Tex Avery's Animation Legacy

Fred "Tex" Avery was one of the main proponents of the Golden Age of American animation, an era that saw Avery himself create characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Droopy Dog, and many more. He worked at both Warner Bros. and MGM Studios, expanding his reach and influence. He helped usher in a new style of animation that broke away from the strict realism that Walt Disney popularized and brought in crazy characters, sight gags, and other elements not possible in live-action. His legacy and work have been preserved and respected through DVD collections and films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit, but his impressive resume deserves a closer look.

Avery's 1940 film, "A Wild Hare" would be the first official appearance of Bugs Bunny.


While Tex Avery did a little bit of early animation work, it wasn't until he joined Warner Bros. in 1935 through the Leon Schlesinger Productions studio nicknamed "Termite Terrace" that he really hit his stride. He worked alongside big names like Bob Clampett and Chuck Jones, who would all have a hand in creating the memorable cast of Looney Tunes characters. One of his first creations would be Daffy Duck, first seen in the 1937 film, "Porky's Duck Hunt". While there have been many different interpretations of Daffy, the original Avery version had him as a zany, loony duck that would bounce around everywhere shouting, "Hoo-hoo! Hoo-Hoo! Hoo-hoo!" The short also featured Porky in a hunter-type role, which would later manifest itself in Elmer Fudd. "A Wild Hare" is the first true debut of Bugs Bunny, although he was previously seen in various films before his trademark demeanor and personality. Avery inadvertently made up Bugs' catchphrase, "What's up, doc?" after a common phrase used in his home state of Texas. He only did a handful of Bugs Bunny cartoons before leaving the studio in 1941 after creative disputes, but he helped lay down the groundwork for the rest of the Looney Tunes. While most people are more familiar with the streamlined and modern cartoons that were to come later, Tex Avery was apart of that vision that helped them come to be.

Tex Avery's time at MGM Studios under director Fred Quimby allowed him more creative freedom.

Most probably know Avery better for his work at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer than with Warner Bros. Working with Fred Quimby, he was allowed to stretch his creative wings further than before. Almost everything was a little bit bigger in scope, with higher budget animation, even more lunacy, controversial topics, and new animation ideas. While the characters he created may not be as memorable as the Looney Tunes, the sheer quality of the films shines through. His most popular character is most likely Droopy. He was a small, slow-moving and talking dog that always managed to win out in the end against his opponent. Making his debut in 1943's "Dumbhounded", he was very subdued and was known for showing very little outward emotion. Some of the more popular and risqué cartoons he did featured the Wolf and the racy pin-up girl unofficially dubbed "Red". She made her debut in the critically acclaimed short, "Red Hot Riding Hood" in 1943 and influenced both audience and animators. She was seen as an amalgamation of big Hollywood stars like Betty Grable, Judy Garland, and Katharine Hepburn and was a popular wartime character. While she would sing a number in a club-type setting, the Wolf would use various sight gags and libido reactions as the crutch of the comedy. There were initial censorship issues, as the gags were deemed too explicit. She would make appearances in other shorts and take on a new role or name, but her overall look and symbolism would remain the same.

Other popular MGM works he created include a series of future-technology themed shorts such as " Car of Tomorrow" and "House of Tomorrow". They brought to life his vision and desire to go away from the realistic world of live action and spoofed commericals of the time. Cartoons like Uncle Tom's Cabana and Half-Pint Pygmy were controversial because of their "politically incorrect" depictions of different ethnicities, but the humor was never tasteless. Other popular films include "Magical Maestro", which shows a magician and an opera singer duking it out with a magic wand disguised as a conductor's baton. "King-Size Canary" is another acclaimed short as a series of animals go on an epic chase after finding a plant growth formula. While Avery's characters might not be as well-known as his Warner Bros. creations, he definitely found his groove during his time at MGM.

Tex Avery deserves praise for his visionary ideas and his contribution to animation. His influence can be felt throughout many cartoons, which many recent shows should take note of. Although we usually enjoy these cartoons at their face value and for nostalgia, the names behind the scenes should be credited for the foundation they laid down for future generations of animation.

