Chuck Runs Amuck in Bradford
Suffering Succotash! If only there was an event where we could all join together a give thanks for one of the greatest animators, cartoon artists, screenwriters, producers, and directors who ever lived, Mr Chuck Jones (1912-2002). Hey, wait a cotton-pickin minute! Look no further, as from the 19th April the National Media Museum in Bradford will play host to the 18th Bradford International Film Festival and this year they are celebrating 100 years since the birth of this truly legendary artist.
Charles Martin “Chuck” Jones is most famous for his Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts for Warner Bros bringing to the animation world some of it’s best loved characters. He co-created Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd and Porky Pig, and is solely responsible for such animation greats as Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, Marvin Martian and Pepe Le Pew. With such an impressive back catalogue the festival’s centenary celebrations offer a great opportunity to look back over an outstanding career.
Jen Skinner, Film Education Officer at the National Media Museum, said: “Chuck Jones has entertained countless children around the world with some of the most entertainingly anarchic cartoon characters ever produced. We are paying tribute to him at this year’s Bradford International Film Festival and who knows, we could be inspiring the next animation legend with some of our free family workshops.”
And what an inspirational career it has been. In 1936 Jones was hired by Friz Freleng as an animator for the Leon Schlesinger Studio (later sold to Warner Bros). Many of his cartoons in the 1930s and early 1940s were extravagantly animated, but audiences found them lacking in humour. The pace was often slow and overbearing with “cuteness”, following in the traditions of Walt Disney’s shorts. Jones finally left these conventions behind with his cartoon The Dover Boys in 1942. He later credited this as the film where he “learned how to be funny.” From there his comedic wordplay and character development improved with every new film.
After his extraordinary career at Warner Bros ended in 1962, Jones began producing memorable cartoons for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, including a new series of Hanna-Barbera’s Tom and Jerry and the television adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Sadly, Chuck Jones passed away in 2002 after more than 60 years in the business. During his career he created over 300 animated films, won three Academy Awards and received countless awards and distinctions. His outlook on life is best summed up when he said: “The rules are simple. Take your work, but never yourself, seriously. Pour in the love and whatever skill you have, and it will come out.”
Jones was a sparkling light during the ‘golden era’ of animation, and BIFF will be screening around 20 of his shorts throughout the festival. These films include Road Runner’s first outing in Fast and Furry-ous (1949), as well as What’s Opera, Doc? (1957), Duck Amuck (1953), Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (1953) and One Froggy Evening (1955), which together take up four of the top five places in Jerry Beck’s The 50 Greatest Cartoons, as voted for by 1000 animation professionals in 1994.
If that’s not enough to get your creative juices flowing the festival will also be hosting family weekend events (21st/22nd April and 28th/29th April) featuring activities for all ages inspired by the animator’s delightfully unique sense of entertainment. Free drop-in family workshops at the National Media Museum include Looney Tunes Sound Effects and Cartoon Creations, allowing visitors bring their own animations to life.
The Bradford International Film Festival kicks off on the 19th April and runs for 11 fun pack days of animated fun so head along and check it out. That’s all folks!