Cartoons


Video of the Day: A is for Atom

A 1950s cartoon about atomic energy, fished from the archives of Bovine University.

[via BoingBoing]

Asterix turns 50

French comic star Asterix has been battling the Roman Empire for 50 years now, and despite hitting middle age, the pint-sized Gaulish warrior, his friend Obelix and dog Dogmatix are about to embark on their 43th adventure.

Film review: Astro Boy: new-fangled retro fun

Astro Boy defies the unbelievably low standards set by the cinematic forays of his retro toon colleagues in this new-fangled big screen reboot, says Luke Buckmaster.

Design the next Simpsons character

Oh, how epically wrong this could go: The Simpsons is holding a contest for fans to create a new character for the show. Can anyone say ‘Cousin Oliver’ (or perhaps ‘Poochie’)?

The Simpsons laid bare

John Ortved wrote an unauthorised history of The Simpson, dishing the dirt on all the goings-on behind the scenes of America’s favourite family. The show’s creators weren’t happy. He tells the whole sordid tale.

Marge Simpson: Playboy bunny

The next cover-star of Playboy magazine will be… Marge Simpson? Yup, the cover will feature TV’s favourite cartoon mum in the buff. Kiss your childhood goodbye.

Spiderman, Captain America… Ravana the 10-headed demon king?

Fresh from acquiring Marvel Comics, Disney is now eyeing off the lucrative market for Indian comic books and cartoons. Based on ancient Hindu mythology, the stories are apparently big business with the world’s 900-odd million Hindus.

The A-B-C of parent advertising: Always Bright Colours

Advertising aimed at parents revolves primarily around cutesy cartoon images, like Winnie the Pooh on nappies. Why do marketers assume that having a child makes parents become infantile too?

Simpsons producer: “all other animated shows ever are crap”

I say this with the greatest respect, but all other animated shows ever are crap!” says executive producer of The Simpsons, David Mirkin, who may want to watch from about season 10 onwards before casting too many stones.

“No end in sight” for The Simpsons

Television’s longest-running show is set to run even longer, with creator Matt Groening saying there’s “no end in sight” for the cartoon that has already racked up 20 seasons and 441 episodes.

Exiled Iranian cartoonist Nik Kowsar is nuts

Iranian-born political cartoonist Nik Kowsar has been jailed and sent death threats for his refusal to cease publishing his cartoon criticisms of the Iranian leadership. “As a cartoonist in Iran, you should be nuts,” he tells the Washington Post,/em>. “I was nuts.”

News Corp forms diversity council after chimp cartoon

News Corp will form an external “diversity council” after public outrage over a New York Post cartoon that appeared to liken Barack Obama to a dead chimpanzee.

Futurama brought back from the dead

Cult Matt Groening cartoon Futurama is being brought back to the small screen, with the first new TV episodes since 2003.

UK MP expenses scandal: now in cartoon form

Guardian cartoonist Patrick Blower livedraws the British MP expenses controversy.

Crikey Says: An appalling lapse in taste…

Meanwhile on the opinion pages of The Australian

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles turn 25, plan new movie

Wouldya believe it — those gnarly, product-placed, mutant, crime fighting terrapins are a quarter of a century old. Time for another bad CGI movie!

How to draw a First Dog on the Moon Cartoon

Ken the Hen presents…

Pictures of The Simpsons having it off isn’t a threat to society

Do the images of fictional cartoon characters who only resemble real life humans in a tenuous way represent a threat to society? Asks Greg Barns.

One day in Crikey’s basement…

Crikey’s Editor is berating Crikey’s cartoonist

I knew it would happen…

I ran out of cartoons