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Freakazoid! - Not Your Average Superhero

Even at first glance, you can already see how different Freakazoid! is. Initially created by major DC animated universe creator/producer Bruce Timm, the show quickly transformed from action show into zany comedy. Rather than a typical superhero animated series in the vein of Batman or Spider-Man, director Steven Spielberg envisioned it with more humor that didn't fit Timm's style. More similar to Spielberg's previous works such as Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, and Tiny Toon Adventures, Timm soon left the project and the show became something fun and unique that was different from previous works. Originally premiered in 1995, Freakazoid! was short-lived but has since gained a cult following. The show's off-set hero and humor are only a few things that set it apart from the pack.


Dexter Douglas was a typical teenage geek until a faulty Pinnacle chip in his computer led to an extraordinary transformation and a highly sought-after secret. An elaborate key sequence was accidentally typed on his computer and he contracted a computer bug that gave him all of the information on the Internet and transformed him into Freakazoid. He has a wide array of abilities at his disposal like super strength, speed, and endurance, but other talents often come and go. With questionable amounts of sanity, he gets easily side-tracked and often annoys his villains because of his manic behavior rather than foiling their crimes. Although he has the ability to transform into electricity and travel long distances, he often runs around, sticks his arms out, and makes "whooshing" noises pretending to fly instead. With a varied cast of allies, enemies, and parody/cameo characters, Freakazoid! is almost anything but normal. While there are traces of a bigger story and larger villain, many of the episodes just follow the crazy adventures of Freakazoid.

One of Freakazoid's best friends is Sergeant Mike Cosgrove. Often seen together hanging out or doing anything at a whim, Freakazoid often gets side-tracked from saving the world. Cosgrove almost always finds a way to find Freakazoid and has the uncanny ability to get others to "cut it out" on command. He also has a girlfriend named Steff, who is always happy and supportive of him. His mentor and instructor, Roddy MacStew was one of the first to alert him of the flaw in the Pinnacle chip but is often seen as the typical angry Scotsman. As he fights crime, his villains often come off as comedic effect rather than truly being sinister. The Lobe's amazing intellect is off-set by his low self-esteem and Freakazoid's ability to foil his plans time and time again. CandleJack is a play off the Boogeyman, kidnapping anyone that says his name. Longhorn is a trucker who underwent plastic surgery to resemble a longhorn bull. There's even an invisible pharaoh that Freakazoid himself named Invisibo simply because he wanted to. The villains make the show fun just as much as Freakazoid himself, as they, too are often amazed by his inanity and ridiculousness.

A few of Freakazoid's villains, from left to right: The Lobe, CandleJack, and Longhorn.

The self-aware humor in Freakazoid! often uses parody, cameos, stock footage, and other devices that break the fourth wall. They would include "commercials" and unrelated scenes such as Scream-O-Vision (people screaming), Relax-O-Vision (a field of flowers), or just a man wrestling a bear. There are numerous running gags such as the character Emmit Nervend, who would never be apart of the story and would appear at least once an episode simply in the background. Self contained mini-segments parodied the likes of Batman, Jonny Quest, and Robin Hood. Cameo appearances by Bill Clinton, Barbara Streisand, and Steven Spielberg himself would be used as comedic devices and fit into the story. The show often exceeded the typical slapstick fare such as falling anvils or exploding dynamite and came off as a little smarter or better executed. The insanity and craziness of Freakazoid! only aided the comedy and its more realistic trappings over Spielberg's other shows like Tiny Toons or Animaniacs made its premise stand out even more.

It's hard to explain the humor and appeal of Freakazoid! without seeing it first-hand. It definitely seemed ahead of its time, different and innovative from other American cartoon offerings of the period. The entire show exudes so much personality, with Freakazoid often overshadowing his alter ego, Dexter Douglas. The complete first season of Freakazoid! has finally made its way on DVD, so now is the perfect time to see how different a superhero can be.

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EP1 Analysis: Three Delivery

When approaching a new series, the first impression is often one of the most important things in evaluating whether or not it is worthy of your time and/or money. With the proliferation of both new and classic anime and Western animation, it can be hard discerning which show fits personal tastes and deserves to be given a chance. While factors such as pacing and genre can greatly impact a first episode, they are generally perceived as an appropriate representation of the tone and expectations of the series as a whole. With that in mind, EP1 Analysis will be an on-going column that will review first episodes without prior knowledge of future events. The first entry will cover the Western-produced show about three teenage Asian heroes saving Chinatown, Three Delivery.

From left to right: Sue (Stephanie Sheh), Sid (Johnny Yong Bosch), and Tobey (Robby Duncan Sharpe).


There have been some interest and skepticism surrounding the series since its Nicktoons Network debut last month. While there have been many Western animation shows that have been influenced by Asian art styles and culture, this one is unique. Its mostly non-Asian* production crew is providing their interpretation of modern-day Asian-American culture, history, and lifestyle and fusing it with an anime/comic book style and odd mix of stereotypes. This action adventure sitcom decides to forego a traditional backstory episode and relegates the important historical facts in its intro. An evil apprentice named Kong Li has unleashed the power of a magical cookbook, spreading the potentially dangerous recipes throughout Chinatown. A mystical barrier keeping the magic sealed within the area limits has protected the outside world from harm, but now Kong Li has returned to unleash these powerful recipes and take over the world. Three teenage orphans, skilled in kung-fu, are recruited by Nana to work deliveries for a Chinese restaurant and protect Chinatown from Kong Li and recover the lost recipes. It sounds very stereotypical, especially knowing that it comes with very little first-hand knowledge of the culture, martial arts, and from Asians themselves. But it's not without its good points.

Episode one, "I Feel The Earth Move", jumps right into the action without much of a foundation about Nana, Kong Li, the magical cookbook, or other pertinent details. They do a good job of introducing the three main characters and orphans, Tobey and siblings Sue and Sid. You can immediately see the playful jabbing and chemistry that they have together, whether it's hanging out at the restaurant, making deliveries, or braving danger and trying to recover a lost recipe. You get to meet other characters at the restaurant, such as the old and wise Nana, the big storeowner, Mr. Wu, and the cool, laid back Barney. The characters look, feeel, and sound natural, which is partly aided by the mostly Asian voice cast. Stephanie Sheh (Sue) and Eyeshine's Johnny Yong Bosch (Sid) have extensive work in animation, both featured in the English dubs for Eureka Seven and Bleach. Robby Duncan Sharpe plays Tobey, and all three have clearly defined personalities. Sue and the jokester Tobey often get into playful fights while Sid is more like the straight-laced leader. The characters have a lot of personality, which is one of the stronger points of Three Delivery and why it seems to work.


The plot itself introduces the evil villain, Kong Li as he makes his re-debut unleashing an evil recipe to try and break through the magic barrier. The various nods to Chinese stereotypes felt a little hokey, but never demeaning in any way. However, you can't help but wonder why they have to be working at a Chinese restaurant making deliveries or that they know kung-fu and are training to go up against this unknown evil. You could see how formulaic and episodic the series could become, but it's fun and light-hearted so far. The flash animation is very clean with defined colors, creating a very smooth and anime-style look. The action sequences don't feel as natural, but that may be the fault of it being the first episode, the animation itself, or the martial arts background of the animators. They chose dark colors for the look and feel of Chinatown, which somewhat works. It felt like there should have been more explanation in the first episode, as they only sufficiently introduce the characters and assume knowledge on the story itself. They reveal important information as the plot develops, but I would have rather seen a true origin story.

Overall, it looks like the combo team of Animation Collective/Fatkat is targeting Nicktoon's younger audience rather than a more general appeal. There are still things to like, but there's not as much depth as I had hoped. The action and comedy are decent, combined with some fun characters and clean animation. It still remains to be seen how authentic the Asian culture and elements will be preserved, but it's not a bad interpretation. With what seems like a genuine desire to portray a fun and action-packed look into Asian-American Chinatown with a slightly silly story, Three Delivery warrants another view. New episodes premiere on Fridays at 7:30pm ET on the Nicktoons Network, but you can view the entire first episode and some teaser clips on their website.

