Hope you all enjoy this video edited by @blugenesi! Now you will notice one cut after The Bear That Wasn't and before the Pogo special. There was a small section on The Grinch Sadly Warners wouldn't budge on their claim on it. I could have released the video but I couldn't monetise at all. Thankfully because just about everyone knows of the Grinch so its loss here while annoying doesn't 'ruin' the video Next up will be a video like this on Tex Avery! Let me know if you guys enjoy the video!
What's interesting about the 90s LT shorts is, and I only recently found this out, Jones did them because he wanted to provide an opportunity for younger animators to break into the business. I feel like regardless of what one's opinions are on those shorts, knowing that does kinda make them feel a little special.
Today is the natal anniversary of Chuck Jones' birth. I included this terrific video and plugged the heck out of your RUclips channel as part of my Sept. 21, 2024 blog post. Keep up the good work!
People can say what they want about The Pogo Special, but I think Chuck absolutely NAILS Porky Pine's personality - it's not often I get to see one of my heroes playing one of my favorite characters;
He also did some Wizard of Oz themed TV bumpers during the 1960s and painted a mural for the British Film Institute in London which can still be seen today. I still remember the day he died and Cartoon Network running a series of tributes to him. It was very sobering.
I remember the first time I saw the Bugs Bunny King Arthur special. That was in 1993 on the Latin American WBTV channel (Warner Channel, which still exists); it was the first time he used Yosemite Sam. Then it went to Cartoon Network, along with other TV specials as occasional replacement of traditional cartoons in the Bugs Bunny Show 30 minute slot.
One the things that go against 70's Looney Tunes is how tired Mel Blanc sounds. Which is so strange because when you listen to him in other, non-WB projects at the time... he sounded no different than before. Even later in the 80's, much more energy.
Thanks for the video. I thought I knew a little bit about Chuck Jones having done an eassy on him some 12 years ago while studying animation, but I have learnt so much more here. I wasn't aware of many projects you mentioned here (outside of his mgm stuff and a fav movie of mine as a kid, The Phantom Tollbooth). Thanks for the research here and also the hard work you do with your animation shorts. Love them all. Thanks
Love this video format just a tip: i think some light background music at the start would make it better because it'S kinda eerie just hearing a voice haha
so confession time about what a wimpy little kid I was in the 1990s. We had gone to the library and perusing the VHS in the kids section, I found this copy of Mowgli's Brothers and asked my mom to check it out for me cause the Disney version is my favorite movie from Disney. Well we get it home, put it in....I didn't last five minutes because I was so used to the Disney Jungle Book that can remember running across the room, throwing myself into the coach begging my mom to turn it off because there was this giant red hole with beady eyes and a lot of teeth roaring on my tv and my six year old brain noped right on out of there.
Yes most of post Looney Tunes era projects wasn't goid but I will give Chuck credit for trying to do different things along the way. He also was involved with the Cat and the Hat special before production moved to DePatie Freleng.
I loved Tom and Jerry, and I loved most of Chuck Jones work. However I thought his take on Tom and Jerry was not up tp par. But they were better than what followed for many years.
I hated the version that has been outsourced to Poland. As for Hanna Barberra they’re 1970’s remake was awful because of buget retraints and film and television practices for childrens cartoons. And don’t even get me started on the Filmation version or the Tom and Jerry kids show.
My judgment of Chuck's Phantom Tollbooth is - flawed, but inspired. Without judging it too much compared to the book, the design and animation is wonderful and unique, and I always enjoy rewatching it. If only Chuck had been able to do more feature length animations.
Reportedly, Chuck Jones and Walt Disney were penpals and would often exchange advice with each other. So it does make sense that he would’ve been hired by the studio as soon as he had been fired. And apparently, the sentiment he had for wanting Walt’s job as supervisor was an exchange he had with the man himself when he asked if Chuck was satisfied working there. Makes me wonder what would’ve happened if he had been given that opportunity on good faith.
Great lesson also after loonyvtunes could youndo mabey the classic disney shorts and or the mgm shorts or the popeye Casper and company(baby hey,little Audrey,buzzy the crow,Herman and catnip,and mo hare and Tommy tortoise) or the universal cartoons(woody,Andy panda,chilly willy,and the universal oswalda
In the 1967 MGM promotional short (for exhibitors), "Lionpower from MGM", "The Phantom Tollbooth" was announced for release in 1968 this way (accompanied by concerptual art images, and Dan Ingram's voice-over): *"'The Phantom Tollbooth' will take you through its gates to a world of fantastical musical adventures in the land beyond! In the tradition of the fabulous 'Wizard of Oz', MGM now brings you its first full-length animation and live-action feature- 'THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH'!"* Unfortunately, it was delayed due to studio politics- and the fact that James T. Aubrey {formerly "The Smiling Cobra" of CBS} was in charge of the studio, and was cutting corners everywhere. He just "dropped" the film into distribtuion in 1970 without proper promotion.....and it became a staple of "MGM's Children's Matinees" in the early 1970's..
