Charles Mintz, creator of Krazy Kat for the screen, has just produced another cartoon comedy character. The new animated cartoon is called “Scrappy.” Instead of the usual animals featured in the current cartoons, the central figure will be a mischievous little character called “Scrappy.” Most of the comedy will be pantomime, but interpolated dialogue, music and sound effects will play an important part in the short.
—“Star Dust” newspaper column, June 14, 1931
If you went to the movies 90 years ago—on July 16, 1931, to be precise—you might have ended up as one of the first people in the world to see a Scrappy cartoon. That’s the day that the first one, Yelp Wanted, debuted, unleashing Dick Huemer, Sid Marcus, and Art Davis’s creation on the world. Thanks to the miracle of YouTube, here it is again:
It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that Scrappyland is marking Scrappy’s first nine-tenths of a century by sharing his first cartoon. But here’s something you probably woudn’t have anticipated seeing here: a new Scrappy cartoon. As far as I know, it’s the first time anyone has animated Scrappy and Oopy since 1941’s The Little Theater:
Scrappy’s 90th Anniversary was produced by Noah Stone and a bunch of other Scrappy fans, all credited at the short’s end; I think them for relighting the torch after so many decades. I’m sorry that my friend Dr. Richard Huemer isn’t around to see it.
Here’s a Scrappy/Oopy drawing—also made to celebrate the anniversary—by Noah:
When Scrappyland debuted in 2005, Scrappy was a mere 73. Now it seems quite possible that this site will be around to mark his 100th birthday in 2031. Or at least I hope it will: I certainly have enough material to keep going, and it would be sad to think that the world might run out of Scrappyana to rediscover.
It’s been great fun helping to keep Scrappy from being entirely forgotten, and it seems fair to say that he’s at least a little less forgotten than he was when I came up with the odd idea of devoting a website to him. May the great Scrappy resurgence continue unabated.
Oh, and a footnote: It wasn’t until this very night that I realized that my wife was born on the anniversary of Yelp Wanted’s release. That’s right—I married someone who shares Scrappy’s birthday. Now I’m horrified at the thought that it could have been any other way.
A new Scrappy post! What a treat! Love this blog…
I did some of the animation in that it was really fun can’t wait to do other projects at Scrappy Animation
The animation is this right https://youtu.be/bR46s6PCBLE thank you Noah for helping me out
*right here
That’s really cool! What program do you animate with?
I’ve been trying to learn OpenToonz…still working at it….
I use Flipaclip
It looks outstanding so far! I’ve always aspired to be an animator but my experience is limited. I met Chuck Jones when I was a kid and wanted to follow in his footsteps.
-L.
Hey I was the one to voice oppy I really liked this post
Hey! I worked on this! A huge thanks to Noah for bringing Scrappy back to life. My scene is at 1:32-1:34. Please check Noah’s cartoon out!
Well as of late many people such as I have left Scrappy after what happened with Noah was revealed
What happened with Noah?
Noah had a few issues involving self-confidence, he got better though
I recognize the soundtrack from THE PUPPET MURDER CASE! As far as the original article and filmography I penned with Will Friedwald way back when goes, respectful tips of the Raymond Griffith top hat must go to Mark Kausler, Ron Hall and “Samba Pictures” for making it possible for me to see literally dozens of these cartoons. I wrote to Sid Marcus but, unfortunately he passed before I was close to finishing the ANIMANIA/MINDROT piece.
With the understanding that Sony Pictures would never, EVER, say yes to such a thing, I would love it if an arrangement could be made with Steve Stanchfield and Thunderbean Animation for a Blu-ray release of Scrappy cartoons from the first two seasons.
I know I’m late to the whole “reply party,” but it was an honor to animate on this cartoon, as well as voicing the studio CEO.