Rocky and Bullwinkle statue taken down

The statue of Rocky and Bullwinkle on Sunset Blvd. has been taken down. From what I could find online, it seems Dreamworks has taken the statue down for restoration. The reports say the statue will not be returned to it's spot on Sunset. From what I understand, Dreamworks now owns the rights to Rocky and Bullwinkle.
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/biz/dreamworks-animation-agrees-to-acquire-classic-media-66896.html

                                  (My photos from fall 2006)

Bullwinkle stands here in the newer "Wassamatta U" color scheme. (Or is it "Wossamatta"?) Older photos show him in a blue, white and light purple outfit, and Rocky wasn't holding a "Wassamatta U" pennant. Jay Ward and Bill Scott must have figured bad publicity was better than no publicity at all, right?

http://www.seeing-stars.com/imagepages/bullwinklephoto1.shtml

Still, it comes from a time when we could laugh at ourselves more easily by concocting these abstract characters. L.A. has been criticized over and over again for being an ugly city, and I'm forced to agree. Hollywood has already been turned into a stack of giant boxes, and little things with some charm or whimsy always seem to get bulldozed under. Establishments like "Tail of the Pup", and even Bob's Big Boy are vulnerable to being swept aside by developers for another Starbuck's/Subway/nail salon strip mall.

Here's a last look at our heroes walking off into the sunset. True, it was a battered piece of paper mache' and plastic that needed a major restoration, but that doesn't make it worthless. Perhaps they'll resurface someday. Stay tuned for our next episode. Right now, I can't think one of those groaner punchlines the way they could.

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/07/breaking_52yearold_bullwinkle_statue_lifted_off_the_strip_1.php

http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2013/07/bullwinkle_statue_moved_o.php

Summer Vacation

Or, what I didn't do this summer. So far. I fell way behind on animation news, technology and art in general. I did get to see the Superman display at Cleveland Hopkins airport back in June.

                                              (Superman copyright DC/Time Warner)

The biggest drama in June before my summer trip was having our new PC crash. I mean, totally dead, just a black screen with a cursor. The boot sector was totally corrupted. And the kicker was it was our only Toon Boom Storyboard Pro station at the Animation Guild computer lab.

Finally managed to copy the files using the command prompt, and then reformat the disk. What a nightmare. All the "home remedy" advice for repairing the boot sector, and avoiding reinstalling everything never panned out. I was biting my nails making sure everyone's files made it off safely before I wiped out the drive.

I think I know what caused it, but I can't go into here. I'll get on ordering backup drives to soften the blow next time. Got to spend a week at my dad's place north of Toronto.

I also got my parents old PC and laptop running again, with some vital help from my brother. I'm still a bit disgusted with all the electronics people are hauling up to their cabins. Fortunately, the local township seems conscientious about recycling. Saw a couple old PC's at the transfer station last year.

Blew off Comic-Con and Siggraph. I need something else to inspire me. Tired of the same old thing.

Here's what I started this spring. I'm not sure how it's going to turn out.
http://kenroskosanimationthesis.blogspot.com/

Ah yes, and someone "kidnapped" the Rocky and Bullwinkle statue from Sunset Blvd. Taken in for repairs they say, but it may never be returned to that fabled spot. You can read more about it here.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/animationscoop/bullwinkle-statue-removed

Go away for awhile and L.A. just falls apart!