America Toons In: A History of Television Animation

by David Perlmutter

Animation has been part of television since the start of the medium but it has rarely received unbiased recognition from media scholars. More often, it has been ridiculed for supposedly poor technical quality, accused of trafficking in violence aimed at children, and neglected for indulging in vulgar behavior. These accusations are often made categorically, out of prejudice or ignorance, with little attempt to understand the importance of each program on its own terms. This book takes a serious look at the whole genre of television animation, from the early themes and practices through the evolution of the art to the present day. Examining the productions of individual studios and producers, the author establishes a means of understanding their work in new ways, at the same time discussing the ways in which the genre has often been unfairly marginalized by critics, and how, especially in recent years, producers have both challenged and embraced this "marginality" as a vital part of their work. By taking seriously something often thought to be frivolous, the book provides a framework for understanding the persistent presence of television animation in the American media--and how surprisingly influential it has been.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Film, Pop Culture

424 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

David Perlmutter is a freelance writer based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is the author of America Toons In: A History of Television Animation (McFarland and Co.), The Singular Adventures Of Jefferson Ball (Chupa Cabra House), The Pups (Booklocker.com), Certain Private Conversations and Other Stories (Aurora Publishing), Honey and Salt (Scarlet Leaf Publishing), The Encyclopedia of American Animated Cartoon Series (Rowman and Littlefield, forthcoming) and Orthicon; or, the History of a Bad Idea (Linkville Press, forthcoming) He can be reached on Facebook at David Perlmutter-Writer, Twitter at @DKPLJW1, and Tumblr at The Musings of David Perlmutter (yesdavidperlmutterfan).

Reviews

[Sam II · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!

America Toons In: A History of Television Animation by David Perlmutter, is a well-researched compendium of Cartoon lore from its beginnings to the present. I am frankly flabbergasted by the level and detail of research author, Perlmutter put into this work of art (no pun intended). Every significant, and at times insignificant, contributor to the creation, management, day-to-day operations, promotion, and distribution of television animation is discussed and given equal treatment. From Walt Disney onward, the army of cartoon animation generals, colonels, majors and lieutenants are not only mentioned but explained and at times psychoanalyzed. The animators and voice actors for our beloved cartoon characters are named, and in many cases, described in detail with tidbits such as birth places, dates and where they lived during their formative years.

America Toons In could legitimately be a college graduate course in the history of cartoon animation in the United States. The book has something for people of all ages. Mickey Mouse, Popeye, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Tom and Jerry, and Woody Woodpecker are given equal treatment with more recent shows like Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, The Simpsons, King of the Hill and South Park.

The book is complete with explanations of how the changing moral climate, Human beliefs and prejudices, moved the needle of content, theme, and genre of television cartoons through a wide swath of American history. The level and quality of research by author, Perlmutter, is astounding, and I salute this book not only for its educational value, but its entertainment value as well. Bravo!

I rate the book, America Toons In: A History of Television Animation, as an overall 5 out of 5.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid fan of cartoons and knowing the history of cartoons travels back to when television started, I immediately wanted to learn the history and the truth about the industry. David Perlmutter brilliantly writes the book with the objective of a backstage tour guide showing the behind-the-scenes and why cartoons are still famous since 1908. Perlmutter structured the book to get in the grit and glue of the industry from the planning phase, construction, and release of the cartoon on television. It’s incredible to see the transformation from the early 1900s to advanced computer-generated technology and counting in 2022. With the fascinating illustrations, creative scripts, and colorful settings, I can finally see why cartoons became a massive phenomenon on Saturday mornings.

An exceptionally well-edited structure, an informative and enticing plot, and fascinating information presented throughout make this book a must-read for everyone. This book deserves a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

[Hannah Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid read, though more like a scholarly textbook. America Toons In was expertly researched, well-written, and infused with David Perlmutter's clear passion for television animation. This book is not for the faint of heart, and I would suggest only the truest fans of tv animation dive into this journey. However, it is broken down into clear sections and has a very in-depth appendix, so for people who want to read about their favorite shows, or a specific period in time--this is the book for you.

With that said, the biggest downside of this is that it was published in 2014--so it doesn't hit a lot of current tv animation, as well as it misses an important evolution that has since happened.

All in all, I think this is a fantastic book that will give anyone a thorough and complete history of television animation. I would love an updated version, or an addendum of some kind to fill in the many years that have passed since this tomes publication.

[Samantha Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tons of work went into this. It is more of a textbook. It's not really what I expected, or even wanted, if I'm honest. I do find history interesting and I love cartoons/animation. This is kind of a slog to get through though.

I could see it being used as reference material, potentially, but unless you're extremely interested in this subject, I wouldn't recommend it for someone that just likes cartoons.

[Andie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to rank this book higher. It was very informative and entertaining, however, it was extremely long. I had to read it in chunks in order to not get burnt out. I liked it, but it could have been shorter

[Nick Iuppa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, detailed history of Television Animation from the earliest days. A little on the academic side but otherwise a good read.