W9: Tex Avery @ MGM / UPA

Question 1

Briefly explain why Tex Avery is important to the history of animation (3)

Answer 1

Perfected the wild “gag” cartoon

faster pacing and more aggressive gags

pushed absurdist and ironic humour and extreme takes

Question 2

1943 Tex Avery cartoon featuring a lusty lady

Answer 2

Red Hot Riding Hood

Question 3

Tex Avery characters developed at MGM (7)

Answer 3

Screwy Squirrel

Droopy

The Girl

The Wolf

Bad Luck Blackie

Kitten

Dog

Question 4

How did Tex Avery influence Hanna-Barbera’s Tom & Jerry series?

Answer 4

• Became faster paced
• More aggressive gags
• More violent actions

Question 5

What event can the formation of UPA be traced back to?

Answer 5

The animator’s labour strike

Question 6

How did UPA artists differ from Disney veterans?

Answer 6

more aware of strides in the art world; better knowledge of art history (Disney animators learned most stuff on the job)

influenced by commercial advertising design and modern art

more political and independent minded (cartoons are a means for social reform!!)

explore more contemporary graphic styles and ways of storytelling

not in awe of Walt Disney

Question 7

original UPA name

Answer 7

Industrial Film and Poster Service

Question 8

UPA’s original 3 founders

Answer 8

Stephen Bosustow

Dave Hilberman

Zack Shwartz

Question 9

what does UPA stand for

Answer 9

United Productions of America

Question 10

studio that distributed UPA cartoons

Answer 10

Columbia Pictures

Question 11

describe UPA’s animation style

Answer 11

use of limited animation for creative expression, not to cut costs like how people normally used it for

Question 12

describe UPA’s artistic design style

Answer 12

wide variety of different techniques and stories for each animated film

stylized character and background designs: graphic, flat, minimalist

influenced by modern art and contemporary commercial art designs.

graphic design and the “line” trumps rounded, three-dimensional realism

Question 13

shit UPA didn’t wanna do

Answer 13

Funny animal characters

Disney-style shit (realism, fantasy, fairy tales, traditional narratives)

WB style shit (aggressive action, gags, slapstick violence, brash characters, etc)

Classical approaches to art and design

Recurring characters in a cartoon series

Question 14

UPA’s most famous character that they totally hated

Answer 14

Mr. Magoo

Question 15

Which UPA founder became executive producer after the other 2 peaced it?

Answer 15

Stephen Bosustow

Question 16

UPA’s supervising director

Answer 16

John Hubley

Question 17

1951 UPA cartoon based on a Dr. Seuss story that won the studio its first Academy Award?

Answer 17

Gerald McBoing Boing

Question 18

Who did Tex Avery work for when he started his career?

Answer 18

Walter Lantz

Question 19

producer who gave Tex Avery his first official opportunity to direct cartoons with screen credit

Answer 19

Leon Schlesinger

Question 20

animation studio for which Tex Avery made his last few theatrical cartoons

Answer 20

Walter Lantz

Question 21

former Warner Brothers animator who directed the gentlest UPA cartoons during the 1950s

Answer 21

Robert “Bob” Cannon

Question 22

First UPA theatrical short cartoon (1941)

Answer 22

Robin Hoodlum

Question 23

Political short made by UPA founders. Who were they promoting and who directed it?

Answer 23

Hell Bent for Election, directed by Chuck Jones

Supporting Franklin Delano Roosevelt