Vintage Cartoons "n" Vintage Movies

 The history of Planet of the Apes cartoons is brief but notable, as the franchise primarily found its success through live-action films and television. However, during the 1970s, there was one major foray into animated television. Here's a look at that history:

🐵 1. "Return to the Planet of the Apes" (1975–1976)

Overview:

• Title: Return to the Planet of the Apes

• Produced by: DePatie–Freleng Enterprises (best known for The Pink Panther)

• Aired on: NBC

• Episodes: 13 episodes (one season)

• Air Dates: September to December 1975

• Created by: David H. DePatie and Friz Freleng

• Format: Traditional animation, aimed at children but with serious science-fiction themes

Plot Summary:

Unlike the original films, Return to the Planet of the Apes presented a more technologically advanced ape society, blending elements from the novels by Pierre Boulle and the original film series. It followed astronauts Bill Hudson, Jeff Allen, and Judy Franklin, who crash-land on a futuristic Earth ruled by intelligent apes.

The apes in this version use computers, military vehicles, and live in a city reminiscent of 20th-century America — a significant departure from the more primitive apes in the original films.

Main Characters:

• Bill Hudson – Human astronaut and the show's protagonist

• Jeff Allen – Fellow astronaut

• Judy Franklin – Female astronaut

• General Urko – Militaristic gorilla general

• Dr. Zaius – Orangutan elder and science authority

• Cornelius and Zira – Sympathetic chimpanzee scientists

Style and Themes:

• Though animated, the show kept many of the philosophical and sociopolitical themes of the live-action films.

• The animation was limited (minimal movement, static backgrounds) but used bold and detailed illustrations.

• It had an ongoing storyline, rare for cartoons of the time, with cliffhangers and continuity between episodes.

🧠 Legacy and Cultural Impact:

• Return to the Planet of the Apes was not as successful as the live-action films but developed a cult following over the years.

• It was praised for its ambitious storytelling and faithfulness to the tone of the original material.

• The show was later released on DVD in 2006 and is occasionally referenced by fans and historians of the franchise.

❌ Other Attempts at Animation?

There have not been any other animated series or films under the Planet of the Apes brand since 1975. While the franchise has seen several reboots in film (2001, 2011–2024), these have all been live-action.

🦍 Fun Fact:

• The series was originally envisioned as more comedic and cartoony but was retooled to fit the serious tone of the Apes franchise.

• Despite being a cartoon, it was among the first animated shows to use a serialized sci-fi format for children.

• Clip...

• B.Israel 🙈🙉🙊

The Outer Limits (1963–1965) – In Depth

🎬 Concept & Vision

• The Outer Limits was envisioned by Leslie Stevens as a science fiction anthology that pushed the boundaries of what television could explore, particularly focusing on technological paranoia, existential dread, and alien encounters.

• While The Twilight Zone mixed sci-fi with morality tales and fantasy, The Outer Limits leaned more toward harder science fiction and the fear of the unknown.

• It was also famous for its moody, noir-like atmosphere — visually dark, with shadowy lighting and eerie music that enhanced the tension.

📡 Innovative Production

• The series was ahead of its time in terms of production design, using:

  • Practical effects and makeup to create iconic creatures.

  • Strange camera angles, sharp contrasts, and minimalist sets.

• The term "bear" was coined by producers for the creature or concept around which the drama of each episode would revolve — essentially, the episode's central spectacle.

🧠 Thematic Focus

• Frequent themes included:

  • The consequences of scientific experimentation.

  • Alien invasions and first contact.

  • Cold War paranoia and nuclear anxiety.

  • Identity, humanity, and consciousness.

✍️ Notable Writers & Episodes

• Joseph Stefano, who had scripted Psycho (1960), served as showrunner for Season 1. He infused the show with psychological depth and symbolic themes.

• Harlan Ellison, legendary sci-fi writer, contributed two standout episodes:

  • “Demon with a Glass Hand” – a time-travel mystery with a robotic twist.

  • “Soldier” – often cited as an influence on The Terminator.

⭐️ Notable Guest Stars

The show gave early screen time to many future stars, including:

• Martin Landau

• Robert Duvall

• Donald Pleasence

• William Shatner

• Leonard Nimoy

• Bruce Dern

🎭 Cultural Impact

• The show didn’t achieve major ratings success during its original run but gained cult status in later decades, especially with sci-fi fans and filmmakers.

• Its aesthetic and narrative approach influenced later series such as The X-Files, Black Mirror, and Stranger Things.

🛑 Cancellation

• ABC pulled the plug after two seasons due to budget constraints, network interference, and fluctuating time slots.

• Season 2, produced with less involvement from Stefano, is generally considered less consistent, though it still contains standout episodes.

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Background and Context

During the early 1950s, American television was rapidly growing, and networks were beginning to recognize the potential of repurposing older content—particularly cartoons that had previously been screened in movie theaters. Animated shorts, especially those from the 1930s and 1940s, were perfect for television because they were short, self-contained, and already had broad appeal.

CBS acquired the rights to air a package of Popeye the Sailor cartoons originally produced by Fleischer Studios and later by Famous Studios (after Paramount took over the Fleischer studio in 1942). This was the first time Popeye cartoons had been syndicated for network television, marking a key moment in TV history.

Format and Structure

CBS Cartoon Theater was structured as a hosted cartoon anthology series, a format popular during the 1950s. Each episode ran approximately 30 minutes and featured a selection of three Popeye cartoons. The host of the show was Dick Van Dyke, then a relatively unknown comedian and television performer, who would go on to become a major star in the 1960s with The Dick Van Dyke Show.

