"I Say, I Say...Son!" - A Tribute to Legendary Animators Bob, Chuck, and Tom McKimson

ISBN: 9781595800695
$45.00 ©2012
8 1/2 x 11
232 pages
Hardcover
Hundreds of Color Illustrations
Television/Art

"I Say, I Say . . . Son!" offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the work of the McKimson brothers, three of the most accomplished and influential animators in history.

Tracing the brothers' careers from the 1920s onward, this beautifully illustrated book details how Bob McKimson created such beloved characters as Foghorn Leghorn, the Tasmanian Devil, Sylvester Jr., and the original Speedy Gonzales, and explores Chuck and Tom McKimson's voluminous body of work at Warner Bros. Cartoons, Dell Comics, and Golden Books.

Featuring original art from the Golden Age of Animation, "I Say, I Say . . . Son!" includes a wealth of material from the top animation archives—original drawings, reproductions of animation cels, comic book illustrations, lobby cards, and screen captures—along with never-before-seen photographs and other memorabilia from author Robert McKimson Jr.'s personal collection.

"I Say, I Say . . . Son!" is a vibrant tribute to three groundbreaking animators whose long careers included work on the Looney Tunes, Pink Panther, and Mr. Magoo series, as well as many other animation classics.

Robert McKimson Jr. is the son of legendary animator Bob McKimson. A licensee of Warner Bros. Consumer Products and the possessor of an extensive collection of his father's and uncles' work, McKimson has given lectures all over the world about his famous family of animators.

John Kricfalusi (aka John K.) is the creator of The Ren & Stimpy Show and The Ripping Friends, as well as a cofounder of the animation studio Spümc.

Darrell Van Citters is the supervising director of Renegade Animation. He has had a long-standing interest in the history, art, and artists of Hollywood animated cartoons and is the author of Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol: The Making of the First Animated Christmas Special.

"It's only a piece of production artwork, not intended to be seen by the public, but the 1943 model sheet for Bugs Bunny . . . is a work of art unto itself. We see what Bugs looks like running, pointing, laughing, exclaiming in surprise or just insouciantly relaxing with his carrot. . . . McKimson's drawing tells a story all by itself."
—Wall Street Journal

"Bob McKimson had the longest career at the Leon Schlesinger/Warner Bros. studio. He also helped develop the personalities of WB's most popular cartoon megastars, such as Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig, and undisputedly created more of the famous Warner Bros. 'second string' cartoon stars such as Foghorn Leghorn, Speedy Gonzales, and the Tasmanian Devil; as his son Robert McKimson Jr. shows in this thoroughly researched and profusely illustrated biography of his father and his two equally talented cartoonist brothers."
—Animation World Network

"With an abundance of rarely-seen original artwork and keen-eyed observations by such latter-day animation masters as John Kricfalusi and Darrell Van Citters, this stacks up as a must-have for animation buffs."
—Leonard Maltin

"There's something genuinely loving about this collection, which even includes a copy of a typewritten 1946 letter from the Academy welcoming Bob McKimson into the Short Subjects Branch."
—Animation Magazine

"It's a treasure trove of memories sure to delight any grown-up who grew up with a craving for cartoon chuckles."
—American Profile

"There's loads of model sheets, layouts, animation drawings and comic book art. A lot of which I haven't seen reprinted anywhere else. . . . This is definitely one of the best animation-related books out there. A must for Warner Bros. fans!"
—Kevin Langley

"Bob McKimson Jr. . . . has written a lavishly illustrated account of his dad's career."
—Jax Air News

"The book is a workhorse of a picture book with lots of valuable images that you haven't seen before . . . For anyone who recognizes the importance of WB cartoons and wants the whole picture recognized, this is the reason for this book."
—Michael Sporn Animation

"There are a lot of memorable stories and anecdotes that really shed light on the behind-the-scenes world of WB animation. . . . For devoted fans of animation history, this book is a winner."
—CartoonSnap.com

"Even as a lifelong Warner cartoon buff, I found things in this book I didn't know before . . . I say, this book comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."
—GoldenAgeCartoons.com

"As for the McKimson's own art, the book also contains a ton—from reproductions of comics, animation layouts, model sheets, watercolor paintings, storyboards, and everything in between. The images you'll see in the book are all beautiful and raw art from the McKimsons, not the cookie cutter cliparts featured in lesser books related to animation."
—ToonBarn.com

"Just in time for the gift giving season comes a book, a revelation really, about the creator of so many iconic Warner Bros. cartoon characters. . . . This marvelous book was written by Robert McKimson Jr. and is lavishly illustrated, bursting with colorful images that fill the pages and spark the imagination. It's such a unique pleasure to dive into the dozens of luscious original model sheets, sketches, full color paintings and stunning animation cells."
—TVparty.com

"Actually, just about every page brought a smile to my face. Not purely because of nostalgic recollections of watching the cartoons endlessly on television as a child, or the waves of funny moments with Bugs, Daffy, Sylvester, and Foghorn that still make me laugh today. It's because the art is mostly just so damned good."
—WhatAboutThad.com

"Rare paintings, staff photos, the U.S. copyright registration for Bugs Bunny (!), model sheets, layout sketches, coloring book art . . . incredible stuff. . . . A thorough, competent, visually delightful job – exactly what you'd expect from someone named McKimson. Bravo, I love it!"
—CartoonBrew.com

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