I'm Watching Disney Shows and Movies Almost all of them are acquired from 20th Century Fox with some homegrown material from Hollywood and Touchstone Pictures I'm mainly a Warner Bros person myself Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, DC Comics, Ect
Chuck Jones was spending more time on other projects after he left Warner Bros. Focusing on others like Tom & Jerry shorts in the 1960s and his animated shorts by himself.
The Pogo Birthday Special had so much potential being the first piece of animation with Walt Kelly’s characters but was squandered by Jones having too much of his fingerprints on the final product. Had he reached a better compromise with Walt Kelly, perhaps the final product would have fared better. Also, as much as I hate saying this, I think June Foray was badly miscast as Pogo. She doesn’t sound natural enough for the role and it makes me wish they had at least gotten a child actor to do the part. It does have some creative backgrounds here and there though.
It was the 1970 adaptation of Horton Hears a Who!, where I first experienced Hans Conried. That was years ago. After mostly seeing him perform ruthless and flamboyant villains and scallywags, especially those from Jay Ward, to see him again as the humble, soft-spoken and benevolent pachyderm was discombobulating.
Ironically, it's seeing the works around this era where I realized that Chuck Jones' complaints about "illustrated radio" and tight pacing were either from personal experience, or just plain hypocritical. Also, Chuck had a tendency to over-explain jokes in-universe around this era, which kind of dulls the intent of comedy. For comparison, Chuck thinks he's an intellectual who restrains himself too much, while Bob Clampett is like that one kid in class who's loud and obnoxious with very little restraint.
You could honestly argue that many a Charlie Dog scene, as well as the pronoun trouble routine are "illustrated radio". Thad Komorowski noted that of the primary Warner Brothers cartoons directors, Jones' cartoons were the talkiest.
I have seen a lot of his later works such as the Phantom Tollbooth ( 1970 ) when they showed it on Turner Classic Movies ( I believe during the summer of 2018 ) and even UPA’s “ Gay Purée “ , from 1962 since they also showed that . I happened to see the” Portrait of the Artist as a Bunny “ , “ Soup or Sonic “ ( both from 1980 as stated in this video ) and other efforts in the 90s such as “ Superior Duck “ , (1996 ) . All of these I have seen a couple of times each . Soup or Sonic and Superior Duck I really liked for their animation and stylistic nuances that they have to offer . I believe I did see Gremlins and do remember fondly the scene in the bar where the title character is drawing a drawing , but had no clue Chuck Jones made a cameo in there so I’m going to have to rewatch gremlins and maybe even tape that part of the movie in where he cameos for further enjoyment and even future research on him. Lastly I saw one of the three adapted shorts Chuck Jones did in the 1970s , on the Rudyard Kipling stories , that being “ Rikki-Tikki-Tavi “ , from 1975 , when I was in the 7th grade ( 2017-2018 school year ) , after reading the story in our reading textbook . I loved everything about it , especially since it was Chuck Jones , so I was excited about it .
I absolutely love Chuck Jones's other works outside of Warner Brothers! Why, has rikki-tikki-tavi, mowgli's brothers and the phantom tollbooth not only encouraged me to read, but also explore other works than the norm presented! Sure we all know the Jungle Book thanks to disney, however Jones version was very true to the original book outside of the awesome Russian animated film as well! In Short all of Chucks animation and work resonates with anyone!!!
When I found out he made those two almost lost Raggedy Ann shorts, I had to get em on physical-- where they are officially no longer made, and I don't think we're EVER made for disc. I actually paid EXTRA just to get the actual artwork printed on the CUSTOM discs just because I had never seen or heard of them, they had never been rerun ANYWHERE when I was a kid-- a few people know about em, some people have the tapes, but outside of literally THAT SMALL GROUP they seem to have been very nearly lost since the actual seventies.
Canavel of the animals was on the golden collections volume 5. And surprised it was an extra on the Bob clampett disk disk 3. Only problem is my copy of it is defective due to a mastering problem and stops 1/2 way thru.
didn't Jones do some design work for the Cat in the hat specials in the 70s ? I remember reading later in his life he regretted the feud with Bob clampett, from an article in TV guide from around 2001. There feud I see more as professional jealousy.
