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Color and spring – they go together! Left, a UB Iwerk's Comicolor entitled Summertime. Right, Molly Moo-Cow and the Butterflies, a Burt Gillett's Rainbow Parade Cartoon from Van Beuren Studios. Both were released in 1935.

Springtime Cartoon Classics Full of Color

PRESENTED BY GARY SCOTT BEATTY, PUBLISHER AND EDITOR, MUSKEGONMAGAZINE.COM, AND AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR

It's spring, a favorite theme for early animators.

Once color came to motion pictures, early animation artists loved playing with the design potential presented by spring: bright flowers, blue skies, butterflies, and cute, young animals.

The ComiColor Cartoon below was produced by Ub Iwerks Studio in 1935. Iwerks was Walt Disney's collaborator in the formative years of Disney's studio (Steamboat Willie, Plane Crazy). The ComiColor cartoons take advantage of Cinecolor, a two color film process. Watching them, it's hard to believe there is a mix of only two colors.

You might think characters in this short were based on designs from Disney's Fantasia, but Summertime was released a full five years before. Creatures from myth and legend have always been popular with cartoonists. Here, a young pan character ushers in spring, despite the objections of Jack Frost.


Below we revisit Molly Moo-Cow from Van Beauren Studios. Two Disney veterans were brought in to the Van Beauren Studio in 1934 to raise the style and quality of the company's cartoons. The result was the handsome Rainbow Parade series.


Happy spring! If you want to see more classic cartoons here, let us know on Facebook!


These Works are in Public Domain and not Derivative as specified by U.S. copyright law (title 17 of the U.S. Code).

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Contents:

EVENTS
Explore a Universe of Stories with Hackley Public Library’s annual summer reading program. Plus: Author Pamela Cameron, Whiskey Charmers, Hogwarts Escape Room and more! Discover it here. VIDEO!

FESTIVAL
The White Lake Area Arts and Crafts Festival is Father's Day weekend, June 15 and 16. Enjoy hand-made arts and crafts, plus music with Mike Snell, Plain Jane Glory, and Vincent Hayes! Find out more here. VIDEO!

HOMES
You like the open window look, but with bright sun your room is still uncomfortable. What do you do? Decorator Carol Beatty of Quigley Draperies offers ideas to control bright sun and go from glare to glow. VIDEO!

SENIORS
It’s normal to want to spend more time outside during summer, but summer sun can cause more harm than good. Kurt Sapp of Seminole Shores Living Center suggests five sun protection safety tips for seniors here!

HOMES
If you are considering buying a home, you may be confused about how much you need to come up with for your down payment to secure a mortgage. Realtor Nancy Bierenga's informative article has the answers.

COMMUNITY
Take it outside this summer! Get some fresh air and help your community! Christine Robere of United Way of the Lakeshore looks at fundraising events that also celebrate the beauty of our lakeshore.

LAKESHORE STAR GAZER
This month, clear skies are frequent and contain many wonderful delights for sky watchers, including four planets in the evening sky. Astronomer Jonathan Truax is your guide! VIDEO!

BUSTER KEATON
Buster’s film Cops is about a man who can not win, even though his intentions are good. The character is comedically pursued by hundreds of policemen! See Cops, complete and online here! VIDEO!

CARTOONS
Once color came to movies, early animation artists loved playing with the design potential presented by spring: bright flowers, blue skies, butterflies, and cute animals. See two of 1933's best here! VIDEO!

EVENTS CALENDAR
Don't miss a thing this month with Muskegon County's best online events calendar, courtesy of Hackley Public Library!

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Muskegon Magazine.com is locally owned and produced. Gary Scott Beatty, editor and publisher. Contents and design © Copyright Gary Scott Beatty, 1509 Princeton Rd., Muskegon, Michigan 49441.

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