Cartoon Modern

A blog by Amid Amidi of inspiring cartoon art from the 1950s. For more, see my book Cartoon Modern: Style and Design in Fifties Animation from Chronicle Books. And don't forget to visit Cartoon Brew.
Sun Feb 8
TV commercial for Pabst Blue Ribbon (ca. 1956, Animation Inc.) designer unknown

TV commercial for Pabst Blue Ribbon (ca. 1956, Animation Inc.)

designer unknown

Fri Feb 6
TV commercial for Amoco (ca. 1955, Storyboard) designer: John Hubley

TV commercial for Amoco (ca. 1955, Storyboard)

designer: John Hubley

Sun Dec 21
Faygo soft drink TV commercial (ca. 1955, Storyboard Inc.) concept painting by David Weidman (Note: The idea to make one of the children black was a conscious choice on the part of Weidman. Unfortunately, in the final commercial, the black child was turned white. There’s a still from the spot in my book Cartoon Modern.)

Faygo soft drink TV commercial (ca. 1955, Storyboard Inc.)

concept painting by David Weidman

(Note: The idea to make one of the children black was a conscious choice on the part of Weidman. Unfortunately, in the final commercial, the black child was turned white. There’s a still from the spot in my book Cartoon Modern.)

Sat Dec 20
When Magoo Flew (1954, UPA) director: Pete Burness background painting by Bob McIntosh based on a layout drawing by Sterling Sturtevant

When Magoo Flew (1954, UPA)

director: Pete Burness

background painting by Bob McIntosh based on a layout drawing by Sterling Sturtevant

Fri Dec 19
A painting from the 1950s by John Dunn. He was the primary designer and story artist of this sequence in Mars and Beyond. In the 1960s and ’70s, Dunn was the primary writer of the Pink Panther shorts as well as the creator of Roland and Rattfink, Tijuana Toads, and Ant and the Aardvark.

A painting from the 1950s by John Dunn. He was the primary designer and story artist of this sequence in Mars and Beyond. In the 1960s and ’70s, Dunn was the primary writer of the Pink Panther shorts as well as the creator of Roland and Rattfink, Tijuana Toads, and Ant and the Aardvark.

Thu Dec 18
Model sheet for Welch’s Grape Jelly commercial (ca. 1955, Disney) designer: Tom Oreb

Model sheet for Welch’s Grape Jelly commercial (ca. 1955, Disney)

designer: Tom Oreb

Wed Dec 17
The World Beneath Us (1955, Disney) director/designer: unknown (Note: This was a sponsored film for Richfield Oil film that screened at Disneyland.)

The World Beneath Us (1955, Disney)

director/designer: unknown

(Note: This was a sponsored film for Richfield Oil film that screened at Disneyland.)

Tue Dec 9
Mars and Beyond (1957, Disney) director: Ward Kimball designer: John Dunn and Ward Kimball

Mars and Beyond (1957, Disney)

director: Ward Kimball

designer: John Dunn and Ward Kimball

Mon Dec 8
Mars and Beyond (1957, Disney) director: Ward Kimball designer: John Dunn and Ward Kimball

Mars and Beyond (1957, Disney)

director: Ward Kimball

designer: John Dunn and Ward Kimball

Fri Dec 5
Christopher Crumpet’s Playmate (1955, UPA) director: Bobe Cannon designer: T. Hee color: Jules Engel

Christopher Crumpet’s Playmate (1955, UPA)

director: Bobe Cannon

designer: T. Hee

color: Jules Engel