Month: October 2004

JibJab’s “Good to Be in DC”

andertoons

It looks as if the Spiridellis brothers are at it again. Their new animation “Good to Be in DC” is available at JibJab.com and is as funny, if a little more odd and pointed, as their first effort.

Set to what I must assume is the public domain “Dixie,” Kerry and Bush are joined this time by gaggles of politicians, pundits and others from both sides.

It begins with Bush/Cheney and Halliburton, moves to Kerry/Edwards in bed, and then all hilarity breaks loose with appearances by Dan Rather, Michael Moore, Bill Clinton (“What’d I do?!”) and more.

In addition to the normal t-shirts and mugs, you can also buy both “Good to Be in DC” and “This Land” on DVD now.

I gotta say, both animations are a hoot, but I gotta wonder where the JibJab guys go after the election? Will they be able to find more quality fodder post Bush/Kerry?

Anyway, check it out!

Tequila Mockingbird : A Book of Animal Cartoons by Leo Cullum

andertoons

I was thrilled to discover this new volume of animal cartoons by New Yorker cartoonist Leo Cullum!

Like Scotch & Toilet Water?: A Book of Dog Cartoons, Tequila Mockingbird is further evidence that Cullum’s first name is so appropriate. It’s a cartoon jungle out there, and Leo’s the king.

A wonderful 128 page volume, the book is stuffed with wonderful animal cartoons from Smokey the Bear on the witness stand testifying that “Absolutely! Where there’s smoke there’s fire,” to a businessman commenting to his suit clad simian counterpart “You’ve had enough ‘monkey see,’ Edwards. We want some ‘monkey do.'”

By far my favorite though is one in which a doctor with his stethoscope on a giant raven’s back is asking the bird to “quoth.” Its cartoons like that that continue to challenge me to write better.

Please pick this up in hardcover (my mother-in-law and I agree that the only real books are hardcovers) as soon as your cartoon book budget will allow. And if you don’t currently have a cartoon book budget, then shame on you.

100th Andertoons Blog!

andertoons

And they said it wouldn’t last!

Actually, no one said that. To be honest I’m not sure anyone is even reading this, but nonetheless we’ve officially reached Andertoons’ 100th blog nonetheless!

Looking back on past blogs I’d like to think that not only has my writing improved, but also that I’ve been able to find some really interesting stuff to share with cartoonists and cartoon fans. Of course I’d also like to think that I’m George Clooney, so take this with a grain of salt.

Here are some of my favorite blog entries:

“The Punisher.” – Watching this comic book movie truly was punishment and I really needed to vent.

“Magilla Guerrilla Marketing” – Not an outstanding post per se, but you have to admit that’s a great title!

“Frank Page – Inside the Cartoonist’s Studio” – I think this is probably my favorite Inside the Cartoonist’s Studio to date. Check out his answers to the first question especially – funny funny stuff!

“Corporations Conspiring Cancellation of Comics to Cut Costs” – Just another good title, although, looking back, not a bad cartoon article either.

Anyway, thanks for hanging in there with me and reading along! I’ve got some more good stuff planned and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I’m enjoying writing it!

“The Line King – The Al Hirschfeld Story” – Review

andertoons

It’s not often I write “thank God someone made this” in my notes while reviewing a film. But Susan Dryfoos’ “The Line King – The Al Hirschfeld Story” deserves such praise and more.

A lovely biography of entertainment caricaturist Hirschfeld, this film is a fascinating look behind the pen of a man who transcended his genre to become almost an art form unto himself.

Dryfoos thankfully showcases hundreds of drawings throughout the film as entertainers, artists and others discuss a man who described his goal as not to make a subject beautiful, but interesting.

Hirschfeld, of course, being the most interesting character of all. The camouflaged “Nina”s, the barber chair in which he created decades of work, the almost Santa Claus-ish look of the artist – all add up to a man that, if he were imagined by a Hollywood writer, would be deemed wholly unbelievable by cartoonists such as myself.

Myself being a stay-at-home-dad, I was fascinated to learn that he was raised by his father while his mother supported the family. I also connected with his respect for his wife’s editorial abilities. My wife is often consulted (OK, harangued) about my latest cartoons and her advice is always spot on, even when I don’t like to admit it.

There are a few goofy moments (Hirschfeld’s surreal bongo solo and his attempts as using a computer and graphics tablet), but overall the film is a wonder from beginning to end. A fitting tribute to an artist whose work was both interesting and beautiful.