Tag Archives: Animation

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The Bootleg Files: Sinbad Jr. and His Magic Belt

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BOOTLEG FILES 912: “Sinbad Jr. and His Magic Belt” (1965-55 syndicated animated series).

LAST SEEN: On YouTube and other online video sites.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: It fell through the proverbial cracks.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Not likely at the moment.

The other day, I was scrolling through an animation history forum on Facebook and I saw a post where someone asked a question about a series called “Sinbad Jr. and His Magic Belt.” While I would like to imagine that I have some degree of expertise regarding animated television series, I found myself stumped – this was the first time that I ever saw any mention of “Sinbad Jr. and His Magic Belt.”
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Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Knight-Mare Hare (1955)

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Knight-Mare Hare (1955)
Directed by Chuck Jones
Story by Tedd Pierce
Animation by Ken Harris, Ben Washam, Abe Levitow, Richard Thompson
Music by Milt Franklyn

Bugs Bunny is sitting outside of his hole-in-the-ground residence under a hair drying bonnet – as he explains to the viewer, “I just washed my ears and can’t do thing with them.” He is reading a book on medieval times when an apple falls from a tree and bangs on the hair drying bonnet, which falls over Bugs’ head. He suddenly finds himself back in the medieval era where he is assaulted by a knight, a fire-breathing dragon and an aged sorcerer wearing a propeller beanie.
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Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Hyde and Hare (1955)

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Hyde and Hare (1955)
Directed by Friz Freleng
Story by Warren Foster
Animation by Gerry Chiniquy, Arthur Davis, Virgil Ross, Ted Bonnicksen
Music by Carl Stalling

Bugs Bunny talks his way into being adopted by a kindly elderly man who feeds him carrots daily in a park. The man is Dr. Jekyll, who has created a potion that turns him into a hulking, green-skinned, red-eyed brute – the alter ego is never called Mr. Hyde in the film, but we all know who it is supposed to be. Bugs is pursued by this violent monster, who keeps turning back into Dr. Jekyll every few seconds before becoming Hyde again. Of course, Bugs never figures out the two very different figures are the same person.
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Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Rabbit Rampage (1955)

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Rabbit Rampage (1955)
Directed by Chuck Jones
Story by Michael Maltese
Animation by Ben Washam
Music by Milt Franklyn

In my opinion, “Rabbit Rampage” is the worst of the Bugs Bunny cartoons – which is curious since it is a sequel to “Duck Amuck,” which is my choice as being the best of all the Warner Bros. cartoons.
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Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Hare Brush (1955)

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Hare Brush (1955)
Directed by Friz Freleng
Story by Warren Foster
Animation by Ted Bonnicksen, Art Davis, Gerry Chiniquy
Music by Milt Franklyn

Not unlike last week’s entry “Sahara Hare,” “Hare Brush” gets off to a great start with original humor but strangely falls flat midway through with dull and tired gags.
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The Bootleg Files: Rabbit Stew and Rabbits Too!

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BOOTLEG FILES 909: “Rabbit Stew and Rabbits Too!” (1969 animated short).

LAST SEEN: On DailyMotion.com and several other sites.

AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: None.

REASON FOR BOOTLEG STATUS: A one-shot outing that came at the end of Warner Bros.’ animated theatrical run.

CHANCES OF SEEING A COMMERCIAL DVD RELEASE: Maybe in a Warner Bros. anthology collection.

The last iteration of this column featured “Rabbit Habit,” an underground parody film that imagined a drug-hazed post-script for the Warner Bros. animated characters. In retrospect, “Rabbit Habit” would have been a better sign-off than “Rabbit Stew and Rabbits Too!”, a 1969 short that was completed just before the celebrated animation studio finally ended its theatrical output.
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