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Summary: A must for every Beatles fan!!
Review: If you're a rabid Beatles fan like me, you've seen just about every Beatles book out there. For a long time, they all looked alike, with the same old photos, and the same old stories. Luckily, that has changed in the past couple years. Books by authors Larry Kane, Bruce Spizer, and Andy Babiuk have brought us fresh looks at the Beatles' story, from new angles.
Mitchell Axelrod's new book, "Beatletoons: The Real Story Behind the Cartoon Beatles" is no exception. You'd think by now every aspect of the Beatles' career would have been covered by one of the thousands of books on the Beatles before. But no one before has ever covered the great Saturday morning cartoon series featuring the animated incarnations of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Too bad, because the series was very cute, a lot of fun, and a cool way for kids to see their favorite band on TV every week. But since the show's demise, not much has been written about it.
That's where this book comes in. It tells the story of how the series came together, from storyboards to national TV, and all it took to get there. There are interviews with all involved, and photos and stories of the real Beatles meeting the people who made their cartoon counterparts that you won't see or read anywhere else.
If you remember the cartoons, you'll want to know more about what brought the show about. And if you've never seen the series, you'll need to find out all about how it happened. Hopefully, the cartoons will be released on DVD and video someday soon. If and when that happens, the episode guide of the book will especially come in handy.
Either way, this book is long overdue, well written, and a treasure for every Beatles fan and collector.
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Summary: Book Uncovers Lost Beatles History!
Review: It has taken almost 35 years, but a long lost piece of Beatle history has finally been uncovered. The Beatles cartoon series, which premiered on ABC TV in September of 1965, has been exhaustively researched by author Mitchell Axelrod. This is the VERY FIRST TIME that the series has been written about and includes interviews with many of the original series participants including creator Al Brodax, animators, directors, voice-over people, and scriptwriters. This book also gathers a large collection of series memorabilia, many NEVER BEFORE SEEN, including cels, scripts, production drawings, character designs, storyboards, and photos of The Beatles at the cartoon premiere. "Beatletoons" also includes a complete detailed episode guide with production notes. This historical reference book is a must read for Beatle fans, and a great read for "baby boomers", cartoon fans, and everyone in-between.
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Summary: Beatletoons: Just when you thought you've seen it all...
Review: It's rare that the very first book on a particular subject can stake claim to being the definitive source on that subject, but such is the case with Beatletoons; The Real Story Behind The Cartoon Beatles,by Mitchell Axelrod. Without a doubt, this is the only book you'll ever need to own about the Beatles Saturday morning cartoon series, which made a huge splash in the mid-60's, inspired the 1967 animated feature, Yellow Submarine, then disappeared into virtual obscurity for more than thirty years. With the recent re-release of Yellow Submarine, Beatle fans around the world are suddenly rediscovering this gem of a weekly cartoon series which predated Submarine by three years and placed the animated mop tops in and out of all kinds of comical situations, ala Hard Day's Night. Author, Mitchell Axelrod has traveled far and wide to provide not only an in-depth look at the making of The Beatles cartoon series, but an inside look at the history of pre-digital animation, when each cartoon frame was sketched and colored by hand and photographed frame-by-frame. Beatletoons traces the brief but successful history of the series from its inception at the height of "Beatlemania" to its demise with the arrival of the Sgt. Pepper era, when the Beatles new look and new sound became too difficult and controversial to be presented in cartoon form. Using original proposals, letters, and early memos between King Features executives, the book provides a captivating look at the business behind turning the hottest rock and roll group in the world into a marketable Saturday morning cartoon that would appeal to young and old alike. Author Mitch Axelrod has been an avid Beatle fan since the age of three or four, when the Beatles cartoon series first aired. The series was a huge hit in America and in several other countries, but was never aired in England and was never, until recently, a very big hit with the four Beatles themselves. Perhaps for this reason, Apple Corps, LTD., the Beatles business company, has rarely licensed the cartoon episodes for TV broadcast over the years, with the exception of a brief, but successful run on MTV back in the 1980's. It was around this time that Axelrod began collecting cartoon episodes on video tape and eventually purchased the complete 16mm original film collection of all 76 episodes. From then on, Axelrod devoted himself to becoming a Beatle cartoon afficionado. When he learned that many of the series animators, writers, and other contributors to the original series were still around and, in many cases, still very much involved in cartoon production, he set off on a mission throughout Europe to track these people down and get their stories. Many, he learned, played major roles in the production of Yellow Submarine, which was recently rereleased, but had even fonder memories of the original TV series. As he shared pints with John Coates, Norman Kaufman, and other unsung heroes of both The Beatles Cartoons and Yellow Submarine, he was treated to first-hand stories about the Beatles' reactions to the series, how animators had to recruit their teenaged children to learn which Beatle played which instrument, etc. And, as the icing on the cake, he even spent a few hours in the offices at Apple, the Beatles business corporation, discussing plans for a future re-release of the cartoon series. So, Beatletoons is in no way another cheesy cash-in on the Beatles enduring success. The fact that the author shelved it for almost four years while waiting for a publisher who would handle it with the care and dignity he felt it deserved is a tribute to the fact that this book is a labor of love. And the fact that so many of the original participants in the series have lent so much support gives Beatletoons an even greater shot of credibility. I highly recommend this book to all Beatle fans who think they've seen and read everything that exists about the Beatles. Beatletoons is a quick read that tells the entire story of a lost piece of Beatles history. Be sure to pick one up for the Beatle fans on your list this holiday season!
