Jerry Beck

Cartoon Carnival tells the story of the pioneering early days of the animated art-form and chronicles one film preservationist's quest to rescue pre-sound cartoons from obscurity and screen them to new, appreciative audiences.

After 52 years of solving mysteries, the Scooby gang reunite at Warner Bros. Studios to reminisce about their favorite cases and how they were filmed. But it turns out that the back lot may have its OWN monster problem. Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby-Doo investigate this mystery while celebrating the legacy of the franchise.

A documentary film about the life and work of artist and author Carl Barks, including his lifetime association with Walt Disney and the Donald Duck character family.

Narrated by Billy Crystal, the documentary examines the history of the character over the decades, including sketches, clips from the shorts, and interviews with the animation legends who created some of the most memorable Bugs material

A compilation of animated shorts restored by Thomas Stathes. A snapshot of the state of animated filmmaking 100 years ago. Includes several 1923 films.

Walt Disney said “We have created characters and animated them in the dimension of depth, revealing through them to our perturbed world that the things we have in common far outnumber and outweigh those that divide us.” Outside of Walt himself there are few people who have brought together and united more animators in the history of the genre than Craig "Spike" Decker and Mike Gribble, known to all as Spike & Mike. They created an animation festival that helped launch the careers of John Lasseter, Peter Lord, Will Vinton, Bill Plympton and Mike Judge to name just a few. Their Spike & Mike festival had an enormous impact on animation that was felt the world over. The festival was known as much for the breakthrough animation it presented as the outrageous antics of the founders.

"Tinkerbell: A Fairy's Tale" is a look into Tink, who has become a pop culture icon in the years since the film's release. We hear about some of the inspirations for Tink (actress Margaret Kerry was the live-action reference), concept art for Tink and more.

A documentary film about Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton. This is a portrait piece that includes interviews with family, friends, colleagues, critics, and fans.

Commemorates the 10th anniversary of the SpongeBob SquarePants. The documentary chronicles the beloved character's journey to international pop culture icon status and showcases the series' around the world.

Documentary focusing on the making-of the 1940n adaptation of Pinocchio by the Disney studio, often considered the artistic pinnacle of the Disney feature.

For half a century Harvey Comics characters ruled newsstands, television screens, and the imaginations of children across the United States. While the names Casper the Friendly Ghost, Richie Rich, Little Audrey, Dick Tracy, and The Green Hornet live on, Harvey Comics has been largely forgotten. This film will bring together stories from family members, artists, historians, and celebrities to reveal the untold story of a company that changed comic books and pop culture forever.

Enjoy a heartwarming journey through the legacy of the world’s most famous cartoon superstar – Bugs Bunny. Witness his extraordinary transformation from animated character to global and pop culture icon with classic archival footage and exclusive new interviews with voice actors Bob Bergen, Eric Bauza, Jeff Bergman, Candi Milo, Billy West, animation historian Jerry Beck, Variety’s TV Editor Mike Schneider and others.

Documentary short about the black & white Looney Tunes cartoons

A look at the career of Warner Bros. animator and director Robert McKimson

The titular directors discussed are: Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising (1930-1933), Jack King (1934-1936), Ub Iwerks (1937), Ben Hardaway (1934-1940), Norm McCabe (1940-1943), and Art Davis (1945-1949)

A look at the fairy tale-based Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons, starring characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, and more.

Historians and modern animators discuss classic era Warner cartoons without "stars": characters who returned in subsequent cartoons.

Historians and animators discuss the Private Snafu cartoons made for military training during World War II.

A look at the forces that shaped Pre-Code Hollywood and brought about the strict enforcement of the Hays Code in 1934.

An all-new documentary celebrating the legacy of the holiday specials created by Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass including interviews with filmmakers and historians.

The story of Walter Lantz and Woody Woodpecker from the early days at Universal Pictures to the creation of brand new cartoons in 2018. Featuring contributions from Woody experts and of course, Woody himself.

A documentary about Chuck Jones' classic animated short One Froggy Evening.

An interactive, feature-length behind-the-scenes documentary teeming with worthwhile bonus content all its own.

The people that brought the film Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001) (a.k.a. "Spirited Away") to the US explain how it was converted into English, with some minor confusion between languages, and how well it did in both Japan and America.

This film is about the life and times of legendary voice actress June Foray. From her beginnings as a child wanting to be an actress, to becoming one of the greatest voice talents in the golden age of animation.

A documentary about Mel Blanc's voice work.

A documentary about Frank Tashlin's cartoons.

A documentary on the Looney Tunes. Including interviews from people who worked on it, and their family.

Documentary short

Animation documentary

A visual essay on the making, release and restoration of Robot Carnival.

A Documentary about the Looney Tunes war cartoons

A modern day Walt Disney, Will Vinton picked up a ball of clay and saw a world of potential. Known as the “Father of Claymation,” Vinton revolutionized the animation business during the 80s and 90s. But after 30 years of being the unheralded king of clay, Will Vinton’s carefully sculpted American dream came crumbling down. Structured around interviews with this charismatic pioneer and his close collaborators, the film charts the rise and fall of the Academy Award and Emmy winning Will Vinton Studios.

This remarkable documentary dedicates itself to an extraordinary chapter of the second World War – the psychological warfare of the USA. America’s trusted cartoon darlings from the studios of Warner Bros., Paramount, and the “big animals” of the Disney family were supposed to give courage to the people at the homefront, to educate them, but also to simultaneously entertain them. Out of this mixture grew a genre of its own kind – political cartoons. Insightful Interviews with the animators and producers from back then elucidate in an amusing and astonishing way under which bizarre circumstances these films partially came into existence.

A documentary about the Fleischer brothers and how they revolutionized animation.

Focuses on how the legend of animation, Tex Avery, revolutionized cartoons.

An anthology of various tales told in various styles with robots being the one common element among them.

After 52 years of solving mysteries, the Scooby gang reunite at Warner Bros. Studios to reminisce about their favorite cases and how they were filmed. But it turns out that the back lot may have its OWN monster problem. Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby-Doo investigate this mystery while celebrating the legacy of the franchise.

One of the first examples of Japanese anime to find a significant audience in the United States, Speed Racer was an animated television series whose bold graphic style, fast-paced action, and curious English-language dubbing won a cult following in America. Despite its title, Speed Racer: The Movie is actually a short feature cobbled together from two vintage episodes of the original TV show.

The titular directors discussed are: Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising (1930-1933), Jack King (1934-1936), Ub Iwerks (1937), Ben Hardaway (1934-1940), Norm McCabe (1940-1943), and Art Davis (1945-1949)

A crazy rhino meets his hero, Zantar. He tries to help but physically hurts him.

A stripper takes vengeance on her audience.

Bouncy, often jaw-dropping, musical cartoons from the 1930s, restored from the original camera negatives, giving each short a visual and sound clarity they haven’t had in 90 years or more. Program includes Pre-Code shenanigans with Felix The Cat, Popeye the Sailor, Flip The Frog, The Little King and The Wizard of Oz — some using long-forgotten early color processes. Plus rare Fleischer pencil tests and much more!