Funny Pictures : Animation and Comedy in Studio-Era Hollywood

This collection of essays explores the link between comedy and animation in studio-era cartoons, from filmdom’s earliest days through the twentieth century. Written by a who’s who of animation authorities, Funny Pictures offers a stimulating range of views on why animation became associated with comedy so early and so indelibly, and illustrates how animation and humor came together at a pivotal stage in the development of the motion picture industry. To examine some of the central assumptions about comedy and cartoons and to explore the key factors that promoted their fusion, the book analyzes many of the key filmic texts from the studio years that exemplify animated comedy. Funny Pictures also looks ahead to show how this vital American entertainment tradition still thrives today in works ranging from The Simpsons to the output of Pixar. Frontmatter List of Figures (page vii) Introduction: What Makes These Pictures So Funny? (Charlie Keil and Daniel Goldmark, page 1) PART ONE. THE (FILMIC) ROOTS OF EARLY ANIMATION 1. The Chaplin Effect: Ghosts in the Machine and Animated Gags (Paul Wells, page 15) 2. Polyphony and Heterogeneity in Early Fleischer Films: Comic Strips, Vaudeville, and the New York Style (Mark Langer, page 29) 3. The Heir Apparent (J.B. Kaufman, page 51) PART TWO. SYSTEMS AND EFFECTS: MAKING CARTOONS FUNNY 4. Infectious Laughter: Cartoons' Cure for the Depression (Donald Crafton, page 69) 5. "We're Happy When We're Sad": Comedy, Gags, and 1930s Cartoon Narration (Richard Neupert, page 93) 6. Laughter by Numbers: The Science of Comedy at the Walt Disney Studio (Susan Ohmer, page 109) PART THREE. RETHEORIZING ANIMATED COMEDY 7. "Who Dat Say Who Dat?": Racial Masquerade, Humor, and the Rise of American Animation (Nicholas Sammond, page 129) 8. "I Like to Sock Myself in the Face": Reconsidering "Vulgar Modernism" (Henry Jenkins, page 153) 9. Auralis Sexualis: How Cartoons Conduct Paraphilia (Philip Brophy, page 175) PART FOUR. COMIC INSPIRATION: ANIMATION AUTEURS 10. The Art of Diddling: Slapstick, Science, and Antimodernism in the Films of Charley Bowers (Rob King, page 191) 11. Tex Avery's Prison House of Animation, or Humor and Boredom in Studio Cartoons (Scott Curtis, page 211) 12. Tish-Tash in Cartoonland (Ethan de Seife, page 228) PART FIVE. BEYOND THE STUDIO ERA: BUILDING ON TRADITION 13. Sounds Funny/Funny Sounds: Theorizing Cartoon Music (Daniel Goldmark, page 257) 14. The Revival of the Studio-Era Cartoon in the 1990s (Linda Simensky, page 272) Bibliography (page 293) List of Contributors (page 311) Index (page 315) This Collection Of Essays Explores The Link Between Comedy And Animation In Studio-era Cartoons, From Film's Early Days Through To The 20th Century. Introduction: What Makes These Pictures So Funny? / Charlie Keil And Daniel Goldmark -- Part One. The (filmic) Roots Of Early Animation. The Chaplin Effect: Ghosts In The Machine And Animated Gags / Paul Wells -- 2. Polyphony And Heterogeneity In Early Fleischer Films: Comic Strips, Vaudeville, And The New York Style / Mark Langer -- The Heir Apparent / J. B. Kaufman -- Systems And Effects: Making Cartoons Funny. Infectious Laughter: Cartoons' Cure For The Depression / Don Crafton -- We're Happy When We're Sad: Comedy, Gags, And 1930s Cartoon Narration / Richard Neupert -- Laughter By Numbers: The Science Of Comedy At The Walt Disney Studio / Susan Ohmer -- Part Three. Retheorizing Animated Comedy. Who Dat Say Who Dat? Racial Masquerade, Humor, And The Rise Of American Animation / Nicholas Sammond -- I Like To Sock Myself In The Face: Reconsidering Vulgar Modernism / Henry Jenkins -- Auralis Sexualis: How Cartoons Conduct Paraphilia / Philip Brophy -- Part Four. Comic Inspiration: Animation Auteurs. The Art Of Diddling: Slapstick, Science, And Antimodernism In The Films Of Charley Bowers / Rob King -- Tex Avery's Prison House Of Animation, Or Humor And Boredom In Studio Cartoons / Scott Curtis -- Tish-tash In Cartoonland / Ethan De Seife -- Part Five. Beyond The Studio Era: Building On Tradition. Sounds Funny/funny Sounds: Theorizing Cartoon Music / Daniel Goldmark -- The Revival Of The Studio-era Cartoon In The 1990s / Linda Simensky. Edited By Daniel Goldmark And Charlie Keil. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A collection of essays that explores the link between comedy and animation in studio-era cartoons, from filmdom's earliest days through the twentieth century. It analyzes many of the key filmic texts from the studio years that exemplify animated comedy.