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Jerry Beck

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For the basketball player, seeJerry Beck (basketball).

Jerry Beck
Beck at the 2023WonderCon
Born(1955-02-09)February 9, 1955(age 69)
New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)Animation historian,author,blogger,video producer
Years active1980–present
Board member ofASIFA-Hollywood
Spouse
​
(m.2021)​
[1]
AwardsJune Foray Award,2008
Independent Publisher Book Award,2014
Inkpot Award,2015

Jerry Beck(born February 9, 1955) is an Americananimation historian,author,blogger,and video producer.

Beck wrote or edited several books on classic American animation and classic characters, includingLooney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons(withWill Friedwald,1989),The 50 Greatest Cartoons(1994),The Animated Movie Guide(2005),Pink Panther: The Ultimate Guide to the Coolest Cat in Town!(2005),Not Just Cartoons: Nicktoons!(2007),The Hanna-Barbera Treasury: Rare Art Mementos from Your Favorite Cartoon Classics(2007), The 100 Greatest Looney Tunes Cartoons (2010),The Flintstones: The Official Guide to the Cartoon Classic(2011), andThe SpongeBob SquarePants Experience: A Deep Dive into the World of Bikini Bottom(2013). He is also an authority on the making of modern films, with his books detailing the art ofMr. Peabody and Sherman,DreamWorks'Madagascar,andBee Movie.Beck is also an entertainment industry consultant for TV and home entertainment productions and releases related to classic cartoons and operates the blog "Cartoon Research". He appears frequently as a documentary subject and audio commentator on releases of A&E'sCartoons Go to Waras well as DVD / Blu-ray collections ofLooney Tunes,Popeye the Sailor,andWoody Woodpeckercartoons, on which he serves as consultant and curator.[2]

Career

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Writing

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Early in his career, Beck collaborated with film historianLeonard Maltinon his bookOf Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons, Revised and Updated Edition(1980).

In 1987, Beck was instrumental in the creation ofAnimation Magazine.He went on to write for other magazines including:Variety,The Hollywood Reporter,The Whole Toon Catalog,Animation Blast,Animator,Wild Cartoon KingdomandAnimation World Network.

Beck wrote or edited several books on classic American animation and classic characters, includingThe 50 Greatest Cartoons(1994),The Animated Movie Guide(2005),Not Just Cartoons: Nicktoons!(2007),The Flintstones: The Official Guide to the Cartoon Classic(2011),The Hanna-Barbera Treasury: Rare Art Mementos from Your Favorite Cartoon Classics(2007),The SpongeBob SquarePants Experience: A Deep Dive into the World of Bikini Bottom(2013),Pink Panther: The Ultimate Guide(2005), andLooney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons(withWill Friedwald,1989) alongsideThe 100 Greatest Looney Tunes Cartoons(2010). He is also an authority on the making of modern films, with his books detailing the art ofMr. Peabody and Sherman,DreamWorks'Madagascar,andBee Movie.

In 2004, Beck and fellow animation historian and writer Amid Amidi co-founded the blogCartoon Brew,[3]which focused primarily on current animation productions and news. Beck sold his co-ownership in Cartoon Brew in February 2013 and started anIndieWireblog,Animation Scoop,for reports on current animation while continuing to write about classic animation at Cartoon Research.[4][5]

Teaching

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In the 1990s, Beck taught courses on the art of animation atUCLA,NYU,andThe School of Visual Arts.Through 2018 he also taught animation history atWoodbury UniversityinBurbank, California.As of 2020, Beck teaches in the Character Animation department ofCalArtsSchool of Film/Video andANIM 3000 - History of Animation at MTSU.[6]

Producing and consulting

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Jerry Beck co-produced or was a consultant on many home entertainment compilations ofLooney Tunes,MGM Cartoons,DisneyHome Video,Betty Boop,and others.

In 1989, he co-foundedStreamline Picturesand brought anime films,Akira,Vampire Hunter D,andHayao Miyazaki'sCastle in the Skyto the United States. He also compiled collections of cartoons fromWarner Bros.,Woody Woodpecker,and theFleischer Studios.

As vice president ofNickelodeon Movies,he helped developThe Rugrats Movie(1998) andMighty Mouse.

In 2006, Beck created and produced an animated pilot forFrederator StudiosatNickelodeon.That cartoon,Hornswiggle,aired onNicktoonsNetwork in 2008 as part of theRandom! Cartoonsseries.

Volunteering

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In 1993, Jerry Beck became a founding member of theCartoon Networkadvisory board and he currently serves as Vice President of theASIFA-Hollywoodboard.

Speaking

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Beck atComic-Con 2015

On a regular basis Beck moderates panels at various venues (festivals, conventions, premieres, museums, screenings, etc.) along with hosting programs/retrospectives of classic cartoons at same. In the past this included shows at the now shutteredCinefamilyandCartoon Dumpmonthly live Hollywood performance.

