Video of the Week: A Belated Father's Day Celebration

 I missed out on a Father's Day post this year, so I hope I'm making it up to you guys now with this week's featured video. Here is a 1995 Cartoon Network promo for that year's Father's Day festivities, a marathon titled "Greatest Toon Dads Ever". The characters showcased were Fred Flintstone, George Jetson, and Harry Boyle. If that last name doesn't sound familiar, he was the protagonist of Hanna-Barbera's short-lived Wait Till Your Father Gets Home. This is just my opinion, but I think calling him one of the greatest toon dads is a bit of a stretch.

While one of these characters is not like the others, this is still a fun promo. I really dig the look and vibe of Cartoon Network's original branding, and it brings back memories of a time when the channel had fun with its marathons. Those sure were the days.

The Jetsons Radioshack Ads: From Storyboard to Screen

 You know, I've always been a fan of the Jetsons Radioshack commercials that aired in the late nineties. While commercials with classic cartoon stars are a dime a dozen these days, they were still relatively original back then. These ads also featured some great artwork and animation, although unfortunately, it's unknown who worked on them. Here are all the commercials below in 360p glory.

Now, remember two sentences ago when I said the crew behind this was a mystery? Well, that was the case until about two weeks ago. Skull Island Productions, the social media handle of animator Spike Brandt, recently revealed some great storyboard panels for this campaign. You can check all of them out here, but I'd like to show off a few, right next to the finished product. In hindsight, I'm not surprised this was his work. He's done plenty of HB-themed commercials beyond this, including a Yogi Bear mortgage commercial I looked at last year. If that interests you, you can find that here.

 

Another interesting tidbit Brandt mentioned regarding these was this wonderful "Gift Cel" given to those involved in the campaign. It's a pretty nice cel featuring the entire Jetsons family, sans Rosie. 

And, as a tiny bonus, here's another Jetsons Radioshack goodie. This is an Astro alarm clock that was sold at the store, depicting the canine of the future on a treadmill, not unlike the one seen in the show's credits. Nothing too groundbreaking, but a novel piece of Jetsons merchandise for sure. 

The Willie Ito Website: Now Open!

 If you're reading this blog, you are likely at least a little familiar with artist Willie Ito. An artist who has been active in the animation sphere since the 1950s, Ito has worked at practically every major animation production company. Over a forty-year career, he worked at Walt Disney, Warner Bros., and Hanna-Barbera, among others. 

Today, I am pleased to announce that Willie Ito now has his very own website. Yesterday was its official opening, and you can find it at this very link. Visitors will find a biography on Ito's career, signed prints, upcoming appearances, and more. While the site has only just gotten off the ground, it's shaping up to be a great resource for those interested in classic animation. So what are you waiting for? Check it out!