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Jan 28

Interview with Animation Expert Jerry Beck

Jerry Beck (bio) has been researching cartoons for more than 30 years, authoring such books as Looney Toons and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons and The 50 Greatest Cartoons. He’s also produced successful cartoon compilations for MGM/UA, worked as VP of Animation at Nickelodeon Movies, and been an animation consultant to Walt Disney Home Video, Warner Home Video, Rhino Records, and many others.

Jerry was gracious enough to take time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions for Animation School Review.

What are you up to these days?

I’m editing a new book, Animation Art, a giant illustrated history of animation from Little Nemo (1908) to Finding Nemo (2003) that will be out in October. I’m also working on bonus materials for the next Looney Tunes Golden Collection and a Tom & Jerry DVD. I’m developing a new cartoon show for Nickelodeon… [but I] can’t talk about that right now. I’m also updating my website Cartoon Research and my weblog Cartoon Brew.

What would you say are the “right” and “wrong” reasons to pursue a career in animation?

The “right” reason is that you love it. It’s in your blood. It’s all you can think about as far as a job is concerned. You love to draw, you love to create jokes, you love to create worlds and characters. The “wrong” reason is to get rich. The people who have made it have been very lucky. It’s very rare.

What are the biggest misconceptions outsiders have about working in the animation industry?

That it’s a lot of fun — well, actually, it is. But there is a lot of work involved and dedication on the part of the artists.

What skills are most important for an aspiring animation professional to obtain?

“Animation professional”? Make your own film. That’s the greatest piece of advice I can give anyone. Draw comics, storyboards, character models, record voices… Learn the computer, but it’s more important to develop your own ideas and make them happen. Do it. If you make a film, potential employers can see what you can do.

What are the most difficult animation skills to obtain?

Most people find drawing the most difficult skill. But the most difficult skill is the ability to promote yourself. Most artists are shy types. You need to have a bit of an ego, and confidence in your work.

In your experience, what are the most underrated skills in the animation profession today? And overrated?

Painting backgrounds is the most underrated skill — the artists who render the paintings do a great job that is literally in the background. Overrated — I hesitate to say the voice acting. They get a lot of attention — and this aspect of animated film is very important. And most of the voice actors I know are incredibly talented actors. But this aspect gets more attention than some of the more labor intensive parts of making the film.

Where do you see the animation industry moving in the next ten years?

It’s evolving now. 2-D hand drawn is still big on television and will remain so. 3D computer graphics will be in fashion for a while as animated features. I forsee 2-D coming back to theatres in a few years — but not as traditional Disney style. More like Yellow Submarine… it’ll evolve into an new exciting look and feel. Disney style will return further down the road.

What effect has the explosion of video games had on the animation industry?

Certainly more jobs. But video game computer animation takes its cues from TV and movie animation. I’d like to see video games innovate the art form, but I doubt that will happen.

How is the best animation talent being divided among game design, film, TV, and other genres?

Most true animation talent goes towards feature films or TV series.

If you could change one thing about the animation industry or the animation profession itself, what would it be?

I’m an animation historian — so my answer to this would be that more young animators need to be exposed to classic cartoons of the 1940s and 1950s. There is so much good stuff in the vaults at Disney, Warner Bros., MGM and others — almost none of it is on TV or cable these days. And only a smattering is on DVD.

Who is doing the best work in animation today and what about their work makes it “the best”?

Pixar — everyone there and everything they do. They are the “Disney Studio” of the 21st Century. Brad Bird (The Incredibles), Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo) and, of course, John Lasseter (Toy Story) understand character animation and storytelling. John Kricfalusi (The Ren & Stimpy Show) is one of the greats. All of these guys love cartoons and it flows through their veins.

Who in particular should an aspiring animation student study or emulate?

Chuck Jones is a great role model. Smart, articulate — he was interviewed numerous times and wrote two books about his career in animation.

Fill in the blank: The future of hand drawn animation is _______.

…a long one. On television, in movies (down the road), commercials, video games, internet Flash animation… cartoon animation is animation.

What are the critical turning points in the history of animation?

Disney with sound (Steamboat Willie, 1928), color (Flowers and Trees, 1932), feature length films (Snow White, 1937), Tex Avery at MGM in the 1940s, UPA studio in the 1950s, Fritz the Cat (1972), The Ren & Stimpy Show

(1991).

What needs to happen for animated films to be treated equally with live action films in terms of credibility?

They are — when they gross over $300 million dollars U.S. Unfortunately the industry requires a blockbuster hit every time at the box office, or a Simpsons or Spongebob success for every TV show.

Best cartoon characters of all time and why?

Bugs Bunny because he does and says what we’d all like to do. Donald Duck, Betty Boop, Felix the Cat, Homer Simpson — we can identify with all of them and that’s what makes the best characters.

Who are the cartoon characters that could have become legends but, for whatever reason, didn’t? That is, who is underrated?

Screwball Squirrel — a Tex Avery character who was completely zany. Avery literally killed him off in his fifth cartoon.

The trend today seems to be for Hollywood to take old cartoons and make them into live action films. Turning it around, which live action TV show(s) or movie(s) would you like to see made into cartoons?

That’s a fun question… I’ve always wanted to see an animated version of Mystery Science Theater with animated characters making fun of bad 1930s cartoon shorts.

On Wayne’s World, Wayne and Garth used to have an ongoing debate about who was the sexiest cartoon character of all time (Pebbles Flintstone, Judy Jetson, etc). Who gets your vote? (Editor’s note: Garth once commented that his choice was Bugs Bunny in the episodes where he dressed as a woman!)