Anyone Know More Aboot This Guy?

[A. Flea]

I read about Charles Thorson in this book, Cartoon Charlie: The Life and Art of Animation Pioneer Charles Thorson. i know that he designed bugs bunny and made kids books. But can anyone tell me anything else about his cartoon career. The book described a lot about everything else but was kind of bland in this area.

[zavkram]

There was a rather heated discussion about Mr. Thorson which took place last year over at The Animation Show Forums; under the category of "Cartoon History". The specific topic of the thread, I believe, dealt with whether or not Thorson was the actual creator of Bugs Bunny; based on a recently discovered drawing of Bugs attributed to Ben "Bugs" Hardaway. The drawing depicts Bugs in a relaxed pose and wearing a "doughboy" uniform. On the drawing is also a written salutation that simply reads, "Hi'ya Chuck".

In any case, the thread was deemed "idiotic" because of all the flaming that it had started and it was ultimately closed by the Forum Administrators.

[Ray Pointer]

I read about Charles Thorson in this book, Cartoon Charlie: The Life and Art of Animation Pioneer Charles Thorson. i know that he designed bugs bunny and made kids books. But can anyone tell me anything else about his cartoon career. The book described a lot about everything else but was kind of bland in this area.

There has been that book that has been "oot" and "aboot" for some time.
As for the thread on this over at The Animation Show, there was a "gentleman" in Seattle who called me to claim that a relative of his had designed the first BUGS BUNNY. I asked him to send me a scan of it so I could see. When I opened the Email and saw the scan, I told him that this was a generic drawing of a type of rabbit, but not a design that could be considered BUGS BUNNY. He was not content with the considerate response I gave him and posted a thread at both The Animation Show and here at GAC proposing his agenda that his relative designed the first BUGS BUNNY.

Several members who are more of an expert than me on Warner Brother cartoon history proceeded to tell him the same thing, stating the same thing that I told him in my Email. I also repeated what I stated in my Email to him. The entire matter went on far longer than necessary since it was apparent that this person was grossly uninformed on animation history could not be reasoned with no matter how patiently the matter was explained in the greatest of detail. The threads were eventually closed down, and the poster went away after additional attempts to return to the same subject a few more times. He has since been banned from both forums as I understand it. That is the summary of the event.

But there is a great deal of fascinating information about Charles Thorson not only in the book but also on the Internet, which mentions his working as a character designer for Disney, Lantz, and others.

[A. Flea]

There has been that book that has been "oot" and "aboot" for some time.
As for the thread on this over at The Animation Show, there was a "gentleman" in Seattle who called me to claim that an relative of his had designed the first BUGS BUNNY. I asked him to send me a scan of it so I could see. When I opened the Email and saw the scan, I told him that this was a generic drawing of a type of rabbit, but not a design that could be considered BUGS BUNNY. He was not content with the considerate response I gave him and posted a thread at both The Animation Show and here at GAC proposing his agenda that his relative designed the first BUGS BUNNY.

Several members who are more of an expert than me on Warner Brother cartoon history proceeded to tell him the same thing, stating the same thing that I told him in my Email. I also repeated what I stated in my Email to him. The entire matter went on far longer than necessary since it was apparent that this person was grossly uninformed on animation history could not be reasoned with no matter how patiently the matter was explained in the greatest of detail. The threads were eventually closed down, and the poster went away after additional attempts to return to the same subject a few more times. He has since been banned from both forums as I understand it. That is the summary of the event.

But there is a great deal of fascinating information about Charles Thorson not only in the book but also on the Internet, which mentions his working as a character designer for Disney, Lantz, and others.

The Interweb! Of course!

By the by Ray, I was wondering how you can tell who animates what scene. After I learned his style, I know waht Rob Schribner animates now. Do you just look at how they draw and bases it on that, or do you have a different way of doing it?

[Fibber Fox]

I read about Charles Thorson in this book, Cartoon Charlie: The Life and Art of Animation Pioneer Charles Thorson. i know that he designed bugs bunny and made kids books. But can anyone tell me anything else about his cartoon career. The book described a lot about everything else but was kind of bland in this area.

I don't know what else there is to say. He was at Disney, then briefly at MGM, then Warners and went on to Fleischer in Florida.

F. Fox

[Ray Pointer]

I don't know what else there is to say. He was at Disney, then briefly at MGM, then Warners and went on to Fleischer in Florida. F. Fox

Yes, he was really "oot and aboot," wasn't he?

[Ray Pointer]

The Interweb! Of course!

By the by Ray, I was wondering how you can tell who animates what scene. After I learned his style, I know waht Rob Schribner animates now. Do you just look at how they draw and bases it on that, or do you have a different way of doing it?

There are those here who have studied and studied the cartoons to the extent that they can recognize the work of various animators. But keep in mind it is a collaborative effort and that the final work on the screen has been reworked by assistants and inkers. It is the underlying work that is that of the animators, and the success of their work can be enhanced by good assistants and inkers, or can be ruined by bad assistant work, bad inbetweeners, and bad inking and painting.

[Fibber Fox]

Yes, he was really "oot and aboot," wasn't he?

Hmm. You must be speaking in some odd American dialect, Ray. :)

F. Fox

[Ray Pointer]

Hmm. You must be speaking in some odd American dialect, Ray. :)
F. Fox

No, merely following the title of the thread, which I thought was a dialect of Canadian "Canook.":p

[Keith Paynter]

That's right, buddy! Just watch yourself, or we'll go on strike!

[A. Flea]

Thanks, guys. And yes I am from Canada. Eh.

[Matt the Y]

But, just for the record, MOST people from Canada don't frigging talk like that in real life!!!!! ;)

[A. Flea]

I agree to the above statements conveyed by Matt the Y.

[Matt the Y]

I agree to the above statements conveyed by Matt the Y.

Incidentally, A., where in Canada are you from (you could be a Nova Scotian, for all I know;) )?

[cpdavison]

Incidentally, A., where in Canada are you from (you could be a Nova Scotian, for all I know;) )?

...or a (gasp) Newfie!!! :eek:

Craig D.
(My parents were Canadian, BTW)

[A. Flea]

The city of Ontario, in the district of Etobicoke! (the k is silent)

[Ray Pointer]

Can we get back on topic, please?:p

[A. Flea]

Sorry, Ray. Did he design a prototype for Popeye too, because there was a picture of a model sheet with his name on it. (sorry if this stirs up controversy). Apparently he also had a hand at Poopdeck Pappy. Is any of this true, or did someone else do it?