Posted inSaturday Morning Cartoons

The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)

This 1953 animation of Edgar Allan Poe's classic story, "The Tell-Tale Heart", in my opinion remains the best adaptation of the story. Narrated by actor James Mason, produced by UPA...and purportedly the first cartoon to be X-rated in Great Britain. Of course, you should also read the original story, too. *** See the full playlist of my Saturday Morning Cartoons on youtube.
February 9, 2013Posted inSaturday Morning Cartoons
Posted inArnzen News

The Fridge of the Damned: A Raging Success!

A gigantic "THANK YOU!" to everyone who so generously backed our kickstarter project for The Fridge of the Damned magnetic word tile kit! This unique novelty item was not only successfully funded on Feb 1st, 2013, but we reached 200% of our goal from the contributions of so many kind backers, which allows us to deliver the set to everyone in custom tins. THANK YOU! And I also have to thank the folks who joined forces with me -- my publishers, John and Jennifer at Raw Dog Screaming Press, who not only have chipped in many of the rewards but…
February 3, 2013Posted inArnzen News1 Comment
Posted inSaturday Morning Cartoons

Infant Intolerable

Here's a Saturday morning cartoon that's both endearing and surprisingly brutal: Infant Intolerable by animator Peter J. Casey. I do not endorse child abuse, and neither should you, but...these are blobby organ monsters, right? On the demo real of his work (posted on his blog), Casey shares that this animation was an experiment to see how much emotion he could get out of very simple characters...and the simple story was inspired by a plane ride. Any parent or air traveller can probably empathize...
February 2, 2013Posted inSaturday Morning Cartoons
Posted inArnzen News

I Survived the Arnzstigation

  For the second half of January, Jennifer Barnes, my editor at Raw Dog Screaming Press, challenged readers and writers and students to post weird writing exercises, short responses to my Instigation prompts, and reflections, comments and pictures as part of a week long series she called "Arnzstigation Days." Those who answered the challenge were listed on a web hub page and got to bear the bloody badge (pasted up above) with pride.  Neat and weird and humbling! It's kind of weird being the subject of a creativity challenge -- like a "roast" -- only in this case, I was…
January 31, 2013Posted inArnzen News

"Just imagine a number of men in chains, and all condemned to die, some of whom each day have their throats cut before the eyes of others. Those who remain see their own condition in that of their fellows and, observing one another with grief and without hope, await their turn. That is the image of the human condition." -- Blaise Pascal (died 1662)

Probably Why We Watch TV