Bloggasm

Jerry Beck is a well known animation historian, animation exec (Nickelodeon, Disney, etc.) and a cartoon producer. He was research associate on Leonard Maltin’s OF MICE AND MAGIC: A HISTORY OF AMERICAN ANIMATED CARTOONS and has gone on to write ten books including LOONEY TUNES THE ULTIMATE VISUAL GUIDE, THE 50 GREATEST CARTOONS, OUTLAW ANIMATION and THE ANIMATED MOVIE GUIDE. He’s written for ANIMATION MAGAZINE, VARIETY, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, VIDEO BUSINESS, THE WHOLE TOON CATALOG, ANIMATION BLAST, and ANIMATION WORLD MAGAZINE. He has produced dozens of animated video compilations and is a consultant on the LOONEY TUNES GOLDEN COLLECTION series. Beck co-founded STREAMLINE PICTURES, the first company devoted to importing Japanese animation and distributing anime to North American theatres, television and home video. Among Streamline’s many titles were AKIRA, FIST OF THE NORTH STAR, and ROBOTECH. Beck is currently producing a cartoon pilot for Frederator Studios and Nickelodeon – and maintains a website www.cartoonresearch.com and a co-writes a blog www.cartoonbrew.com

Simon Owens: With the newer trends towards computer animation, do you think animated movies are improving?

Jerry Beck: In some ways. Great stories are great stories, no matter if it’s computer animation or clay or stop motion puppets or drawings.

SO: Is there any particular style of cartoon that you prefer?

JB: I still prefer old fashioned seven minute hand drawn cartoons – like Looney Tunes, Tex Avery, Popeye and Chuck Jones. There is something magical about drawn animation, seeing hand drawn art come to life.

SO: I see that you haven’t really covered the recent controversies over the anti-Islamic cartoons. Isn’t this sort of right down your alley?

JB: My blog CARTOON BREW discusses animated cartoons – not print cartoons.

SO: What are the five blogs everyone should be reading (besides your own)?

JB: Mark Evanier’s NEWS FROM ME

Amid Amidi’s CARTOON MODERN

Jamie Weinman’s SOMETHING OLD, NOTHING NEW

Craig Yoe’s ARF LOVERS

DRAWN!