Archive for the ‘upa’ Category

Tuesday, December 12th, 2023

Story: Alvin Show Pilot Board

Alvin Show Pilot Board

This is a very special post. Here is the complete storyboard to the pilot cartoon for The Alvin Show (1961). This is the board that Format Films and Ross Bagdasarian Sr. (aka: David Seville) used to pitch the show to the networks. It was probably done by Disney/UPA storyman, Leo Salkin. Salkin was the Associate Producer on the series and handled a lot of the story duties, working side by side with Bagdasarian to develop both the Chipmunk and Clyde Crashcup cartoons.

Alvin Show Pilot Board

I know that this might look like a checkerboard on your screen at this resolution. I made an extra effort to make the large size images big enough for you to read clearly, so please click on the pages and take the time to sit down and read this from beginning to end. I think you’ll be amazed at how well it plays in your head. It’s like you’re watching the cartoon.

Alvin Show Pilot Board

The drawings are simple, yet funny and expressive. Note how the compositions frame the action clearly, without clutter. Many current TV shows repeat the same oblique two-shot setups over and over. But this board keeps things interesting through clever staging and cutting.This is truly a model for television storyboard artists to follow. Enjoy!

Alvin Show Pilot Board
Alvin Show Pilot Board
Alvin Show Pilot Board
Alvin Show Pilot Board
Alvin Show Pilot Board
Alvin Show Pilot Board
Alvin Show Pilot Board
Alvin Show Pilot Board
Alvin Show Pilot Board
Alvin Show Pilot Board

Stephen Worth
Director
Animation Resources

Animated CartoonsAnimated Cartoons

This posting is part of the online Encyclopedia of Cartooning under the subject heading, Animation.

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

Wednesday, March 30th, 2022

Exhibit: Grim Natwick Post-UPA Commercials

Grim Natwick Commercials

Grim Natwick CommercialsGrim Natwick CommercialsGrim Natwick was a remarkable man. It’s mind-blowing to realize that the same man who animated Mariutch and Swing, You Sinners in 1930 animated Sonny the Coo Coo Bird three decades later! These drawings are from Grim’s estate, and they cover his years in New York in the late 1950s and early 60s. These sketches are the work of Tissa David working from Grim’s rough poses. If you know anything about these spots, please post it in the comments section below.

Grim Natwick Commercials
Grim Natwick Commercials
Grim Natwick Commercials
Grim Natwick Commercials
Grim Natwick Commercials
Grim Natwick Commercials
Holsum Bread / Robert Lawrence Prods.

Grim Natwick Commercials
Holsum Bread / Robert Lawrence Prods.

Grim Natwick Commercials
Grim Natwick Commercials
Cocoa Puffs / Ray Favata Prods.

Grim Natwick Commercials
Cocoa Puffs / Ray Favata Prods.

Grim Natwick Commercials
"Peter Cottontail" ca. early 1950s, UPA New York

Grim Natwick Commercials
Grim Natwick Commercials
Grim Natwick Commercials

If you like these drawings, Michael Sporn has more Grim Natwick sketches from this period in his Splog…

Grim Cheerios Ruffs 1
Grim Cheerios Ruffs 2

Stephen Worth
Director
Animation Resources

TheoryGrim Natwick

This posting is part of an online exhibit entitled Grim Natwick’s Scrapbook.

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

Tuesday, March 29th, 2022

Exhibit: Early 50s UPA Model Sheets

UPA Model Sheet

UPA Model SheetsUPA Model SheetsA couple of years ago, when Amid Amidi and I were working together, I lent Amid these model sheets to use in a proposal to Chronicle Books for a history of 50s cartoon design. Well, Amid dug deep into the wellspring of “modern cartooning” and came up with a book that belongs on every animation lover’s bookshelf. The title is Cartoon Modern: Style and Design in 1950s Animation. (Click on the title to take a look at it on Amazon.) It’s a great book- the definitive look at the great studios of the 1950s.

UPA Model Sheet
UPA Model Sheet
UPA Model Sheet
UPA Model Sheet
UPA Model Sheet
UPA Model Sheet
UPA Model Sheet
UPA Model Sheet
UPA Model Sheet
UPA Model Sheet
UPA Model Sheet
UPA Model Sheet

UPA Model Sheet
UPA Model Sheet

Amid put up a great Flickr set of photos of the biggest names in animation during the 1950s. The picture below is of the UPA staff around the time these model sheets were created. Click through it to see the rest…

UPA Staff

Stephen Worth
Director
Animation Resources

TheoryGrim Natwick

This posting is part of an online exhibit entitled Grim Natwick’s Scrapbook.
Animated CartoonsAnimated Cartoons

This posting is part of the online Encyclopedia of Cartooning under the subject heading, Animation.

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather