GERALD MCBOING BOING (1951) is one of my “desert island” films. It is damn near perfect on every level—an incredible marriage of design and animation, with gorgeous layouts and cinematic composition throughout, spare yet thoughtful color styling and a perfectly appropriate modern film score. The talent on this film was unbelievable in every department: Bobe Cannon (direction), Bill Hurtz (design, with Cannon), Bill Scott and Phil Eastman (story), Jules Engel and Herb Klynn (color styling), Bill Melendez, Willis Pyle, Frank Smith, Pat Matthews and Rudy Larriva (animation). More importantly, the whole crew was on the same page. The animators interpreted the designs beautifully, the background artists created colors that enhanced the mood and story, all the elements in this film weave in and out of each other with an effortless grace. The reason I bring up the film is because Clarke Snyder has generously posted dozens of frame grabs at the Inspiration Grab-Bag. If you’ve already seen the film, these sequential grabs are a great alternative way of studying it. Every element of this film is carefully considered and worked out; for example, note how after Gerald’s father yells at him, all the shots are planned on tense diagonals, until Gerald gets discovered by the radio station and everything become happy again. There’s just so much to learn from this film. It can be purchaesd on DVD, along with the three other Gerald theatricals produced by UPA, at Amazon.com.
This is one of my favorites too.A great short cartoon.
And great your work with this blog too.Thanks
Comment by El Señor Snoid — February 26, 2006 @ 3:13 am
I’d like to throw a little recognition to an unsung animator who worked on this film. Jack Schnerk was predominantly a NY animator after leaving Hollywood mid-fifties to work for Shamus Culhane. He told me that after assisting for many years, his very first scene to animate was that of Gerald, stick over his shoulder, running for the train. He admitted that he was frightened all the time he did the piece but was pleased with the final results. Indeed, he should be.
I always enjoy hearing animators describe their very first scene of animation - usually they remember it with crystal clarity.
Comment by Michael Sporn — February 26, 2006 @ 6:30 am
Amid,
Thats a great image that you posted at the top of this post, and its even more amazing to see how much of that loose charm and appeal the artists and animators were able to maintain in the final film - Christ it’s almost dead-on.
I couldn’t agree with you more about this being a damn near perfect short in practically every aspect. Do you know if UPA was in the practice of doing color scripts for their shorts? If so I would love to see an example.
Anyway, Thanks for mentioning my blog here. I’m honored and flattered that someone as knowledgeable as yourself finds what I’m doing to be worth a look.
Comment by Clarke — February 26, 2006 @ 7:51 am
Mike - Thanks for the story on Jack Schnerk. Interesting to hear that was his first scene as an animator. Don’t know much about him, although his name was mentioned in various interviews, like Alan Zaslove told me that Schnerk introduced him to a lot of good music while they were both working in Cannon’s unit.
Clarke - I believe the image above is a layout pose by Cannon hence the similarity to the final product. But, yes, it’s impressive that they were able to retain the charm through both animation and ink-and-paint. And yes, UPA did color scripts for almost everything they did, even for one-minute theatrical commercials sometimes. There’s a really good one for MAGIC FLUKE printed in the book. I may have examples of some other ones around here. I’ll look around.
Comment by Amid — February 26, 2006 @ 10:14 pm
that’s true…
the designs are simple and purely amazing…and the boy has a true sympathic face and expressions.
Comment by Man Arenas — February 27, 2006 @ 3:50 am
Do you know that Gail Kubik, the composer of the score, composed a longer version of the music and has been recorded and is available on CD?
In a couple of days I’ll give you the technical details.
Comment by oscar grillo — February 27, 2006 @ 3:12 pm
Oscar - I wasn’t aware of this extended score by Kubik. Please share details on it when you have a moment.
Comment by Amid — February 27, 2006 @ 3:33 pm
I’ve seen this cartoon at least a hundred times, and every time I see it I learn something new.
It’s so charming and easy on the eyes… as shorts go, it’s a masterpiece.
Comment by Marc Crisafulli — February 28, 2006 @ 7:51 pm
the new Gerald McBoing Boing is on cartoon network at 9:30 am m-f its in color and interesting to compare the two.
http://www.mycomputerhatesme.com/mcboing-faq1.htm
Comment by fred — March 1, 2006 @ 9:17 am
My god! an extended Kubik score for Gerald Mcboing Boing? This has been my favorite music for a month or so, and I’ve been looking for the soundtrack. I found the old record, but the music is by someone else and it doesn’t come close to the originality of Gail’s Score. I’ll also be waiting to find out about that extended score on cd. Please do share.
Comment by jeff jackson — March 4, 2006 @ 5:22 pm
I’ve sent the info to Amid directly..Perhaps he’ll publish it here..It is 3.30 AM in London and I don’t have it with me here.
Comment by Oscar Grillo — March 15, 2006 @ 8:48 pm
this is my favorite children’s book to read to my daughter and students. does anyone know where i can find a copy of the original Gerald McBoing Boing? i would love to show it to them.
Comment by Cat — January 4, 2007 @ 6:16 am
Find it curious I share this same name with this gentlemen, my grandfather and father as well did. Robert Bobe
Comment by Robert R Bobe' Jr. — November 14, 2007 @ 8:29 am