Misspent Childhood

Again, while at the Coral with some of my favorites, S, D, G, and ? (I don't think I ever introduced myself), I found myself sitting quietly by while they discussed cartoon I had not seen. I don't really mind this seeing as I am here to learn and pick new things up but I was beginning to get a little frustrated with myself. How do I not know most things they are mentioning? What did I do as a child? As an adolescent? I obviously did not watch nearly enough TV. I was too busy in my backyard pretending my swing set was a rocket ship. Although this fostered the imagination, it did very little to enhance my knowledge of cartoons.
Or perhaps I just have a poor memory. I am inclined to believe this but I would like to pretend it isn't true. Conclusion: I need to catch up on my cartoon watching.
Yesterday we digitized some VanBeuren cartoons. Now those are some quality cartoons. They are pretty trippy actually. Strange to the point of wondering what the people watching these when they were first made thought. Did they think that these were funny or just plain weird? I think they are both. It suits my kind of humor really. You've got to love it when the two main characters, Tom and Jerry (not the cat and mouse, this was before their time, there is no coincidence there but I won't go into it), are singing and they lean close together and poof! their mouths join into one singing mouth. This stuff is pretty out there, but there are some brilliant/amusing walks and runs.
Speaking of Tom and Jerry, or really just of Jerry, Steve got very mad at Family Guy yesterday. Rightfully so in my opinion. Now, I know that some people reading this are probably Family Guy fans, but bear with me, I am slowly being turned into a cartoon snob (although expert sounds nicer to me). He discovered, through YouTube (which made it into Forbes' Midas List this year, as did this person), a parody. . . well more like an exact copy that Family Guy did of Gene Kelly dancing with Jerry the mouse. I suggest you watch both versions (Family Guy Jerry). Ugh! an exact copy! Really now, Family Guy. And it isn't even a good copy. . . .
Okay, I rant. Now I forget the initial purpose of this post. I ponder. Oh right! Bill Peet. I don't remember too much about the authors I read as a kid except for Dr. Seuss and Bill Peet (I speak of picture books). These are both rather fitting. Perhaps my childhood was not too misspent after all. Dr. Seuss fits perfectly with my love for Dartmouth. Dr. Seuss attended Dartmouth. Bill Peet fits with my love for animation. Bill Peet was apparently an animator and storyboard artist for Disney. . . until he got fed up and quit so that he could write and illustrate books. I loved his stories as a kid! They rhymed and what more can you ask for as a kid except for some good drawings? Bill Peet delivered on those too. It is comforting to know that perhaps I was destined for both Dartmouth and animation.