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.
Thu Dec 4
Unidentified film and artist. Not from the 1950s. Probably 1960s or possibly even later. If anybody knows, please tell me. A sketchy salesman at Van Eaton Galleries tried to tell me it was from Toot Whistle. I called him out on his BS.

Unidentified film and artist. Not from the 1950s. Probably 1960s or possibly even later. If anybody knows, please tell me. A sketchy salesman at Van Eaton Galleries tried to tell me it was from Toot Whistle. I called him out on his BS.

Wed Dec 3
A cel from Toot Whistle Plunk and Boom (1953, Disney) director: Ward Kimball character stylist: Tom Oreb color stylist: Eyvind Earle

A cel from Toot Whistle Plunk and Boom (1953, Disney)

director: Ward Kimball

character stylist: Tom Oreb

color stylist: Eyvind Earle

Tue Dec 2
TV commercial for Ford (1959, Elektra Films) designer: Irv Spector (Irv Spector’s son Paul just started a blog about his father. Click on the image to go to the Irv Spector blog for more great artwork!)

TV commercial for Ford (1959, Elektra Films)

designer: Irv Spector

(Irv Spector’s son Paul just started a blog about his father. Click on the image to go to the Irv Spector blog for more great artwork!)

Mon Dec 1
TV commercial for Renault (ca. 1960, Pantomime Pictures) director/designer: Fred Crippen

TV commercial for Renault (ca. 1960, Pantomime Pictures)

director/designer: Fred Crippen

Sun Nov 30
A Cowboy Needs a Horse (1956, Disney) director: Bill Justice background painting by unknown artists basd on a layout drawing by Xavier Atencio

A Cowboy Needs a Horse (1956, Disney)

director: Bill Justice

background painting by unknown artists basd on a layout drawing by Xavier Atencio

Thu Nov 27
Fudget’s Budget (1954, UPA) director: Bobe Cannon designer: T. Hee color: Jules Engel

Fudget’s Budget (1954, UPA)

director: Bobe Cannon

designer: T. Hee

color: Jules Engel

Wed Nov 26
Sketch by Ed Benedict (ca. 1955)

Sketch by Ed Benedict (ca. 1955)