Here are two of the 15 films in the first part of my summer long ANIMAFEASTIVAL
1. THE LITTLE LION HUNTER (1939) Directed by Chuck Jones. This is one of the most fascinating cartoons ever. Inky is a little black boy who is hunting a mynah bird. The bird hops to the beat of the music for FINGAL'S CAVE from Mendelsohn's HEBRIDES OVERTURE. When Chuck Jones' bosses saw the film for the first time he says they told him, "One more like that and you are fired!"
The cartoon was a huge hit. "Maybe you better make another one," they said, adding after they saw it, "That's worse than the first!"
Jones only made 5. Each is incredible. It has taken me years to get them all. Look forward to seeng them in upcoming installments of this festival. They are rarely shown. That is a pity as they arebrilliant.
2. THE HERRING MURDER CASE (1931) Shamus Culhane for The Max Fleischer Studio. I invited Shamus Culhane (whose animation career spanned The Max Fleischer, Ub Iwerks, Van Beuren, Disney, Warner Bros., Walter Lantz, and many other studios) to Toronto for a week long symposium on his caeer. It was a heckuva week! His talks were recorded. I am in the process of putting them on cds. When I am done you can order them. This early Fleischer sound cartoon is stunning. Check it out.
