Harvey Eisenberg (1912 - 1965, USA)

Above you have Eisenberg earliest style- drawing in Hanna Barbera's Tom and Jerry style.

"Harvey Eisenberg was a versatile funny animal artist of Western Publishing. For years, he was the main artist of the several 'Tom & Jerry' books. He was the first to adapt 'Huckleberry Hound' and 'Yogi Bear' to comic books in Dell's Four Color comic book. He is often called the "Carl Barks" of the Hanna-Barbera studios. Before his comic book career, Eisenberg worked as an animator at Fleisher, Van Bueren and MGM. He worked for Dell/Western from 1945 until his death."



"He illustrated numerous of the MGM titles, such as 'Tom & Jerry', 'Big Spyke & Little Tyke', 'Droopy' and 'Barney Bear'. For Disney, he did numerous stories featuring 'Chip 'n' Dale', 'Li'l Bad Wolf' and 'Mickey Mouse' from 1948 to 1961. He also worked with ventriloquist Edgar Bergen's character 'Charlie McCarthy' from 1947 to 1954. Other comics include funny animal comics for Marvel."

http://www.lambiek.net/artists/e/eisenberg_harvey.htm
Harvey is said to be a "a conservative cartoonist", unlike Rod Scribner who tends to make he's cartoons to have tons of emotions. I personally love Scribners cartoon approach. I shall talk about him on my next post.

China's Booming Industry

China Eyeing Boom in Cartoon Animation Industry

Chinese animators are seeing a boom in the cartoon industry. Backed by favourable government policies and the world's biggest cartoon audience, young Chinese are scrambling for places in animation school as they eye their place on the global stage. Animation artists in Beijing are busy bringing to life one of China's favourite cartoon series - Sanmao. It traces the exploits of a young boy growing up in Shanghai in the 1930s. There is a huge demand for made-in-China cartoons. Since September, only Chinese cartoons are to be shown every evening from 5pm to 8pm.
This means local animation houses will have to produce an estimated 30,000 hours of cartoons each year. Currently, China does not even produce 1 percent of this. Chen Zhihai, Animation Artist at Beijing Glorious Animation, said: "I think China's animation can be the best. We have 5,000 years of history and what we can represent is rich."

Source:

http://www.dexigner.com/digital/news-g9423.html

Keeping Up With the Western Countries

Iran's booming animation industry

By Frances Harrison BBC News, Tehran

In an attempt to challenge the West's cultural domination, Iranian television has been making Islamic cartoons, some of which it has started exporting to the wider Muslim world.

Stories of martyrdom and revolution are retold through animation

Shia clerics in their robes and turbans are depicted in a series for children about the lives of the martyrs of the Islamic revolution.

The cartoon Martyr Bahonar, for example, tells the story of a future prime minister growing up as a little boy, studying the Koran and becoming a cleric before he is killed in a bomb blast after the Revolution.

There is also a film called Ashurian, which tells the story of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, who is revered by Shia Muslims.

Another cartoon, Children of al-Rashid, projects Iran's view of the Palestinian struggle. It shows a fat Israeli military commander with an obsequious Arab informer talking about calling children in for questioning.

These overtly political cartoons are made by Saba Productions, an offshoot of Iranian state-run televisio.

"Animation has this potential for the exchange of culture and civilisation," says Behrouz Yaghmaian. "Each country should differentiate itself from others."

I do agree with the "Behrouz". This continues to inspire me to go ahead with my "plan" of start my own cartoons, that reflect African folklore and day to day issues. He also goes a head and says

"Animation has another purpose other than just entertainment,". He believes film animation is a good vehicle for social and cultural messages.

I AGREE WITH HIM, yet again!

For example:
Iran has used animation for environmental messages, to promote better driving on the roads and now there are even cartoons being made for the forthcoming presidential elections, to encourage a high voter turnout.

The subject matter may be different from Western cartoons but many of the techniques are of course the same.

I also admire and love Western techniques, however for Countries that are not very keen on animations, i think starting up with "cultural" concepts, will appeal to a wider audeince. However once people accept and are aware of this thing called "Animations" then, possibilities of diversification can begin.

I HEART Motion Graphics

I love motion graphics, i think il try and do something creative with it for my work, probably my animations one.

Cool Duck

Almost done with my character, just need to give it some eyes and colour! what do u think?