Jerry Beck

Jerry Beck

Born: February 9, 1955
in New York City, New York, USA
Jerry Beck is a well-known animation historian, with ten books and numerous articles to his credit. He is also an animation producer, an industry consultant to Warner Bros., and has been an executive with Nickelodeon and Disney.

Movies for Jerry Beck...

Century of Animation Showcase: 1923
Title: Century of Animation Showcase: 1923
Character: Self (Host)
Released: September 29, 2023
Type: Movie
A compilation of animated shorts restored by Thomas Stathes. A snapshot of the state of animated filmmaking 100 years ago. Includes several 1923 films.
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Title: 100 Years of Warner Bros.
Character: Self
Released: May 25, 2023
Type: TV
Tracing a century of movie and TV history, these four documentary specials explore the unparalleled global impact of Warner Bros. on art, commerce, and culture.
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Claydream
Title: Claydream
Character: Self
Released: August 5, 2022
Type: Movie
A modern day Walt Disney, Will Vinton picked up a ball of clay and saw a world of potential. Known as the “Father of Claymation,” Vinton revolutionized the animation business during the 80s and 90s. But after 30 years of being the unheralded king of clay, Will Vinton’s carefully sculpted American dream came crumbling down. Structured around interviews with this charismatic pioneer and his close collaborators, the film charts the rise and fall of the Academy Award and Emmy winning Will Vinton Studios.
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Scooby-Doo, Where Are You Now!
Title: Scooby-Doo, Where Are You Now!
Character: Self - Animation Historian and Author
Released: October 29, 2021
Type: Movie
After 52 years of solving mysteries, the Scooby gang reunite at Warner Bros. Studios to reminisce about their favorite cases and how they were filmed. But it turns out that the back lot may have its OWN monster problem. Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby-Doo investigate this mystery while celebrating the legacy of the franchise.
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Cartoon Carnival
Title: Cartoon Carnival
Released: August 1, 2021
Type: Movie
Cartoon Carnival tells the story of the pioneering early days of the animated art-form and chronicles one film preservationist's quest to rescue pre-sound cartoons from obscurity and screen them to new, appreciative audiences.
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Bugs Bunny's 80th What's Up, Doc-umentary!
Title: Bugs Bunny's 80th What's Up, Doc-umentary!
Character: Self
Released: December 1, 2020
Type: Movie
Narrated by Billy Crystal, the documentary examines the history of the character over the decades, including sketches, clips from the shorts, and interviews with the animation legends who created some of the most memorable Bugs material
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Animation Outlaws
Title: Animation Outlaws
Character: Himself
Released: September 27, 2019
Type: Movie
Walt Disney said “We have created characters and animated them in the dimension of depth, revealing through them to our perturbed world that the things we have in common far outnumber and outweigh those that divide us.” Outside of Walt himself there are few people who have brought together and united more animators in the history of the genre than Craig "Spike" Decker and Mike Gribble, known to all as Spike & Mike. They created an animation festival that helped launch the careers of John Lasseter, Peter Lord, Will Vinton, Bill Plympton and Mike Judge to name just a few. Their Spike & Mike festival had an enormous impact on animation that was felt the world over. The festival was known as much for the breakthrough animation it presented as the outrageous antics of the founders.
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Bird Gone Wild: The Woody Woodpecker Story
Title: Bird Gone Wild: The Woody Woodpecker Story
Character: Himself
Released: November 26, 2018
Type: Movie
The story of Walter Lantz and Woody Woodpecker from the early days at Universal Pictures to the creation of brand new cartoons in 2018. Featuring contributions from Woody experts and of course, Woody himself.
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The Animagic World of Rankin/Bass
Title: The Animagic World of Rankin/Bass
Released: October 16, 2018
Type: Movie
An all-new documentary celebrating the legacy of the holiday specials created by Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass including interviews with filmmakers and historians.
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The Memory of Robot Carnival: A Look Back at the History of the Classic Anthology
Title: The Memory of Robot Carnival: A Look Back at the History of the Classic Anthology
Character: Self (uncredited)
Released: March 27, 2018
Type: Movie
A visual essay on the making, release and restoration of Robot Carnival.
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Of Aardvarks, Ants, Inspectors, and Cranes
Title: Of Aardvarks, Ants, Inspectors, and Cranes
Character: Self
Released: April 26, 2016
Type: Movie
Animation documentary
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Goodbye, Warner Bros., Hello DePatie-Freleng
Title: Goodbye, Warner Bros., Hello DePatie-Freleng
Character: Self
Released: April 26, 2016
Type: Movie
Documentary short
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The One and Only June Foray
Title: The One and Only June Foray
Character: Himself
Released: January 16, 2013
Type: Movie
This film is about the life and times of legendary voice actress June Foray. From her beginnings as a child wanting to be an actress, to becoming one of the greatest voice talents in the golden age of animation.
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Behind the Tunes: Leon Schlesinger - The Merrie Cartoon Mogul
Title: Behind the Tunes: Leon Schlesinger - The Merrie Cartoon Mogul
Character: Himself
Released: October 16, 2012
Type: Movie
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Adventures in Plymptoons!
Title: Adventures in Plymptoons!
Character: Himself
Released: May 30, 2011
Type: Movie
A documentary film about Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton. This is a portrait piece that includes interviews with family, friends, colleagues, critics, and fans.
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Beyond Beauty: The Untold Stories Behind the Making of Beauty and the Beast
Title: Beyond Beauty: The Untold Stories Behind the Making of Beauty and the Beast
Released: October 5, 2010
Type: Movie
