Like most of you I am a HUGE fan of Chuck Jones. Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him on a number of occasions. On New Year’s day of 1990 Chuck invited a small group of Disney animators to pay him a visit at his home in Corona del Mar, California.
It turned out to be a wonderful afternoon with an animation genius. Chuck had been impressed by the film “The Little Mermaid” which had just been released. As he complimented us on our work, we couldn’t even begin to find words that described how much his work on the Looney Tunes meant to us.
We were in such awe, I don’t think anybody thought of taking a photo with him. Bummer…
It is such a joy to study Chuck’s drawings. I can see a little influence by Fred Moore and Searle, but mostly Chuck Jones drew from his own life experiences. He comes up with the most amazing character designs, and the way he developed Bugs, Daffy, Porky Pig and all the others -graphically and personality wise- is simply incredible.
It is difficult to pick any favorites among his many outstanding films, but these three would be amongst them:
“Bewitched Bunny”, because the way Hansel and Gretel are portrayed with limited German vocabulary makes me laugh hysterically. (“Ja, ja, is gut…und yummy!”)
“A Bear for Punishment”, because Ken Harris’ animation of that bear family is hilarious and unmatched.
“What’s Opera, Doc?”, because…well, because!
Here are some of my favorite drawings, published in his 1989 book “Chuck Amuck”.
© Chuck Jones Enterprises, Warner Brothers
Thanks you for sharing those, nice drawings to study and learning by drawing.
ReplyDeleteChuck Jones's works are incredible!!! Very expressive!!! Thank you for share Andreas!!!
ReplyDeleteDie Zeichnungen sind der Hammer! Würde mich über weitere Chuck Jones posts freuen!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you, THANK YOU Andreas for posting this amazing article regarding a truly gifted artist & director!
ReplyDeleteI had the good fortune of visiting the Chuck Jones gallery in San Diego, CA last year, and I can't get enough of Mr. Jones' brilliance. :)
Andreas, any chance you'll post a future article about Jones' virtuoso head animator, Ken Harris? :)
Nice you got him to sign it! I still have my worn-out copy of the hardcover edition I begged my mom to buy me when it came out. I don't think Chuck ever visited my town though. :-(
ReplyDeleteI love Looney Tunes. I always love the animation feud of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. That I think was his best animated shorts. It's too bad that Mel Blanc didn't get to talk in Pinocchio but only just hiccup for Gideon.
ReplyDeleteI know someone who is really going to like this blog entry! Daniel Killen who has his work in the Chuck Jones Gallery! I can't wait to tell him about it. Thanks again Andreas!
ReplyDeleteHee, hee...that "draw poker" cartoon is one of the best, along with The Singing Frog. But I'll choose Rabbit of Seville over What's Opera, Doc? any time.
ReplyDeletefor more Chuck Jones:
ReplyDeletewww.youtube.com/watch?v=vrD0aog7Kts
enjoy
Looking forward to the Jones celebration at Museum of The Moving Image here in New York. How great is that inscription on your copy of the book? And how true! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Mike, I am pinching myself each time I look at it.
DeleteThanks for this!
ReplyDeleteI missed an opportunity to meet Chuck here in Edmonton, Alberta once in the late 80s when he was brought in to talk at the University here (I didn;t hear about it until after it already happened.. Le Sigh!). I own a cel from Duck Amuck and would have loved to have him sign it.