"We Got Nothing" CBTV - Comic Book Television Video - Rankin/Bass Lost Pilot

Spoiler Alert. "We got nothing", was the first comment from producer Arthur Rankin after the pilot was reviewed.  

Hi, I'm Dennis J. Woodyard. I was the staff artist for Rankin/Bass for the last 30 episodes of the Thundercats for which I designed the secondary characters, props, and some backgrounds, (plus, I wrote two episodes, "Shadowmaster" and "Well of Doubt"). I also handled post production duties on the Comic Strip shows. In 1988, after the completion of Comic Strip, Rankin/Bass looked to develop a new show to present to new owner, Warner Bros. CBTV was that show that need to be produced at lower budget due to the cratering of the afternoon animation syndication market. CBTV was the show to fit the bill. To his credit Arthur Rankin, still pitched the show to Warner Bros. His "we got nothing" remains my most memorable quote of my animation career from any executive. My comic book loving friends will enjoy the seeing the indie comic books selected to be featured in the show. 

Santa. Baby - Rankin/Bass' forgotten Christmas Special

Today in the anniversary of the airing of the Rankin/Bass Christmas special Santa Baby, which aired on Monday, December 17, at 8pm on Fox.  Santa Baby was of course build around the famous, "Santa, Baby" song.  Unfortunately, the animated special ever seem to catch on like the other R/B Christmas special although it had an impressive cast of talent actors, Gregory Hines, Patti LaBelle, Vanessa Williams and Eartha Kitt.  I can't say if the mostly black cast, and urban setting effected the it's appeal.  Here's the Los Angeles Times review.

At least the Santa Baby did show up on DVD.  And CD.

A side note, Santa baby was my last project with Rankin/Bass, but the credit was more advisory, then creative.  One highlight was I got you meet the lovely Vanessa Williams when she came in to record some of her songs.  She wouldn't know me from Adam, but I'll ever forget her, she was fantastic.

So, for old time's sake, I'm throwing Santa, Baby in the DVD player tonight.

Thundercats Tuesday - Rankin/Bass Comic Strip - Mini-Monsters

Continuing with the promotional package for The Comic Strip syndicated series that features TigerSharks ( the Thundercat clones in water) and bunch of comedies, Street Frogs (don't ask), Karate Kat (my favorite) and Mini-Monster (do I have to tell you the premise). Here's the cover and some TigerSharks art to start. I didn't design any of these characters.  Designs were done by Bob Camp and Pepe Moreno. My main role was to call animation re-takes (animation mistakes in the rough cuts) in the post-production process.

This week, Mini-Monsters.  I think we've seen this concept repeated many times, kids of famous movie monsters in a new settings, and interacting  with human kids.  That said, Mini-Monsters had its charm.

Next week, Karate Kat.

Thundercats Tuesday - Rankin/Bass Comic Strip - Street Frogs

Continuing with the promotional package for The Comic Strip syndicated series that features TigerSharks ( the Thundercat clones in water) and bunch of comedies, Street Frogs (don't ask), Karate Kat (my favorite) and Mini-Monster (do I have to tell you the premise). Here's the cover and some TigerSharks art to start. I didn't design any of these characters.  Designs were done by Bob Camp and Pepe Moreno. My main role was to call animation re-takes (animation mistakes in the rough cuts) in the post-production process.

Street Frog was Rankin/Bass attempt at urban themed (black) show.  Hip-Hop music was just starting off and I think R/B was going for a Beatles or Monkees type animation show.  But, problems with the the original Hip Hop musicians caused the show to fall short of the mark, and it never quite found a audience.

 Next week, Karate Kat.

Thundercat's Tuesday (a day late) Rankin/Bass Comic Strip

Here's a the start of Rankin/Bass items I'll be posting for Thundercats Tuesday. I have the promotional package for The Comic Strip syndicated series that features TigerSharks ( the Thundercat clones in water) and bunch of comedies, Street Frogs (don't ask), Karate Kat (my favorite) and Mini-Monster (do I have to tell you the premise). Here's the cover and some TigerSharks art to start. I didn't design any of these characters.  Designs were done by Bob Camp and Pepe Moreno.  Enjoy.

Next week, Street Frogs.