*UPDATE: While many of the writers and executive producers, including creator Larry Schwarz are not of Asian descent, a good portion of the artists, animators, lead designers, consultants, and whatnot do have Asian and Chinese roots. Animation Collective is a New York-based studio and Three Delivery remains a US production, but hopefully the diverse crew will help contribute to a well-rounded and culturally accurate show. Very few Western animated shows out today try to tackle Asian-American culture and lifestyle, and hopefully Three Delivery will remain a fun series and continue to improve.

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Batman: Gotham Knight Shows Off Dark Themes, Rich Animation

Batman has been seen in many animated forms, from his early days with the Superfriends to some of his more recent appearances in Justice League Unlimited. But perhaps his best known animated incarnation was in the 90s cartoon, Batman: The Animated Series. Featuring famed producers such as Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett, the show set precedence not only for the Batman mythos, but for action cartoons as a whole. Voice actor Kevin Conroy has become inexplicably known as the the voice of both Bruce Wayne and Batman, bringing multiple layers and dimensions to the character. They all return to bring together a "dream team" of famous writers and big Japanese animation studios with names like comic book writers Greg Rucka and Brian Azzarello, and studios Production I.G. and Madhouse. All of these talented teams each created six shorts to bring together the next feature in their PG-13 line of DC Universe Original Animated Movies, Batman: Gotham Knight.

The project began with writers and producers from the Batman animated series and both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight teaming up to each create six unique shorts tied together through a single plot. David Goyer, Brian Azzarello, Josh Olson, Greg Rucka, Jordan Goldberg, and Alan Burnett each penned and produced a short with their own writing style. Studio 4°C, Production I.G., Bee Train, and Madhouse each brought a different take on Batman and Gotham City, bringing each writer's vision to life in a plotline that was loosely tied together. Kevin Conroy's many years voicing both Bruce Wayne and Batman brought the character to life in this new, mature film that gives the animated mythos a dark and interesting diversion into the possibilities of an adult series. While the first PG-13 Batman animated feature, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker was from a spin-off futuristic series, Gotham Knight is the first to show the original canon in such a mature tone and light.




The most impressive thing about Gotham Knight is the amazing visuals. All four animated studios did such impressive work recreating both Batman and Gotham City. They all had a different take that stands apart from previous animated versions. The anime art style goes well with the universe, and you could see the trademark animation seen in popular features and series such as Production I.G.'s Ghost in the Shell, Studio 4°C's Tekkon KinKreet, and Madhouse's Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. While each depiction may bring about different personal opinions, they all bring high quality work and show Batman as he's rarely been seen before. Some of the variations on Batman and Bruce Wayne's look definitely were interesting, but it only added to the fun. The clean animation, strong and vibrant colors, and solid action scenes definitely took the spotlight. Kevin Conroy's contrasting voices for Batman and Bruce Wayne showed off the character's various personas and really tied things together.

There have been many comparisons made to The Animatrix, which was a series of nine animated short films to complement The Matrix Trilogy. While each of those shorts were self contained, the ones here in Gotham Knight are not. This is perhaps one of the weaker points about the film, because some of the shorts are not strong enough to stand on their own. The 10-15 minute run time of each one was not always long enough to tell a complete story that was enthralling enough in its own right or as part of a larger whole. It felt like there should have been more cohesiveness between the different writers and studios. Despite this, there are still some very strong stories here. Perhaps one of the strongest is Studio 4°C's second short, "Working Through Pain". While Batman deals with a current struggle, he reflects on the past and the various training he received before taking up the cape and cowl. Another imaginitive tale is "Have I Got A Story For You", which recreates a classic Batman story that shows different versions of the Dark Knight through the eyes of children. Other shorts such as "Crossfire" feel a bit too slow on its own, but are decent enough when taken as a whole. The one theme maintained throughout the feature is the sense of darkness that pervades Gotham City. The grittiness, impactful fight scenes, and the personality of both Batman and Gotham stand out. However, the overall writing still feels too sub par for the quality of writers contributing to the film.