His presentations include:

Personal life

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On June 25, 2021, Beck married voice actressCheryl Chase,his girlfriend of 33 years.[1]

Bibliography

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  • Maltin, L. & Beck, Jerry (1980).Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons.New York: Penguin.
  • Friedwald, W., & Beck, Jerry. (1981).The Warner Brothers Cartoons.Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press.
  • Beck, Jerry, & Friedwald, W. (1989).Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons.New York, NY: Holt.
  • Beck, Jerry. (1994).The Fifty Greatest Cartoons: As Selected by 1,000 Animation Professionals.Atlanta: Turner Pub.
  • Beck, Jerry, & Friedwald, W. (1997).Warner Bros., Animation Art: The Characters, The Creators, The Limited Editions.Miami, FL: Warner Bros.
  • Beck, Jerry. (2003).Looney Tunes: The Ultimate Visual Guide.London: Dorling Kindersley.
  • Beck, Jerry. (2003).Outlaw Animation: Cutting-edge Cartoons From the Spike & Mike Festivals.New York: Harry N. Abrams.
  • Beck, Jerry. (2004).Animation Art From Pencil Ti Pixel, The History of Cartoon Anime & CGI.Harper & Row.
  • Beck, Jerry. (2005).Pink Panther: The Ultimate Guide to the Coolest Cat in Town.New York: DK Publishing.
  • Sigall, M. & Beck, J. (2005). Forward for:Living Life Inside the Lines: Tales From the Golden Age of Animation.Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi.
  • Beck, Jerry. (2005).The Animated Movie Guide / The Ultimate Illustrated Reference to Cartoon, Stop-motion, and Computer-generated Feature Films.Chicago: Chicago Review Press.
  • Beck, Jerry. (2007).Nicktoons!New York, NY: Melcher Media.
  • Beck, Jerry. (2007).The Art of Bee Movie.San Francisco: Chronicle Books.
  • Cabarga, L. & Beck, J. (2007). Introduction for:Casper the Friendly Ghost.Milwaukie, Or.: Dark Horse.
  • Cabarga, L. & Beck, J. (2008). Introduction for:Hot Stuff.Milwaukie, Or.: Dark Horse.
  • Cabarga, L. & Beck, J. (2008). Introduction for:Baby Huey: The Baby Giant.Milwaukie, Or.: Dark Horse.
  • Beck, Jerry. (2008).The Art and Making of Madagascar.San Rafael, CA: Insight Editions.
  • Beck, Jerry. (2008).The Flintstones.San Rafael, CA: Insight Editions.
  • Beck, Jerry. (2008).Tom and Jerry.San Rafael, CA: Insight Editions.
  • Beck, Jerry. (2009).The Hanna-Barbera Treasury.San Rafael, CA: Insight Editions.
  • Beck, Jerry. (2011).The Flintstones: The Official Guide to the Cartoon Classic.Philadelphia, PA: Running Press.
  • Beck, Jerry. (2013).SpongeBob SquarePants Experience.Insight Editions, Div Of Palac.
  • Beck, Jerry, (2014). Essay for:Felix the Cat Paintings: A Collection of Paintings From the Prolific Imagination of the Felix the Cat Guy.San Diego, CA: IDW Publishing.
  • Beck, Jerry, Burrell, T., Ward, T., & Minkoff, R. (2014).The Art of Mr. Peabody & Sherman.San Rafael, CA: Insight Editions.
  • Beck, Jerry, & Maltin, L. (2020).The 100 Greatest Looney Tunes Cartoons.San Rafael, CA: Insight Editions.

Awards

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In 2008, Beck was the recipient of theJune Foray Award.[9]In 2014, Beck received theIndependent Publisher Book Awardfor Popular Culture.[10]In 2015, Beck was the recipient of theComic-Con InternationalInkpot Award.[11]Beck was the 2019 honoree of the Los Angeles Animation Festival.[12][13]

References

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  1. ^abBeck, Jerry (June 25, 2021)."In 1988 I met my best friend - and today, 33 years later, we snuck away and made it official".Facebook.
  2. ^Zahed, Ramin (September 17, 2007)."Cartoons Then and Now: Jerry Beck talks Woody, Popeye and More!'".Animated Views.RetrievedFebruary 1,2014.
  3. ^Zahed, Ramin (February 12, 2013)."Jerry Beck AnklesCartoon Brew".Animation Magazine.n.p. Archived fromthe originalon February 16, 2013.RetrievedDecember 4,2014.
  4. ^Yamato, Jen (February 12, 2013)."Blogger Jerry Beck out atCartoon Brew".Deadline Hollywood.Penske Media Corporation.RetrievedDecember 4,2014.
  5. ^"About Cartoon Research and Jerry Beck".Cartoon Research.RetrievedJanuary 21,2022.
  6. ^"Jerry Beck".
  7. ^"Worst Cartoons Ever! DVD Review: They Stink! – Cinema Sentries".cinemasentries.July 24, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 17,2020.
  8. ^Beck, Jerry (May 28, 2015)."This Weekend In LA: Classic Cartoons at The Old Town Music Hall".IndieWire.RetrievedSeptember 18,2020.
  9. ^"49th Annual Annie Awards".
  10. ^"2014 Independent Publisher Book Awards Results".
  11. ^"Inkpot Award".December 6, 2012.
  12. ^"JERRY BECK: 2019 HONOREE".LAAF Blog.Los Angeles Animation Festival. October 22, 2019.RetrievedDecember 29,2019.
  13. ^Milligan, Mercedes (December 4, 2019)."LA Animation Festival Unspools This Weekend".Animation Magazine.Animationmagazine.net.RetrievedDecember 29,2019.
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