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Summary: A Beatles Book for All Fans Young and Old
Review: Mitch Axelrod's Beatletoons is a great book covering a section of the Beatles career that has never before been spotlighted with such detail. Though they never were directly involved with the Beatle cartoons outside of granting permission to allow their songs to be used in them, the Beatles sense of fun comes through in the cartoons. True, the cartoons were not well animated nor cleverly written and pale next to some of today's animated fare. Plus the cartoons were done for the younger contingent of Beatles fans. Still, the cartoons were how a lot of fans were introduced to the Beatles music, not just the hit singles but the album tracks too. There are some Beatles songs I can't hear today without connecting them to a particular cartoon. Mitch's well-researched book gives the reader all the behind the scenes info on how the cartoons came to be and what the Beatles thought about them. One of the most interesting aspects the book brings to light is how the cartoons led directly to the classic 'Yellow Submarine' movie. 2005 will mark the 40th annivesary the Beatles cartoon debuted on ABC television. It's recently been revealed that the Beatles bought the rights to the Beatle cartoons and rumors are flying that they will be issued on DVD next year to commemorate the anniversary. For those waiting for the DVD's, pick up Mitch Axelrod's Beatletoons book. It's a great, fun and informative read and will make a great companion piece when the DVD's are released. Old Fred
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Summary: Buy this book NOW!- I give it 10 stars if I could
Review: Mitch took the time to rediscover these lost classics- Love the beatles? You'll love this book - Yeah , Yeah , Yeah!
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Summary: Buy this book NOW!
Review: Mitch took the time to rediscover these lost classics- Love the beatles? You'll love this book - Yeah , Yeah , Yeah!
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Summary: Buy this book now - Its a 10
Review: Mitch took the time to research a part of most of our childhood memories...Now if Apple can release these on DVD uneditied before the DVD goes the way of the Betamax. Plain and Simple this is a great book and a must for EVERY Beatlefan from 1 to 100
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Summary: Beatletoonology
Review: Mr. Mitch Axelrod has gone through great lengths to research the information in this book that the importance of such a cartoon won't be lost forever. Everyone can associate one way or another with the Beatles but how many realize there was an animated series? I myself am one person who can remember those five guitar notes that started each episode. If you want to know what was involved in bringing you these animated wonders you need to read this book. Those who don't remember or are too young to remember will find this comprehensive piece an interesting and thorough reference to a long ago and far away animation. The book is put together nicely with pictures and references that even the younger fans will come away with a better understanding of all that was involved with the Beatles Cartoons, even fans having never seen a single episode. I highly recommend this book to all those interested in the evolution of the Beatletoons from the beginning to it's end. The author has done a wonderful job in keeping this piece of Beatles history fresh in our minds and hearts!
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Summary: beatletoons - a charming retrospective
Review: of all the beatle volumes i've had the pleasure to have read, mitch axelrod's beatletoons stands as perhaps the most imaginative. this book is a delightful retrospective of the saturday morning cartoon series which ran from september 1965 through april 1969. beginning with a detailed account chronicling the events leading to the conception of the series and proceeding through a fascinating synopsis of each episode, beatletoons is a delight for all beatle freaks, young & old. interspersed throughout the text are caricatures from the series including insights on how each beatle was drawn to reflect their individual mannerisms and personalities. how wonderful it would be if that in response to this book enough interest was sparked to effect a re-release of this tresured series. highly recommended.
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Summary: Do Not Have John Jab Ringo With The Fork
Review: One of the odder off-shoots of Beatlemania was "The Beatles," a Saturday morning show that featured cartoon versions of the Fabs having adventures with vampires, mad scientists, ghosts and other unikely characters. Mitchell Axelrod has created a well-researched and well-written history of this series, featuring interviews with everyone from producer Al Brodax (who went on to produce the "Yellow Submarine" film) to animators, writers, and background artists. The book is well-illustrated, in black & white and color, with animation art, advertisements, memorabilia and photos of the real Beatles at a party launching the series.
While Beatlemaniacs will want this book, it will also appeal to animation fans. Most books on animation focus on theatrical films, ignoring television. Axelrod gives a behind-the-scenes look at the problems involved in producing a weekly series: deadlines, the need to farm work out to different studios, and run-ins with the censor("Do not have John jab Ringo with the fork.") "The Beatles" earned a place in animation history as the first cartoon series based on real people; when the series proved that the format would work, TV was soon featuring cartoon versions of everyone from Laurel & Hardy to the Harlem Globetrotters. "The Beatles" paved the way! If you're a fan of the Beatles, of animation, or both, this book is a must-read!
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