This collection of essays explores the link between comedy and animation in studio-era cartoons, from filmdom’s earliest days through the twentieth century. Written by a who’s who of animation authorities, Funny Pictures offers a stimulating range of views on why animation became associated with comedy so early and so indelibly, and illustrates how animation and humor came together at a pivotal stage in the development of the motion picture industry. To examine some of the central assumptions about comedy and cartoons and to explore the key factors that promoted their fusion, the book analyzes many of the key filmic texts from the studio years that exemplify animated comedy. Funny Pictures also looks ahead to show how this vital American entertainment tradition still thrives today in works ranging from The Simpsons to the output of Pixar. “Anyone seeking understanding of the . . . legacy of Charlie Chaplin, or the sound of funny should read this book, stand up, and cheer.” -- T. Lindvall ― Choice Published On: 2011-12-01 “Lucid and readable, and as likely to be appreciated by general film enthusiasts as well as high falutin’ ivory-tower types.” ― Examiner.com Published On: 2011-11-07 “[An] eloquent assembly of analyses.” ― Quarterly Review Of Film & Video Published On: 2012-04-13 Funny Pictures is an important collection of writing by some of the foremost authors in the field of animation studies. Each brings considerable knowledge from a variety of fields, resulting in a book that points the direction for animation scholarship to come. While much of animation literature has been concerned with defining what makes animation different from other media, Goldmark and Keil s anthology situates animation within broader historical and theoretical contexts related to popular theater, live-action cinema, authorship studies, and the industrial practices of the classical Hollywood cinema, as well as more recent trends. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of comedy, animation studies, or popular entertainment more broadly. Maureen Furniss, founding editor of Animation Journal "The conventional connection between animation and comedy has long been a topic in need of examination, and the editors have assembled a stellar lineup of contributors to tackle the job. Kristin Thompson, author of The Frodo Franchise: The Lord of the Rings and Modern Hollywood “ Funny Pictures is an important collection of writing by some of the foremost authors in the field of animation studies. Each brings considerable knowledge from a variety of fields, resulting in a book that points the direction for animation scholarship to come. While much of animation literature has been concerned with defining what makes animation different from other media, Goldmark and Keil’s anthology situates animation within broader historical and theoretical contexts related to popular theater, live-action cinema, authorship studies, and the industrial practices of the classical Hollywood cinema, as well as more recent trends. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of comedy, animation studies, or popular entertainment more broadly.” ―Maureen Furniss, founding editor of Animation Journal "The conventional connection between animation and comedy has long been a topic in need of examination, and the editors have assembled a stellar lineup of contributors to tackle the job.”―Kristin Thompson, author of The Frodo Franchise: The Lord of the Rings and Modern Hollywood Daniel Goldmark is Associate Professor of Music at Case Western Reserve University and the author of Tunes for ‘Toons: Music and the Hollywood Cartoon (UC Press). Charlie Keil is Associate Professor of Cinema Studies at the University of Toronto and the author of Early American Cinema in Transition and American Cinema’s Transitional Era (UC Press). Funny Pictures Animation and Comedy in Studio-Era Hollywood By Daniel Goldmark, Charlie Keil UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS Copyright © 2011 The Regents of the University of California All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-520-26724-4 Contents List of Figures, vii, Introduction: What Makes These Pictures So Funny? Charlie Keil and Daniel Goldmark, 1, PART ONE. THE (FILMIC) ROOTS OF EARLY ANIMATION, 1. The Chaplin Effect: Ghosts in the Machine and Animated Gags Paul Wells, 15, 2. Polyphony and Heterogeneity in Early Fleischer Films: Comic Strips, Vaudeville, and the New York Style Mark Langer, 29, 3. The Heir Apparent J.B. Kaufman, 51, PART TWO. SYSTEMS AND EFFECTS: MAKING CARTOONS FUNNY, 4. Infectious Laughter: Cartoons' Cure for the Depression Donald Crafton, 69, 5. "We're Happy When We're Sad": Comedy, Gags, and 1930s Cartoon Narration Richard Neupert, 93, 6. Laughter by Numbers: The Science of Comedy at the Walt Disney Studio Susan Ohmer, 109, PART THREE. RETHEORIZING ANIMATED COMEDY, 7. "Who Dat Say Who Dat?": Racial Masquerade, Humor, and t