Excerpt
Insight Editions asked Jerry Beck some questions about his career and about working on
The Art of Mr. Peabody and Sherman with DreamWorks Animation:
1) What was it like working with DreamWorks?
This was my third time to go behind the scenes on a DreamWorks film (previously Id chronicled the making of Madagascar and Jerry Seinfelds Bee Movie). The DreamWorks campusesboth in Glendale, California, and upstate at PDI in Redwood Cityare incredible, state-of-the-art factories of creativity. Imagine the best artists, writers, directors, and producers, all under one roof, with all the materials needed to create spectacular 3-D animated movies. Its not unlike the filmmaking factories of classic Hollywood in the 1930s and 40s. You cant help but have a smile on your face just walking through the halls. Oh, and the commissary food . . . superb! My role was to explain the characters, concepts, and techniques in the book, but the crew made me feel like part of the production teampart of a family that made an incredible family film.
2) Mr. Peabody and Sherman is based on the beloved 1960s classic cartoon by Jay Ward. Are you a fan of the original animated television show? Does the new film stay true to it? Any major differences?
I love the original Jay Ward cartoonsPeabody and Sherman in particular. I think I learned more about world history from those original cartoons than I did in elementary school. As a guy who has taken cartoons quite seriously all my life, Im happy to report that the characters of Mr. Peabody and Sherman are perfectly brought up to date in this new film. The original cartoonsfunny as they werewere only five minutes long, and crudely drawn and animated in Mexico. To make a ninety-minute 3-D, CGI, full-length movie, a real story was requiredone with emotional beats and spectacular visuals. The finished film is a template on how to update a classic cartoon characterstart with a producer, director, writers, and crew that truly love the source material. That comes through here from start to finish.
3) Jay Wards daughter, Tiffany Ward, is an executive producer on the film. How important do you think it is to have a family member involved in this kind of project, which uses concepts developed by a singular artist?
On a project like this, when you plot to revive a classic cartoon character, if you can get the cooperation of the original creatoror someone as close to the creator as Tiffany Ward was to her fathergrab them! Her participation was essential to keeping the original integrity of the characters together. Its important to remember what made these characters fun in the first place. That core knowledge of the characters central appeal is a crucial starting point on adaptations like this. Its what makes those recent Marvel Comics movies so successfulthey understand their classic characters and know who their audience is. Tiffany provided that role on this film and she had learned a lot of what to do”and what not to doin previous revivals of her fathers property. Everyone was glad she was there.
4) Whats a project youve always wanted to work on, but havent had a chance to yet?
One of my goalswhich Im happy to say Ive achievedwas to write books on cartoon characters I love. The classic ones like Looney Tunes, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Pink Panther, The Flintstonesand now, Mr. Peabody and Sherman. I was incredibly excited by DreamWorks acquisition of Classic Media last year, and I think it opens an opportunity for more revivals of classic cartoonslike Casper, Underdog, Little Lulu, etc. I love them all and Im crossing my fingers to be involved with new works involving those characters. They shouldnt just become a distant childhood memory. They should be revived and enjoyed by generations to come. I hope Ill be part of making that happen.
5) What animated movie or show on the horizon are you most looking forward to?
There is so much good stuff coming upand animation is part of all of it. Even in live-action spectaculars like Godzilla, Avatar, and The Hobbit. In animation, Im curious to see how Disney adapts a Marvel Comics property like Big Hero 6, and likewise Im anxious to see Genndy Tartakovskys take on Popeye. As a big fan of The Big Bang Theory, Im looking forward to DreamWorks Home with Jim Parsons. While working on the Mr. Peabody book, I saw much art from that film on the walls, and it looks hilarious.