Tex Avery: The MGM Years

Tex Avery: The MGM Years chronicles the creative peak of animation director Fred "Tex" Avery during his time at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from 1942-1955. The book documents Avery's groundbreaking cartoons and unique visual style through production materials, studio archives, and interviews with former colleagues. The text examines Avery's creative process and the development of his signature gags and characters like Droopy and Screwy Squirrel. Behind-the-scenes details reveal the dynamics of Avery's animation unit and his relationships with MGM executives and fellow animators. Through analysis of specific cartoons and creative decisions, the book traces how Avery pushed animation boundaries and influenced the medium's evolution. The narrative covers both his artistic triumphs and professional challenges at the studio. The work explores themes of artistic innovation versus commercial demands, and how one creator's vision can reshape an art form's possibilities. Through Avery's story, readers gain insight into a pivotal period in animation history.

Readers call this a comprehensive look at Tex Avery's MGM period with detailed production information and artwork. Book collectors note it's now rare and expensive due to limited printing. Likes: - High quality reproductions of concept art and storyboards - Behind-the-scenes details about production processes - Documentation of Avery's relationships with his animation team - Coverage of lesser-known shorts and unfinished projects Dislikes: - Focus only on MGM years leaves out Warner Bros period - Limited printing makes it hard to find under $200 - Some readers wanted more finished animation stills Ratings: Goodreads: 4.5/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: No longer listed for sale, archived reviews avg 5/5 (6 reviews) Review quotes: "The artwork alone makes this worth seeking out" - Animation Magazine reader "Best documentation of Avery's creative process" - Cartoon Research forum member "Expensive but worth it for serious animation fans" - Goodreads reviewer

Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons by Leonard Maltin This book chronicles the evolution of animation studios and their key figures during the golden age of American animation with detailed production information and behind-the-scenes accounts.

Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in Its Golden Age by Michael Barrier The book examines the artistic development of animation from the silent era through the 1960s, with focus on the directors, animators, and production processes at major studios.

Chuck Jones: A Flurry of Drawings by Hugh Kenner This biography documents the career of Warner Bros. animation director Chuck Jones through production archives, personal papers, and studio records.

Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler This biography examines Disney's impact on animation through studio documents, interviews, and production materials while exploring the technical innovations he championed.

The Noble Approach: Maurice Noble and the Zen of Animation Design by Tod Polson The book presents Maurice Noble's animation design principles and methods through production artwork, concepts, and studio materials from his work at Warner Bros. and MGM.

🎬 Tex Avery revolutionized animation at MGM by creating a new style of extreme, rapid-fire gags that influenced generations of animators, including Chuck Jones and modern studios like Pixar. 📚 Author John Canemaker is a respected animation historian who won an Academy Award for his 2005 animated short film "The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation." 🎨 During his time at MGM (1942-1955), Avery created iconic characters like Droopy Dog and directed groundbreaking cartoons like "Red Hot Riding Hood," which was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry. 🎯 The book details how Avery's wartime cartoons often included hidden messages and propaganda elements, including "Blitz Wolf" (1942), which portrayed Hitler as the Big Bad Wolf. 🎥 Avery's signature visual techniques, such as wild takes and breaking the fourth wall, were developed at MGM when he had more creative freedom than at his previous studio, Warner Bros.