Thursday, October 30, 2008

Hollywood Studio Animation IV: Warner Brothers

Warner Brothers Studios

Little Red Riding Rabbit (1944)




Bugs Bunny and the Three Bears (1944)



Key Concepts:

-While every other studio (including Warner Bros.) was copying Disney, WB began to produce cartoons that valued humor above all else.

-The WB production routine was very collaborative. Animators and directors shared ideas on stories gags and style.

Key Figures:

Leon Schlesinger
(Director)

Tex Avery (Supervisor/Director)

Bob Clampett (Supervisor/Director)

Chuck Jones (Supervisor/Director)

Robert McKimson (Supervisor/Director)

Frank Tashlin (Supervisor/Director)

Friz Freleng (Supervisor/Director)

Carl Stalling (Music)

Mel Blanc (Voices)

Michael Maltese (Writer)

Spotlight: Tex Avery

Fred 'Tex' Avery was interested in exaggeration, speed and humor.

Red Hot Riding Hood (1943) -Features Avery's 'Wolf' character



Screwball Squirrel (1944)




Avery is widely known for his gag creation and use of exaggeration (both visual and narrative).

Examples of Avery's unique style:

-Squash and Stretch.
-Humor is more important, it's all about the jokes.
-Over-the-top action.
-Fast! Fast music/tempo. Fast action- back to back gags.
-Sexuality.
-Violence.
-Surrealism- anything is possible, things appear out of nowhere.

Spotlight: Chuck Jones

Chuck Jones began his career as a cel washer, working with Ub Iwerks. Jones is the definitive WB director, his strength was realistic rendering of emotion in his characters and he had a distinct graphic style.

Duck Amuck (1953) - calls attention to the animation process.



Features Daffy Duck with a Bugs Bunny cameo.

What's Opera, Doc?
(1957)



Features Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd.
-Uses over 100 different shots/set-ups.
-Took a long time to create.
-Known as one of the greatest Studio shorts.

Fun Fact: The WB animation studio's nickname was Termite Terrace.

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