Summer vacations are approaching and it’s time to stock up DVD’s and CD’s of movies to watch in this break. Animation archaeologist Steve Stanchfield has just released his latest DVD compilation which is named the Mid Century Modern Animation. When you look at it, it seems as if you are getting a blast from the 50’s design goodness. This DVD has in it a very good compilation of theatrical cartoons, industrial films and vintage commercials that have tried their best to fit into the modern era.
If you are a die-hard Disney fan, here is news that it has a collection of 50’s Disney ‘Alice in the Wonderland’ Jello promos, Tinkerbell Peter Pan Peanut Butter commercials, redesigned and packaged Mickey, Pinocchio to remind you of those yesteryears and Nash and Rambler automobile spots in the DVD. There is also a rare reel of the Soundac TV Weathermanshorts and a Shamus Culhane commercial sample reel in the DVD. So if you really miss those oldies, here they are compiled in the DVD just for you. It’s a good concept of having all those oldies in one disc.
The DVD also has a better copy of UPA’s magic Fluke in comparison to what you see on the Jolly Frolics set. It’s on a 35mm Technicolour print barring a few splices in it. Do you remember the Big Tim presented by UPA- it’s presented on a 35mm IB tech nitrate print? Transferred from a mint 16mm IB it also has a John Sutherland’s Oreb/Haboush design masterpiece Destination Earth. The list can go on- it has Grantray Lawrence’s lost pilot Planet Patrol, a rare work print of a Paramount Popeye cartoon, and Zagreb’s The Cow On The Moon (1959) and all of this one disc.
Since it contains good prints you can be rest assured that all these cartoons and commercials look bright and colourful. The quality of these videos is superb and has been presented in a unique way. The DVD is labelled as ‘Vol.1’. If you don’t know what that means, then let me tell you that Steve has planned to come out with more such DVD’s with all the more 50’s hits. Don’t let this one go, its classic.
