Seven Minutes: The Life and Death of the American Animated Cartoon

This is a very interesting look at the short animated cartoon. It goes from the silent era to the end of the studio system.I liked the book because it did not have an anti-Disney axe to grind. Indeed, I came away with a better understanding of why Mickey Mouse cartoons became "blander" as time passed, as opposed to the wildness of Bugs Bunny and Tom & Jerry.Also very good was the look at the differences between the cartoons of Tex Avery, Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng. Freleng is usually ignored by studies of this kind (as he mostly is in Michael Barrier's Hollywood Cartoons) so it was a treat to see him receive attention here.No, this isn't a quick read, but if you take cartoons as seriously as regular Hollywood movies, with auteurs and themes, this is an essential book to read.

This book gave me excelent insite on the private lives of Mickey Mouse and Scooby Doo's torid affair with Mighty Mouse. Just kidding. I loved it. Brilliantly written and truly unique. It is a must read for anyone interested in the history of American media.Hi mom!