Great little documentary, and very informative! Jones is not my favourite of the Looney Tunes artists and directors - I'm a Bob Clampett man - but I cannot deny the impact he had on the series and the industry as a whole.
Not really the biggest fan of this era, this is when Chuck became soft similarly to when the 9 old men became soft as well during the bronze era at Disney animation.
True, but The Dot and the Line wasn't too bad (and that's only because it reminds me of Now Hear This, another experimental cartoon he did). And of course, The Grinch That Stole Christmas.
He'd have hated 2 also had he lived further only for the Twatter babies to deem him racist and a hater in the name of defending fecking LeBron James....smh
Hope you all enjoy this video edited by @blugenesi!
Now you will notice one cut after The Bear That Wasn't and before the Pogo special. There was a small section on The Grinch
Sadly Warners wouldn't budge on their claim on it. I could have released the video but I couldn't monetise at all.
Thankfully because just about everyone knows of the Grinch so its loss here while annoying doesn't 'ruin' the video
Next up will be a video like this on Tex Avery!
Let me know if you guys enjoy the video!
Which is funny since Warner originally had nothing to do with that special. But only got it due to the Turner merger.
you forgot to mention Daffy Duck for President.
Chuck jones did a comic strip called Crawford
It's so surreal to know that Chuck Jones got to produce an online flash animation.
What's interesting about the 90s LT shorts is, and I only recently found this out, Jones did them because he wanted to provide an opportunity for younger animators to break into the business. I feel like regardless of what one's opinions are on those shorts, knowing that does kinda make them feel a little special.
I've always loved Chuck Jones' style of animation.
6:54 The Dot and The Line was so great. Thank you for sharing all of these amazing works.
Today is the natal anniversary of Chuck Jones' birth. I included this terrific video and plugged the heck out of your RUclips channel as part of my Sept. 21, 2024 blog post. Keep up the good work!
People can say what they want about The Pogo Special, but I think Chuck absolutely NAILS Porky Pine's personality - it's not often I get to see one of my heroes playing one of my favorite characters;
I also love his voice acting as Porky Pine there! He really nailed the character's annoyed/grumpy personality
He also did some Wizard of Oz themed TV bumpers during the 1960s and painted a mural for the British Film Institute in London which can still be seen today. I still remember the day he died and Cartoon Network running a series of tributes to him. It was very sobering.
I remember the first time I saw the Bugs Bunny King Arthur special. That was in 1993 on the Latin American WBTV channel (Warner Channel, which still exists); it was the first time he used Yosemite Sam. Then it went to Cartoon Network, along with other TV specials as occasional replacement of traditional cartoons in the Bugs Bunny Show 30 minute slot.
One the things that go against 70's Looney Tunes is how tired Mel Blanc sounds. Which is so strange because when you listen to him in other, non-WB projects at the time... he sounded no different than before. Even later in the 80's, much more energy.
But by the 1980s, he was starting to sound bad due to illness. He died in 1989 after all.
Thanks for the video. I thought I knew a little bit about Chuck Jones having done an eassy on him some 12 years ago while studying animation, but I have learnt so much more here. I wasn't aware of many projects you mentioned here (outside of his mgm stuff and a fav movie of mine as a kid, The Phantom Tollbooth).
Thanks for the research here and also the hard work you do with your animation shorts. Love them all.
Thanks
Love this video format just a tip: i think some light background music at the start would make it better because it'S kinda eerie just hearing a voice haha
18:32- And CBS insisted the title be altered in future repeats to "Bugs Bunny in King Arthur's Court" (the studio agreed).
I was curious about this era. So I am appreciated that you made a video about it.
so confession time about what a wimpy little kid I was in the 1990s. We had gone to the library and perusing the VHS in the kids section, I found this copy of Mowgli's Brothers and asked my mom to check it out for me cause the Disney version is my favorite movie from Disney. Well we get it home, put it in....I didn't last five minutes because I was so used to the Disney Jungle Book that can remember running across the room, throwing myself into the coach begging my mom to turn it off because there was this giant red hole with beady eyes and a lot of teeth roaring on my tv and my six year old brain noped right on out of there.
I’ve seen “The cricket in Times Square” and “Bugs bunny bust in all over” specials on tv
Yes most of post Looney Tunes era projects wasn't goid but I will give Chuck credit for trying to do different things along the way. He also was involved with the Cat and the Hat special before production moved to DePatie Freleng.
