Poll: What's your favorite silent cartoon series?

[Geezil]

And tell us why, as enthusiastically as you choose. :D (Mine is Out of the Inkwell, with Felix the Cat a very close second, both because Koko & Fitz as well as Felix were so comically flexible at getting into and out of impossible situations, or deliberately making them worse if that suited their mischievous moods!)

(Edit: BTW, this one is also multiple choice.)

[Tom Stathes]

There, I most naturally had to give each series one point. :D:cool: (shameless)

[Geezil]

There, I most naturally had to give each series one point. :D:cool: (shameless)

Well, OK, but then you forgot to specify an "Other." ;)

[Tom Stathes]

Really trying to jog my memory, eh?
Fine, fine... Goodrich Dirt, Col. Heeza Liar, Us Fellers, Aesop's Fables, Charlie Chaplin, Happy Hooligan, Dinky Doodle, Pete the Pup, Grouch Chasers, Laugh o Grams...did I miss anyone? :eek:

[David Gerstein]

Sammie Johnsin, Miss Nannie Goat, Bud and Susie, Eggbert and Nero, the Newlyweds, Kapten Grogg, Pongo the Pup, Jerry the Troublesome Tyke...
And how did everyone overlook Bonzo—even his own video distributor?
As for my own favorites, can there be any question?
:felix::rabbit:

[Tom Stathes]

Correction, Dave, Miss NannY Goat ;)
Basically, we'd just have to list everything in Denis Gifford's book...and then some...

[Geezil]

How about Old Doc Yak? :p

[Tom Stathes]

Sure. Now SHOW me an Old Doc Yak :rolleyes:
("Doc...where have you been my whole life?")

[Larry T]

It was a tough decision between my two top favourites, but I had to go with the very innovative and entertaining "Inkwell" series... sorry Felix, you're a veeeeerrry close second. ;)

[Cartman]

My two favorite silent series are :rabbit: & :felix:

BTW, was there actually a silent series of the Katzenjammer Kids? I thought they didn't appear in animated form until 1934 at MGM as "The Captain and the Kids."

[Geezil]

[...]BTW, was there actually a silent series of the Katzenjammer Kids? I thought they didn't appear in animated form until 1934 at MGM as "The Captain and the Kids."

There sure was, and [EDIT] at least one such short, "Policy and Pie" (1918), has turned up on a dollar PD collection titled Comic-Strip Favorites (PC Treasures #03883). :D I found it in November 2006 at our local Target store, but there still might be a bunch of copies out there somewhere.

[Ray Pointer]

OUT OF THE INKWELL for me. But that should be no surprise!:D

[mikematei]

i voted bobby bumps.

[Tom Stathes]

For a period, the later Bray Studios incarnation of Katzenjammer Kids was known as Shenanigan Kids. So there were pretty much two silent-era series featuring them. :)

[gdX]

Inkwell for me.

But it should be noted I've never seen Bobby Bumps, Jerry on the Job, or silent Katzenjammer Kids.

:felix:

[Thad]

I like the Otto Messmer Felix shorts I've seen. They are very clever and innovative.

TK

[AcmeCoyote]

Gotta go with Felix. He's just such an icon in the world of silent cartoons.

[Eugene the Jeep]

I like the Otto Messmer Felix shorts I've seen. They are very clever and innovative.

TKsame here. i love comicalamities.

[Tom Stathes]

For those who have not seen Bobby Bumps, check out this most-common-example:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pqqSYkyBj1U

[Tom Stathes]

Katzenjammer Kids in Policy and Pie, Parts 1 and 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2mhsz3Hgsw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rKg0tFlJ6k

[Ray Pointer]

It isn't surprising that FELIX THE CAT and OUT OF THE INKWELL drew the most votes. These were two of the biggest cartoon series of the silent era. MUTT AND JEFF were also hugely popular from 1916 to 1927.

