In this blog's numerous postings about Warner Brothers cartoons, it's amazing that this is the first devoted one to the one, the only, the peerless animator and director Robert McKimson (1910-1977).
Robert McKimson goes back to the first Warner Brothers cartoons. His animation is all over those first few years of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, back when Hugh Harman and Rudy Ising were producing them.
Shall be posting a slew of McKimson cartoons in today's post.
After all, he directed several of our all-time favorites.
One we are particularly fond of is The Hole Idea (1955), which was animated as well as directed by Robert McKimson - and much enjoy Anthony's Animation Talk's take on this inventive cartoon.
The book by Robert McKimson, Jr. about Bob and his brothers Charles and Tom looks FANTASTIC, as well as a fitting tribute to the many contributions the McKimson brothers made to Warner Brothers cartoons.
Robert and ace film historians Michael Barrier, Jerry Beck, Mark Kausler and Mark Evanier all turn up in the documentary Behind The Tunes - Drawn to Life: The Art Of Robert McKimson.
Since he was on the same staff with Tex Avery, Frank Tashlin, Bob Clampett, Chuck Jones, Friz Freleng - and at one point animated for all of them, to some extent Robert McKimson's directorial efforts receive short shrift (as do the WB cartoons helmed by Arthur Davis).
Bob is the guy who was there at Warner Brothers Animation for the entire run, as Friz Freleng left for a brief time to direct cartoons for MGM. Mike Barrier conducted an interview with Robert McKimson which was posted on Cartoon Brew, and, as just one of many terrific posts, the late, great Jim Korkis wrote an excellent article, In His Own Words - Bob Clampett Talks About Robert McKimson. No doubt Bob Clampett knew very well the incredible, creative and original animation Robert McKimson, Rod Scribner, Manny Gould, Bill Melendez, Izzy Ellis, Jack Carey, Norm McCabe, etc. contributed to his directorial efforts.
Robert hit the ground running when he started directing cartoons. Daffy Doodles (1946) is a favorite.
Loud-mouthed rooster Foghorn Leghorn made his silver screen debut in Walky Talky Hawky (1946).
The groundhog in One Meat Brawl (1946) has tons of personality!
Bugs Bunny as the Easter Bunny always gets big laughs.
As does the Peter Lorre caricature in the following Daffy Duck cartoon, Birth of a Notion (1947).
Ducking The Devil (1957) is a particularly hilarious Tazmanian Devil cartoon.
One of the funniest of the Robert McKimson directorial efforts from the studio's final year was Banty Raids (1963). The beatnik rooster is a hoot!
Thanks for the laughs, Bob, Chuck and Tom McKimson!
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