I really enjoy PHANTOM TOLLBOOOTH. The artwork is like an alphanumeric YELLOW SUBMARINE, and Lee Pockriss' songs are quite enjoyable.
Have you read the book
I loved Tom and Jerry, and I loved most of Chuck Jones work. However I thought his take on Tom and Jerry was not up tp par. But they were better than what followed for many years.
The Chuck Jones Tom and Jerry may not be as good as Hanna-Barbera, but I'd sooner watch that over Gene Dietch.
At least Chuck had an better idea on what made the characters work then Gene.
I hated the version that has been outsourced to Poland. As for Hanna Barberra they’re 1970’s remake was awful because of buget retraints and film and television practices for childrens cartoons. And don’t even get me started on the Filmation version or the Tom and Jerry kids show.
I have a soft spot for the Tom and Jerry Kids show. The Droopy and Dripple shorts were awesome.
My judgment of Chuck's Phantom Tollbooth is - flawed, but inspired. Without judging it too much compared to the book, the design and animation is wonderful and unique, and I always enjoy rewatching it. If only Chuck had been able to do more feature length animations.
Reportedly, Chuck Jones and Walt Disney were penpals and would often exchange advice with each other. So it does make sense that he would’ve been hired by the studio as soon as he had been fired. And apparently, the sentiment he had for wanting Walt’s job as supervisor was an exchange he had with the man himself when he asked if Chuck was satisfied working there. Makes me wonder what would’ve happened if he had been given that opportunity on good faith.
Great lesson also after loonyvtunes could youndo mabey the classic disney shorts and or the mgm shorts or the popeye Casper and company(baby hey,little Audrey,buzzy the crow,Herman and catnip,and mo hare and Tommy tortoise) or the universal cartoons(woody,Andy panda,chilly willy,and the universal oswalda
In the 1967 MGM promotional short (for exhibitors), "Lionpower from MGM", "The Phantom Tollbooth" was announced for release in 1968 this way (accompanied by concerptual art images, and Dan Ingram's voice-over):
*"'The Phantom Tollbooth' will take you through its gates to a world of fantastical musical adventures in the land beyond! In the tradition of the fabulous 'Wizard of Oz', MGM now brings you its first full-length animation and live-action feature- 'THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH'!"*
Unfortunately, it was delayed due to studio politics- and the fact that James T. Aubrey {formerly "The Smiling Cobra" of CBS} was in charge of the studio, and was cutting corners everywhere. He just "dropped" the film into distribtuion in 1970 without proper promotion.....and it became a staple of "MGM's Children's Matinees" in the early 1970's..
I'm Watching Disney Shows and Movies Almost all of them are acquired from 20th Century Fox with some homegrown material from Hollywood and Touchstone Pictures I'm mainly a Warner Bros person myself Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, DC Comics, Ect
Chuck Jones was spending more time on other projects after he left Warner Bros.
Focusing on others like Tom & Jerry shorts in the 1960s and his animated shorts by himself.
The Pogo Birthday Special had so much potential being the first piece of animation with Walt Kelly’s characters but was squandered by Jones having too much of his fingerprints on the final product. Had he reached a better compromise with Walt Kelly, perhaps the final product would have fared better. Also, as much as I hate saying this, I think June Foray was badly miscast as Pogo. She doesn’t sound natural enough for the role and it makes me wish they had at least gotten a child actor to do the part. It does have some creative backgrounds here and there though.
I feel ashamed that I first learned of Pogo from the special. I hope Mr. Kelly, wherever he is, can forgive me.
Such a legendary era.
It was the 1970 adaptation of Horton Hears a Who!, where I first experienced Hans Conried. That was years ago. After mostly seeing him perform ruthless and flamboyant villains and scallywags, especially those from Jay Ward, to see him again as the humble, soft-spoken and benevolent pachyderm was discombobulating.
Do you have any more videos like this I really enjoyed how well made it is
13:23 there is no way i see chuck jones media in 16mm warped film
Ironically, it's seeing the works around this era where I realized that Chuck Jones' complaints about "illustrated radio" and tight pacing were either from personal experience, or just plain hypocritical. Also, Chuck had a tendency to over-explain jokes in-universe around this era, which kind of dulls the intent of comedy. For comparison, Chuck thinks he's an intellectual who restrains himself too much, while Bob Clampett is like that one kid in class who's loud and obnoxious with very little restraint.