[Nelson]

Here is my top three silent cartoon series....HANDS DOWN!:)

1.Oswald The Lucky Rabbit
2.Krazy Kat *should anyone be surprised?*lol
3.Felix The Cat

[gdX]

For those who have not seen Bobby Bumps, check out this most-common-example:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pqqSYkyBj1U
Katzenjammer Kids in Policy and Pie, Parts 1 and 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2mhsz3Hgsw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rKg0tFlJ6k
Thanks for those, Tom!

Can't say that BB does much for me, but I've always enjoyed Hans und Fritz in any medium.

I guess Winsor McCay cartoons aren't included here 'cuz there's no series per se, but these must be thought of as among the most exquisite silents.

:rabbit:

[Eugene the Jeep]

I hate how the scores they tack onto silent cartoons often have nothing to do with the action. It really detracts from the enjoyability for me.

[Tom Stathes]

gdX:
It's not the most stellar Bobby...and being a contrasty print and low-res file, hard to enjoy for sure.
I guess you could say Gertie was a series; that of which there were [at least?] two cartoons. His Dreams of a Rarebit Fiend cartoons were also what I would call a series. ;)

On a much lighter note, Eugene, know how expensive it would be to get custom soundtracks made for just the surviving silents? :D:shame:

[Marty26]

Mutt and Jeff.

[Ray Pointer]

I hate how the scores they tack onto silent cartoons often have nothing to do with the action. It really detracts from the enjoyability for me.

Then you need to see my DVDs. I dislike the lame, tinky, boring piano music that is added on mainstream releases of silent cartoons as well. The problem is based on a lack of realization of how to score for cartoons, and a timidiity
of the musician to think beyond standard silent movie accompanyment.
On one hand, I don't think that much money is spent on the music, and certainly not much time. But money is really not the issue. It's a realization
of how to use the elements and most of all an application of talent for doing this type of work. In other cases, it is a matter of musical knowledge and taste.

In the case of independents who have released various collections of silent animation , there is an indiscriminant use of music that just fills "air," but may not always be right for the film. Again, there is little consideration for matching to action or mood. Not only does this require a musical sense, but an editorial sense as well. These small companies do not seem to have access to video editing systems, or do not spend the money for professional editing because the return in sales is so low. One of the reasons for low returns can often be the quality of the product, however. But most of all, such product is the result of unimaginative and uncreative "producers."
It's not how much money is spent, but how one applies available elements
and techniques.

I create soundtracks for silent cartoons that use carefully selected music matching the rhythm of the action, mood, and pace. I also mix in authentic period accustical sound effects. I have often been asked where I found the "sound reissues" of the cartoons in my programs. When I tell them I created those tracks, they say that they sound very authentic. That observation is very gratifying because that is exactly what I set out to do. In the process, the viewing experince and entertainment is enhanced, making the catoons even better, since sound can be used as a joke as well. So far as I know, I may be the only one doing this, and that is one of the reasons why so many people look forward to my releases.

Last year, I released a revised edition of BEFORE WALT in commemoration of the centennial of American Animation. In that program, perhaps my favorite was the music used in FELIX SOLVES THE PUZZLE. I got a lot of mileage out of two pieces that fit perfectly. In THE LEGENDARY LAUGH-O-GRAMS FAIRY TALES, released in November, CINDERELLA was my favorite in terms of the use of music. And in my upcoming release of the revised ALICE IN CARTOONLAND, the new score for ALICE THE WHALER is most satisfying, again making use of two themes, one looped to make use of variations of certain musical phrases to avoid a mechanically sounding repeat. So you see
there is an art to the use of sound that is beyond literally plugging something
just for its own sake.
http://www.inkwellimagesink.com (http://www.inkwellimagesink.com/)

[Tom Stathes]

And your added soundtracks are truly works of art, Ray...all fit perfectly.

I think it boils down to who is watching the cartoon...a casual DVD viewer is usually going to want the full orchestrated experience of a silent film with "accompaniment", as in an appropriate soundtrack for the film.

However, most (not all) film print collectors have to deal with completely silent prints if not one with period music, the latter of which is more than tolerable for some...including myself.
In any case, it is still an added pleasure to see a silent film with appropriate accompaniment.