuring himself in humorous instances of highly exaggerated cartoon slapstick violence"[http://www.cartoonspot.net/looney-tunes/wile-coyote.php]. The coyotes ludicrous plans and his love of ACME products despite their constant failures create silliness which is popular with audiences both them and now. We love to see the coyote's failing attempts to catch his foe - even though its predicable, we cant seem to get enough. The 1949 cartoon 'Fast and Furry-ous' is an excellent example of this.


Sources:
http://www.cartoonspot.net/looney-tunes/wile-coyote.php
http://www.i-foo.com/~eocostello/wbcc/eowbcc-w.html#wile_e_coyote
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Bugs Bunny

One of the most recognisable and iconic characters in film is the character of Bugs Bunny - Warner Bros next big star. Bugs first appeared in the 1940 cartoon 'A Wild Hare'. In this cartoon, the 'trickster' [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17874931] bugs fools his foe Elmer Fudd as he tries to hunt him. This is a recurring theme in many of the Bugs Bunny cartoons; where Bugs constantly outsmarts his opponents by tricking them into believing the opposite to the way they genuinely feel. In 'A Wild Hare', Bugs installs guilt into Elmer Fudd by playing dead, therefore making Elmer regret all his hunting tendencies.


Bugs still remains today one of the biggest stars in animation. His huge success and staying power is mainly down to the fact that he "is nice, but a bit of a bully, appealing and scary, high culture and low; he morphs from one to the other seamlessly." [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17874931]. He is able to embody the personality of anything and anyone and can get into the heads of his rivals. In the "Hunter's Trilogy": Rabbit Fire, Rabbit Seasoning,
and Duck! Rabbit! Duck! (1951–1953), Daffy's eagerness to become top tune makes it easy for Bugs to manipulate and outsmart him. "He defies authority. He goes against the rules. But he does it in a way that's often lovable, and that often results in good things for the culture at large." - Robert Thompson [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17874931].


Bugs also has a great survival instinct. "You're smarter than the person who's tormenting you even though he's got more power than you. He's got the big rifle, but you are living by your wits and your own creativity. What did Bugs do? He switches genders, he sasses authority. Bugs does everything that we would tell our kids not to do." - John Leland, Hip: The History, Harper Perennial, 2005

Although Bugs is cynical, wisecracking, and often violent [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/25806/animation/215384/Termite-Terrace?anchor=ref722159], he is still a favourite with audiences."His Brooklyn-Bronx accent, voiced by actor Mel Blanc, combined with his quick wit, brash resourcefulness, and boisterous independence, gave him the street credentials that have delighted three generations of devoted audiences." [http://looneytunes.warnerbros.co.uk/stars_of_the_show/bugs_bunny/bugs_story.html#].

Sources:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17874931
http://looneytunes.warnerbros.co.uk/stars_of_the_show/bugs_bunny/bugs_story.html#
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/25806/animation/215384/Termite-Terrace?anchor=ref722159
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Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Daffy Duck

Daffy Duck was Looney Tunes next big star; making his debut in the 1937 cartoon, 'Porky's Duck Hunt'. Created by Tex Avery, Daffy was the definition of 'Screwball' (seen extensively in the 1943 cartoon 'Yankee Doodle Daffy'). His character was unrestrainable and was seen bouncing about the screen and yelling for the majority of the cartoons; this loony yelling was to become his catch phrase trademark. "At that time, audiences weren't accustomed to seeing a cartoon character do these things. And so, when it hit the theatres it was an explosion. People would leave the theatres talking about this daffy duck." - Bob Clampett. "A person could say that Daffy Duck single-handedly let the looniness into the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies" [http://toolooney.goldenagecartoons.com/daffy.htm]. The character of Daffy was seen as off-the-wall and zany but Daffy himself quoted "I'm not crazy, I just don't give a darn" in the 1938 cartoon 'Daffy Duck and Egghead'.

In the early 40's, Robert McKimson took on Daffy, "instilling some of Bugs Bunny's savvy into the duck, making him as brilliant with his mouth as he was with his battiness" [http://looneytunes.wikia.com/wiki/Daffy_Duck]. However, as time passed, Bugs became the studio biggest rising star - leaving Daffy behind. To help keep Daffy alive, he was once again redesigned into Bugs' somewhat rival; often jealous of the rabbits success and determined to steal back the spotlight. This is seen best in the 1957 cartoon, 'Show Biz Bugs' in which Daffy does whatever it takes to out-do Bugs to be the best.


 Another cartoon which showed Daffy's want off control was 'Duck Amuck' (1953). In this cartoon, Daffy continuously battles with a god-like animator in order to get the scene right. Through-out the cartoon, the background disappears only to bleed into a completely different setting. Daffy is also be continuously erased by the artists pencil only to be re-painted into a ridiculous version of himself. It's this constant, unnecessary change that sends Daffy insane with fury; asking questions like "Would it be too much to ask if we could make up our minds?". The sound gags, and visual changes that cause Daffy to explode with anger: "Never been so humiliated in all my life!" and makes him think that he could direct the cartoon better himself, "A close up you jerk! A close-up!" and "How about some colour stupid!" later saying "Not me you slob artist!" when the artist instead paints Daffy instead of the scenery. In between demands, he would scream out "Noooo!" when things didn't pan out his way, causing him to get even more heated. It later turns out that all this aggro was the work of Bugs himself - further intensifying the 2's rivalry.