An interactive, feature-length behind-the-scenes documentary teeming with worthwhile bonus content all its own.
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Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants
Title: Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants
Released: July 14, 2009
Type: Movie
Commemorates the 10th anniversary of the SpongeBob SquarePants. The documentary chronicles the beloved character's journey to international pop culture icon status and showcases the series' around the world.
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The Making of 'Pinocchio': No Strings Attached
Title: The Making of 'Pinocchio': No Strings Attached
Character: Self
Released: March 10, 2009
Type: Movie
Documentary focusing on the making-of the 1940n adaptation of Pinocchio by the Disney studio, often considered the artistic pinnacle of the Disney feature.
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Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood
Title: Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood
Character: Self
Released: March 3, 2008
Type: Movie
A look at the forces that shaped Pre-Code Hollywood and brought about the strict enforcement of the Hays Code in 1934.
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Tinker Bell: A Fairy's Tale
Title: Tinker Bell: A Fairy's Tale
Character: Himself
Released: December 2, 2007
Type: Movie
"Tinkerbell: A Fairy's Tale" is a look into Tink, who has become a pop culture icon in the years since the film's release. We hear about some of the inspirations for Tink (actress Margaret Kerry was the live-action reference), concept art for Tink and more.
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Behind the Tunes:  Once Upon A Looney Tune
Title: Behind the Tunes: Once Upon A Looney Tune
Character: Himself
Released: October 30, 2007
Type: Movie
A look at the fairy tale-based Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons, starring characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, and more.
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Behind the Tunes: Wacky Warner One-Shots
Title: Behind the Tunes: Wacky Warner One-Shots
Character: Himself
Released: October 30, 2007
Type: Movie
Historians and modern animators discuss classic era Warner cartoons without "stars": characters who returned in subsequent cartoons.
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Unsung Maestros: A Directors Tribute
Title: Unsung Maestros: A Directors Tribute
Character: Himself
Released: October 30, 2007
Type: Movie
The titular directors discussed are: Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising (1930-1933), Jack King (1934-1936), Ub Iwerks (1937), Ben Hardaway (1934-1940), Norm McCabe (1940-1943), and Art Davis (1945-1949)
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Behind the Tunes: Drawn to Life - The Art of Robert McKimson
Title: Behind the Tunes: Drawn to Life - The Art of Robert McKimson
Character: Himself
Released: October 30, 2007
Type: Movie
A look at the career of Warner Bros. animator and director Robert McKimson
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Behind the Tunes: Real American Zero - The Adventures of Private Snafu
Title: Behind the Tunes: Real American Zero - The Adventures of Private Snafu
Character: Himself
Released: October 30, 2007
Type: Movie
Historians and animators discuss the Private Snafu cartoons made for military training during World War II.
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First Flight: The Fleischer Superman Series
Title: First Flight: The Fleischer Superman Series
Character: Self - cartoon historian
Released: November 28, 2006
Type: Movie
Superman leaps off the comic page for the first time in this animated series that ran from 1941-1942.
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The Art and Animation of Carl Barks
Title: The Art and Animation of Carl Barks
Character: Self
Released: December 31, 2005
Type: Movie
A documentary film about the life and work of artist and author Carl Barks, including his lifetime association with Walt Disney and the Donald Duck character family.
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Behind the Tunes: Tish Tash - The Animated World of Frank Tashlin
Title: Behind the Tunes: Tish Tash - The Animated World of Frank Tashlin
Released: October 25, 2005
Type: Movie
A documentary about Frank Tashlin's cartoons.
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Behind the Tunes: Looney Tunes Go to War!
Title: Behind the Tunes: Looney Tunes Go to War!
Character: Self
Released: October 25, 2005
Type: Movie
A Documentary about the Looney Tunes war cartoons
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It Hopped One Night: A Look at ‘One Froggy Evening’
Title: It Hopped One Night: A Look at ‘One Froggy Evening’
Character: Himself
Released: November 2, 2004
Type: Movie
A documentary about Chuck Jones' classic animated short One Froggy Evening.
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Irreverent Imagination: The Golden Age of the Looney Tunes
Title: Irreverent Imagination: The Golden Age of the Looney Tunes
Character: Self
Released: October 28, 2003
Type: Movie
A documentary on the Looney Tunes. Including interviews from people who worked on it, and their family.
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Behind the Tunes: Blanc Expressions
Title: Behind the Tunes: Blanc Expressions
Character: Self
Released: October 28, 2003
Type: Movie
A documentary about Mel Blanc's voice work.
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The Art of 'Spirited Away'
Title: The Art of 'Spirited Away'
Character: Self
Released: April 15, 2003
Type: Movie
The people that brought the film Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001) (a.k.a. "Spirited Away") to the US explain how it was converted into English, with some minor confusion between languages, and how well it did in both Japan and America.
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Cartoons Go To War
Title: Cartoons Go To War
Character: self
Released: April 26, 1996
Type: Movie
This remarkable documentary dedicates itself to an extraordinary chapter of the second World War – the psychological warfare of the USA. America’s trusted cartoon darlings from the studios of Warner Bros., Paramount, and the “big animals” of the Disney family were supposed to give courage to the people at the homefront, to educate them, but also to simultaneously entertain them. Out of this mixture grew a genre of its own kind – political cartoons. Insightful Interviews with the animators and producers from back then elucidate in an amusing and astonishing way under which bizarre circumstances these films partially came into existence.