You could honestly argue that many a Charlie Dog scene, as well as the pronoun trouble routine are "illustrated radio". Thad Komorowski noted that of the primary Warner Brothers cartoons directors, Jones' cartoons were the talkiest.
I have seen a lot of his later works such as the Phantom Tollbooth ( 1970 ) when they showed it on Turner Classic Movies ( I believe during the summer of 2018 ) and even UPA’s “ Gay Purée “ , from 1962 since they also showed that . I happened to see the” Portrait of the Artist as a Bunny “ , “ Soup or Sonic “ ( both from 1980 as stated in this video ) and other efforts in the 90s such as “ Superior Duck “ , (1996 ) . All of these I have seen a couple of times each . Soup or Sonic and Superior Duck I really liked for their animation and stylistic nuances that they have to offer . I believe I did see Gremlins and do remember fondly the scene in the bar where the title character is drawing a drawing , but had no clue Chuck Jones made a cameo in there so I’m going to have to rewatch gremlins and maybe even tape that part of the movie in where he cameos for further enjoyment and even future research on him. Lastly I saw one of the three adapted shorts Chuck Jones did in the 1970s , on the Rudyard Kipling stories , that being “ Rikki-Tikki-Tavi “ , from 1975 , when I was in the 7th grade ( 2017-2018 school year ) , after reading the story in our reading textbook . I loved everything about it , especially since it was Chuck Jones , so I was excited about it .
Jones was rumer to have done the alt version of Tom for the F 14 Tom cat Jet for the United States Navy. I have one of these stickers
No mention of Daffy Duck For President?
I absolutely love Chuck Jones's other works outside of Warner Brothers! Why, has rikki-tikki-tavi, mowgli's brothers and the phantom tollbooth not only encouraged me to read, but also explore other works than the norm presented! Sure we all know the Jungle Book thanks to disney, however Jones version was very true to the original book outside of the awesome Russian animated film as well! In Short all of Chucks animation and work resonates with anyone!!!
When I found out he made those two almost lost Raggedy Ann shorts, I had to get em on physical-- where they are officially no longer made, and I don't think we're EVER made for disc.
I actually paid EXTRA just to get the actual artwork printed on the CUSTOM discs just because I had never seen or heard of them, they had never been rerun ANYWHERE when I was a kid-- a few people know about em, some people have the tapes, but outside of literally THAT SMALL GROUP they seem to have been very nearly lost since the actual seventies.
He also did an Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas Special in 1981.
Canavel of the animals was on the golden collections volume 5. And surprised it was an extra on the Bob clampett disk disk 3. Only problem is my copy of it is defective due to a mastering problem and stops 1/2 way thru.
didn't Jones do some design work for the Cat in the hat specials in the 70s ?
I remember reading later in his life he regretted the feud with Bob clampett, from an article in TV guide from around 2001. There feud I see more as professional jealousy.
Chuck Jones created a book called William The Backwards Skunk. A story about a skunk who's stripes were on his belly instead of being on his back.
❤ I watched mokley's brothers and the other shores.Ricky ticky tov I think those and the fam told boo she'd be given at least another look
Can you do a video like this for other LT directors?
Great little documentary, and very informative! Jones is not my favourite of the Looney Tunes artists and directors - I'm a Bob Clampett man - but I cannot deny the impact he had on the series and the industry as a whole.
What makes the newer Looney Toons shorts and movies unwatchable, to me, is the music! There is NO SUBSTITUTE for Carl Stalling / Milt Franklyn.
Not really the biggest fan of this era, this is when Chuck became soft similarly to when the 9 old men became soft as well during the bronze era at Disney animation.
True, but The Dot and the Line wasn't too bad (and that's only because it reminds me of Now Hear This, another experimental cartoon he did). And of course, The Grinch That Stole Christmas.
How do you mean soft?
Chuck started out soft, the rest of those Termite Terrace fellas put some edge on him, it’s almost as if this was a return to form for him
I honestly never liked Chuck Jones's cartoons, outside a few Bugs and Daffy shorts.
The Chuck Jones studio Tom and Jerry cartoons are *THE* best cartoon series of all time. I could binge-watch them all day. Same with Gay Purr-ee.
Chuck DID live to see 'Space Jam,' and I agree with his take on it - it was terrible and did an awful injustice to the Looney Tunes characters.
Recently somebody asked “What’s wrong with Space Jam”
basically what you just said.
Also, because it was based on a commercial
He'd have hated 2 also had he lived further only for the Twatter babies to deem him racist and a hater in the name of defending fecking LeBron James....smh