Sources:
http://toolooney.goldenagecartoons.com/daffy.htm
http://looneytunes.wikia.com/wiki/Daffy_Duck
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Tuesday, 10 January 2012

(1935) Post Bosko - Porky Pig

In 1934, Warner Bros began producing colour cartoons and a year later, they dropped Bosko, giving birth to a whole new batch of film and television stars. As Tex Avery joined the Warner family, their animation took on a new style; moving away from the mock Disney art and setting a new standard in animation [http://toonopedia.com/warner.htm]. The first star to come out of this was Porky Pig.

The first cartoon to feature Porky was entitled 'I Haven't Got A Hat' (1935). Compared to the Porky of today, this porky was a lot more true to the form of a pig. He was a lot more plump and rounded with a huge empathises being put onto his nose. His only item of clothing was a dark green jumper. Although, Porky has changed a lot in appearance since his humble beginnings, his personality has fundamentally remained the same; he is still the bumbling, stuttering character he was at his birth.

Porky then and now



Another character who appeared in this cartoon was Beans the cat - who bares a great resemblance another animation classic 'Felix the cat' (only wearing dungarees). This character was a mischievous character who sets out to ruin the performance of a fellow class mate. Although in my opinion I prefer the character of Beans to the original version of Porky, Tex Avery saw potential for development in Porky that he didn't in the other original characters. Thankfully this paid off and although Porky isn't the star he once was, he still remains a huge hit with audiences.

Felix and Beans comparison

Sources:
http://toonopedia.com/warner.htm
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Bosko - Warners First Big Star

Created in 1927 during the time of sound synchronisation, Hugh Harman & Rudolph Ising gave birth to Bosko - Warner Bros first animated character. In 1929, pair produced a short pilot cartoon 'Bosko, the Talk-Ink Kid'. This film showed the character of Bosko beginning drawn by his animator (Ising himself). The cartoon demonstrated how animation had adapted to the new development of sound. Showing off, this cartoon was the first in animation history to have soundtrack - synchronised speech and dancing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosko,_the_Talk-Ink_Kid].

Although the cartoon had no real plot line, it was very popular with its audience. The all singing, all dancing Bosko quickly became loved in a similar way to Max Fleischer's 'Koko the clown'. Although the plot line (or lack of plot line) differs greatly, the animation technique is almost identical to the work of Max Fleischer's 'Out of the inkwell' series -  with the cartoon beginning as live action and ending with Bosko beginning returned to his inkwell.

Bosko and Koko comparison





Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosko,_the_Talk-Ink_Kid
http://www.imagesjournal.com/issue09/reviews/bosko/text.htm
http://bosko.toonzone.net/
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Monday, 9 January 2012

Early Looney Tunes #1

The first ever Looney Tunes cartoon was entitled 'Sinkin' in the Bathtub' and featured Harman and Ising's character Bosko. This cartoon, although created by Warner Brothers animation, bares distinct similarities to early Disney animation - particularly 'Steamboat Willie'. It begins with a whistle similar to that of Micky himself then later on in the film, a goat eats something important to the character (in this case flowers and in Disney's is music sheets) and slapstick humour is used at the expense of a cow. There are also similarities to another of Disney's greats 'Plane Crazy'. The train in the animation has very similar characteristics to the one that Mickey acquires and the male lead chasing after his damsel girlfriend in a run away vehicle. Bosko's girlfriend also bares a remarkable resemblance to Micky's girlfriend Minnie; both have a similar facial shape, identical flowery skirts and something in their hair.

Minnie Mouse and Honey Comparison


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Waner Bros Cartoons - A brief history

Warner Brothers began creating cartoons in the early 1930's beginning after buying the rights to Hugh Harman and Rudolph Ising's character Bosko. Bosko was a character created by the pair whilst at Disney and became the star of the first ever Looney Tunes cartoon. A few years after the release of this cartoon series, Warner Bros. hired Friz, Freleng, Tex Avery, Robert Clampett and Chuck Jones. With this new team came new characters - beginning with Porky Pig. Similar to Disney's Peter Pig (which failed to become popular), Porky became the studios first star. Shortly after his cameo came the creation of my personal favourite tune, Daffy Duck and the most famous of the Looney Tunes Bugs Bunny. These rising stars made Warner Bros. the most successful studio to make animated shorts - surpassing rivals Disney creating some of the best cartoons in what was called the 'golden age of US animation' (from 1928 to the early 60's) [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Age_of_American_animation]

In the late 80's, Warner Bros. Animation began focusing on their television cartoons. Continuing with their popular Looney Tunes franchise, the studio also began expanding to other cartoons including 'Tiny Toon Adventures', 'Animaniacs' and it's spin off show 'Pinky and the brain', 'Freakazoid' and the revival of the 'Scooby-Doo' and 'Tom and Jerry' cartoons. The company have also produced several Looney Tune's spin offs including 'Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries', 'Duck Dodger' and 'Baby Looney Tunes'.

Alongside their televisual success, the studio also made a few feature films which merged live action with traditional animation techniques. 'Space Jam' (1996) and 'Looney Tunes: Back In Action' (2003) were the studios only 2 feature films, both of which featured the ever popular Looney Tunes.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Age_of_American_animation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Brothers#1930:_Birth_of_Warner.27s_cartoons
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Age_of_American_animation#Warner_Bros.
http://artbyblas.com/writing/abriefhistoryofwarnerbroscartoons.html
http://toonopedia.com/warner.htm
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