You might not immediately recognize the name Chuck Jones, but surely you know "What's up, doc?," the catchphrase of Jones' most famous character. It's also the name of an upcoming exhibition at Museum of the Moving Image. In a few weeks, the museum in Astoria will be opening "What’s Up, Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones," a massive show dedicated to the legendary cartoon artist and animation director who created some of history's most iconic cartoon characters, such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and a number of others.
Image via Museum of the Moving Image / Chuck Jones Center for Creativity
“Chuck Jones is one of the enduring geniuses of American comedy, as accomplished in the art of animation as his hero Mark Twain was in literature,” David Schwartz said in a press release. He curated the exhibition with Barbara Miller. “His work is marked by its ability to convey the distinctive personality of his characters, his endless comic invention, and his mastery of timing and visual and verbal humor."
Image via Museum of the Moving Image / Chuck Jones Center for Creativity / Looney Tunes Characters (c) & TM Warner Bros.
The exhibition includes 23 of Jones' animated films, a short documentary and an interactive experience, 125 original sketches and drawings, storyboards, production backgrounds, animation cels, and photographs. The featured works will provide insight into the late artist and his many collaborators' creative process and how animations get made.
Those in New York lucked out since Astoria is the show's first stop. "What's Up, Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones" will open at the museum on July 19 and run through Jan. 19, 2015 before continuing on a thirteen-city tour.
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