Van Dyke provided interstitial segments between the cartoons, introducing them with light humor and commentary. His segments added a narrative thread to the half-hour program, giving it a format similar to that of other popular children's anthology shows of the era.

Popeye Cartoons and Their Legacy

The cartoons featured on CBS Cartoon Theater came from the Paramount theatrical library, primarily the black-and-white Popeye shorts originally produced by Fleischer Studios in the 1930s and early 1940s. These cartoons were already beloved in American culture, with Popeye having been one of the most popular animated characters during the Golden Age of Animation.

The television airings of Popeye significantly increased the character's popularity with a new generation of viewers. Although the show itself did not last, its success in drawing ratings convinced CBS and other networks that animated cartoons could serve as a staple of children's programming, especially in syndication.

Why It Ended So Soon

Despite its novelty and success in syndicating Popeye cartoons, CBS Cartoon Theater was not designed as a long-term series. Its eight-week run suggests it was a summer filler series, likely intended to test audience interest in animated programming. After the series ended in August 1956, the cartoons themselves lived on in syndicated packages, which continued to air for years and even decades afterward.

Cultural and Industry Impact

Though short-lived, CBS Cartoon Theater was a milestone in television history for several reasons:

• Pioneered the transition of theatrical cartoons to television.

• Introduced Popeye to the TV generation, sparking renewed merchandising and pop culture relevance.

• Featured Dick Van Dyke in one of his first TV roles, showing the early intersections between television variety shows and animated programming.

• Set a model for future cartoon anthologies, including shows like The Bugs Bunny Show (ABC, 1960), The Woody Woodpecker Show, and The Flintstones.

Conclusion

While CBS Cartoon Theater might be considered a footnote in the vast history of television, its influence was far-reaching. It was the first time a major network experimented with packaging animated theatrical shorts for television broadcast with a host, setting the stage for a tidal wave of cartoon programming in the late 1950s and 1960s. Its success demonstrated the viability of animation as a television format and helped to establish a distribution model that studios and networks would continue to rely on for decades....Clip below

 The debate over Planet of the Apes (1968) vs Planet of the Apes (2001) often comes down to vision, execution, and cultural impact. Here's a direct comparison:

🎬 Planet of the Apes (1968)

Directed by: Franklin J. Schaffner
Starring: Charlton Heston
Legacy:

• Groundbreaking makeup effects (by John Chambers), earning an honorary Oscar.

• Strong social commentary (race, war, science vs. religion).

• Famous twist ending that's still iconic.

• Widely considered a sci-fi classic.

Strengths:

• Intellectually provocative.

• Clever, allegorical storytelling.

• Tense and immersive world-building.

• Timeless themes and performances.

• Clip 1968... 

  
  

🐒 Planet of the Apes (2001)

Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Helena Bonham Carter, Tim Roth
Legacy:

• Visually impressive makeup and production design.

• Commercial success, but critically mixed.

• Lacked the philosophical depth of the original.

• Ending twist widely viewed as confusing or poorly explained.

Strengths:

• Modern visuals and action.

• Strong practical effects for the apes.

• Tim Roth’s performance as General Thade was a highlight.

• Clip (2001)...

  
  

🧠 Verdict: 1968 > 2001

The 1968 version is widely considered the better film due to its originality, cultural impact, and thematic richness. The 2001 version, while visually updated, lacked the same storytelling strength and failed to live up to the original’s legacy.

                        B.Israel 🙈🙉🙊

🧪 Brief History of Dexter's Laboratory:

Creation and Early Development (1991–1995):

• Genndy Tartakovsky developed the concept while studying at CalArts (California Institute of the Arts). The idea was inspired by the contrast between his own quiet personality and his brother's hyperactivity—mirrored in Dexter and Dee Dee.

• The original pilot, titled Dexter’s Laboratory, premiered in 1995 as part of Cartoon Network’s What a Cartoon! showcase, which helped new animators test their concepts.

Series Premiere and Success (1996–1998):

• Based on the pilot's popularity, Cartoon Network greenlit the show as a full series.

• Premiered officially on April 28, 1996.

• It was Cartoon Network’s first original series, helping launch what would become the “Cartoon Cartoons” brand.

• The show featured:

  • Dexter, a boy-genius with a secret laboratory hidden behind a bookshelf.

  • Dee Dee, his carefree and destructive older sister.

  • Side segments like:

    • Dial M for Monkey – featuring Dexter’s lab monkey turned superhero.

    • The Justice Friends – a parody of superhero roommates.

• The animation style and humor blended science fiction, slapstick, and satire, which appealed to kids and adults alike.

Cancellation and Revival (1999–2003):

• After 2 seasons and a TV movie (Ego Trip, 1999), Tartakovsky moved on to other projects (Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars).

• In 2001, Dexter returned with new episodes (Season 3 & 4), produced without Tartakovsky.

• These later seasons had notable visual and stylistic changes, and the fan reception was mixed.

Legacy and Cultural Impact:

• Dexter's Laboratory became a cornerstone of 1990s animation, influencing later shows like The Powerpuff Girls, Johnny Bravo, and Phineas and Ferb.

• It elevated Genndy Tartakovsky’s status, who went on to have a major influence on animation.

• The show's clever writing, memorable voice performances (notably Christine Cavanaugh as Dexter, later replaced by Candi Milo), and bold animation kept it iconic.

• Clip..... 

  B.Israel 🙈🙉🙊