Gotham Knight was released in multiple versions, including a Blu-Ray high definition release. The clarity and crispness of the animation and transfer was amazing. The colors stand out so much more, with every frame so rich and defined. The intimidating image of Batman among a sea of flames in "Crossfire" and the fast-paced action sequence in "Deadshot" are just a few scenes that stand out. While it contains the same extras as the Special Edition DVD, it's disappointing that they weren't remastered in high definition. With a handful of great documentary features, a sneak peak at the new Wonder Woman animated feature, and four great episodes from Batman: TAS, it would have been nice if Warner Bros. took the extra step to make the Blu-Ray release even better.

There was a lot of hype surrounding Batman: Gotham Knight, but the film didn't quite live up to expectations. The animation was phenomenal, especially in high definition, but the writing was a little above average. If they had told more self-contained stories or a more cohesive, connected plot, then Gotham Knight would have been better. There is still a lot to like and is definitely worth seeing to complement The Dark Knight.

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Can Three Delivery Bring More Than Just Stereotypes?

From left to right: Tobey, Sue, and Sid.

It certainly looks promising. You have visually appealing flash animation, promising action elements, and a definite Asian influence and presence seen throughout the cartoon. But then you get to the show’s premise. Straight from the mind of Kappa Mikey and Speed Racer: The Next Generation creator Larry Schwarz comes Three Delivery. I kid you not, here’s the basic premise. Three Chinese orphans, Sue, Sid, and Tobey use their kung-fu and newfound magic ability to become superheroes, deliver Chinese food, and save Chinatown from evil apprentice Kong Li, who is bent on unleashing dangerous recipes from a magical cookbook. It sounds a bit cheesier than it looks, but this has the potential of being a nice homage to Asian culture or becoming a poor mockery. This action-comedy children’s show is making its debut on the Nicktoons Network tonight and is apart of the growing trend of Asian-influenced martial arts cartoons.


Despite the fact that the entire show takes place in Chinatown and is full of Asian references, you would be hard-pressed to find an Asian name among the production crew outside of “cultural consultant” Pei-Chen Chen. Schwarz was heavily influenced by his childhood in New York City, citing memories of sneaking to Chinatown to try and buy fireworks and throwing stars as a kid. His team scouted Chinatowns across the country to create the one seen in the series, hoping to preserve the Chinese culture while providing a modern twist. Art director Alan Foreman prepared for the action scenes by watching kung-fu movies and researching Shaolin monks to help keep authenticity. He was quoted as describing the chemistry between the small cast as “The O.C. with dragons”. Nickelodeon Director of Marketing Craig Coleman seemed all too happy to bring Three Delivery on board and further capitalize on the growing popularity of anime. With the hugely successful Avatar: The Last Airbender wrapping up this summer, they were looking for another show that would fit their demographic and feature similar themes. They already feature a young children’s show on their Nick Jr. programming block that fits along the lines of Dora The Explorer, titled Ni Hao, Kai-lan. While this American cartoon is sounding like it’s missing some true authenticity, it’s not without its positive points.

Three Delivery looks to have a strong voice cast, with Stephanie Sheh (Sue) and Eyeshine’s own Johnny Yong Bosch (Sid) recognizable in series like Bleach and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. You will also find a mostly Asian cast, which is reassuring since they are playing Asian characters. Comic books and graphic novels inspired the impressive art and character designs, and the flash animation looks very clean and polished. While it looks to be marketed towards a younger demographic, it still shows promise for a wider appeal. As Foreman mentioned, the chemistry between Sid, Sue, and Tobey looks to be strong and will hopefully carry over to the action scenes with villain Kong Li. Three Delivery looks stronger than similar shows in this new genre, but there’s the constant danger of it falling into one of the many potential pitfalls.

There seems to be a lot of charm present, but we will soon discover if that will translate well in its overall premise and longevity. The New York Times review has one of the first comments, which already foresees issues with keeping things fresh. Asian jokes and references were noted, but said, “nothing in the show feels like Asia”. Regardless, you can make your own judgment and check out some short clips at the Nicktoons page or explore the official interactive site. Despite the stereotypical nature of Three Delivery, it at least appears to respect its source material.

UPDATE: You can now watch the entire first episode, "I Feel The Earth Move" at the Nicktoons website. I'll be back with my thoughts soon.

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