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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0014381586527
Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC
Label: Image Entertainment
Languages: EnglishOriginal Language
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Image Entertainment
Region Code: 1
Release Date: November 21, 2000
Running Time: 90 minutes
Studio: Image Entertainment
Theatrical Release Date: June 12, 1987
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com:
Before Wallace and Gromit, before Gumby and Pokey, Hungarian-born animator and director George Pal (1908-1980) created the stop-motion shorts he dubbed "Puppetoons." Arnold Leibovit has assembled an affectionate tribute to Pal that includes animation from 11 "Puppetoons." Twelve other films are included on the DVD version, although there's some overlap. Pal used his charming little figures in miniature Busby Berkeley numbers and simple boy-meets-girl stories. But he could tackle more serious subjects, as he proved in "Tulips Shall Grow" (1943). He caricatured the Nazi wehrmacht as the goose-stepping, robotic Screwball Army, attacking Holland (where the artist had made his first films before coming to America). His most endearing short is probably "Tubby the Tuba" (1947), the story of an eager little horn who wants his song to be heard. In 1947, Ebony praised Pal's "John Henry and the Inky Poo" (1946) as "that rarest of Hollywood products that has no Negro stereotypes, but rather treats the Negro with dignity, imagination, poetry, and love." But the magazine criticized his series about Jasper, a little African American boy. These films have aged less gracefully, and modern viewers may find jokes about watermelon, haunted houses, and other standards of ethnic humor objectionable. Not rated: suitable for ages 8 and up. Parents may want to monitor the use of ethnic stereotypes. --Charles Solomon
Description:
Enter a world of animated movie magic from eight time Academy Award winner George Pal. Hosted by Gumby, Pokey, and new pal "Arnie the Dinosaur," "The Puppetoon Movie" features classic characters like "Tubby the Tuba," "Jasper in a Jam," and "Speedy Alka-Seltzer." With hip jazz tunes from Charlie Barnet and Louis Armstrong, and as many as 5,000 individually carved puppets per short, "The Puppetoon Movie" will astound and delight children and film buffs of all ages!
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
Indeed,what IS that fumigating the atmosphere,as the scarecrow wondered aloud in "Jaspar and the Haunted House"? Well it is pioneer animator/puppeteer George Pal.Arnold Leibovit has packaged and presents a myriad of cartoon shorts from George Pals'prolific era of output for our enjoyment.
George Pal,born Gyorgy Pal Marczincsák in Hungary,was 20 years old when he graduated from the Budapest Acadamy of Arts with a degree in Architecture.He was a very fine drawer and moved into the area of films where he drew lobby posters and embellished film titles.Gradually he learned the art of film animation.In the early 30s he worked for the famed German company UFA where he became head of their cartoon department and where he would finally delve into the world of stop motion animation.His work and repuation got him a job in Holland where he honed his skills doing film commercials for Phillips radio.He would utilize in his shorts top name talents such as British bands led by Henry Hall,Ambrose and Jack Hylton.
With the war looming Pal decided to move with his new born son to the States where his work got him a job with Paramount pictures.He would return back to Holland once more to retrieve his wife and then permanently return to the U.S. where he sealed his legendary reputation in stop motion animation.Instead of using just one puppet many times in different poses,he would create many different expressions that he would interchange for each emotion he wanted to project.
Pal and his fine crew,which would include for a time King Kong creator Willis O'Brien and the man he in turn influenced Ray Harryhausen(he worked on Pal's first 12 shorts),made upwards of 40 films.The only reason Pal stopped was to go into feature films where he created some memorable ones,such as "War of the Worlds" and "The Time Machine".
The first presentation on the DVD is "The Puppetoon Movie" that Leibovit wrote and produced some years ago,which comes in around 80 minutes.You can view the movie in toto or view each puppetoon in the movie seperately.The second segment of this DVD includes more puppetoon shorts,some from the movie which didn't have all the credits included and other different ones.My favourite Pal puppetoons have always been(and always will be)those starring Jaspar.There are only four included here and I hope that more can be released later.As an aside,a recent auction on Oct.9/09 at [...] of over 100 original Jaspar puppets along with the scarecrow,fetched a cool $13,000!Pal paraphenalia is certainly hot stuff!Also I must tell you that there is a clipping of the dialogue in "Jaspar and the Haunted House".Right at the start where the scarecrow says"What's dat fumigatin' de atmosphere?",blackbirds' response is not heard due to a glitch in the source film soundtrack.This is disappointing.In case you're wondering,what he is supposed to say is "Yeah,what's that smellin' up the landscape?".
There is also an interview with one of Pal's animators Bob Baker,the theatrical trailer for the movie and a production photo gallery.
All in all this DVD is a very welcome release and an historical treasure of stop motion animation by one of its' legendary exponents.The shorts range in dates from the the late 30s to the late 40s,and everywhere in between.They have been culled from various film depositories in the U.S. and in Europe.Their conditions vary but all things considered they look and sound pretty good.This release certainly whets ones' appetite for more and it is hoped by this reviewer that that is indeed what transpires in the near future.But for now I advise you to get your copy while the gettings good.
Rating:  -
I saw these cartoons originally on TV in the 1950's. What a surprise to find many of them packaged with the Puppetoon Movie in this DVD. It brought back wonderful memories. Learning that the stop-action process used hundreds of wood-carved and painted figures to produce these cartoons makes them all the more amazing.
I'd love to see the entire Puppetoon collection made available on DVD.
Rating: -
George Pal's Puppettoons are unknown to today's kids, but when I was a boy, they were on TV along with cartoons, and I loved them. They have the charm, wit and the magic which George Pal brought to all his work. Best of all, there are so many bonus puppettoons that it's like getting two whole featrues. The only quibble is that a few of the "Extra" puppettoons are ones in the main feature, only in somewhat longer form. For fans of stop-motion animation, or just fans of charming shorts, this is a great collection.
Rating: -
George Pal's Puppetoons are great. I remember watching them 45 years ago whilst growing up. I was hopeing for a few more toons with The Screw Ball Army in them but one is better than none. Well worth the little money I paid.
Rating: -
Before the movies there were the Puppetoons. Everyone who knows LooneyToons, Max Fleischer, and Disney should know George Pal's work as well. 'Jasper in a Jam', 'Tubby the Tuba' and 'John Henry and the Inkeypoo' are classics; the rest has bright spots here and there and is worthwhile if only for the advertising and political history. (Ignore the contrived intro and outro of the movie and focus on Pal's work.)
A companion piece: 'The Fantasy Film World of George Pal' covers his movies, including 'The Time Machine', 'War of the Worlds', 'Destination Moon', 'Atlantis', 'Tom Thumb', 'The Brothers Grimm' and 'The Seven Faces of Dr. Loa'.
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