How to Watch Goofy Cartoons
David Mink

When I was young, I enjoyed cartoons for their wackiness. Now as an adult and a professional in the field of absurdographics, I study cartoons and wonder, "How did they do that?" I savor the combination of timing and drawing impacting together into one wonderful moment when the 2 dimensional insanity of a cartoon universe becomes real.

This suspension of disbelief happened again as I sat down with the latest Walt Disney Treasures: The Complete Goofy. I had been waiting for this collection for many years. For me it was a sentimental journey. I remember seeing most of them over the years on the Wonderful World of Disney. Now I can see them anytime in a pristine state, as they looked when they were originally shown on movie screens around the world.

The Goofy cartoons, generally, are considered the funniest shorts Disney made (Donald Duck coming in second). They look fantastic on DVD. I was happy to see a short bio was included on Pinto Colvig, the man who gave life to the character. I had written my own piece on him for LP and so I had been waiting to sample these cartoons again, most of which I had not seen in decades.

One of the joys of adulthood is the ability to see the familiar in new ways, from unique angles. Watching the Goofy cartoons again I am amazed at the high level of artisanship in the animation. This is a rich well from which the succeeding generation of artists drew upon.

One of the great pleasures of the DVD format is to slow the animation down and watch it unfold frame by frame. Here I really see the heart of animation, how the animator designed the primary and secondary action for maximum effect, or cheated gravity to sustain a gag. When I attended CalArts, the only way to analyze the motion was with a wheel of film on the flatbed editor. I remember being fascinated with an animation of the Queen of Hearts turning angrily to the camera, shouting and shaking her fist. I sat there slack jawed, feeling like I was taking a peek at the secrets creativity itself, as if Rodin were to show me how he creates figures from glops of gray clay, or Sargeant with daubs of paint.

Now I can study the work of animation masters easily. DVD is the gift from the toon gods. Animation looks wonderful in this format, the saturated colors and the simplicity of muted gouache backgrounds. The silence of the main character through the "How To…" series called for over the top animation to "sell" it. Now I can just slow the action down and analize it all for myself. I paused the action then proceed on 2x. The simplicity of the acting, the silhouette of forms, is beautiful to watch. This is more than a DVD; this is a research book for the aspiring animator. Required "reading" in studying how forms are moved to create the illusion of life.

One thing I do enjoy about the older cartoons is the doorway into another way of life. Some of the subjects lampooned in the cartoons, like gambling and smoking, are looking into some of the social skills (or vices) of my grandparent's time. The "martinis-before-dinner" generation. Again, I am thankful to Leonard Maltin and his staff for presenting these cartoons in their entirety. There is no digital surgery to be found on these two disks.

Personally, I always enjoy the title cards of cartoons. The idea is to encapsulate the entire film into one painting. The ones for the Goofy cartoons are very artfully done, and are works of art in themselves.

So another volume is added to my library, right along with the "Art Of (fill in the movie), "Illusion of Life", "Too Funny For Words" and other volumes of animation knowledge on my book shelf. I am glad to have it, for it increasing not only my never-ending appreciation of the Disney artistry, but it broadens and deepens the understanding of my own professional field. Better living through technology.

Or I could just enjoy them again as a kid, reveling in the silliness.

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-- David Mink

-- Posted February 20, 2003