iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Watched 13 films in September. My top 5 of the month: 1. The Harder They Come (1972) – Perry Henzell 2. Buck and the Preacher (1972) – Sidney Poitier 3. Ghost World (2001) – Terry Zwigoff 4. Josie and the Pussycats (2001) – Harry Elfont, Deborah Kaplan 5. Dead Presidents (1995) – Hughes Brothers

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Released on this day in 1970: Ward Kimball’s kooky 22-minute theatrical featurette “Dad, Can I Borrow the Car?” An expanded TV version debuted in 1972 on “The Wonderful World of Disney.”

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Stumbled onto these flyers for screenings/talks I did way, way back.

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

It’s amusing to think that Chicago once had a steakhouse themed around the 1951 UPA short Rooty Toot Toot.

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Chuck Jones was born on this day, September 21, in 1912. It’s safe to say that I would not be doing what I am today if not for his book Chuck Amuck. So blame Chuck.

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Walt Disney illustration by Frank Dobias, 1934

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Cuban artist Julio Girona (1914-2002) drew these strikingly modern cartoons from 1937 to 1939 while living in New York City and working for the Spanish-language newspaper La Voz.

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

These caricatures of historical figures by Ward Kimball appear briefly in "A Salute to Alaska," a 1967 episode of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. The reference images show how Ward captured and exaggerated the likeness of each person.

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Choose your fighter: Ward Kimball dogs

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

We're getting closer to the publication of my new, years-in-the-making book, If It Ain’t Fun, To Hell With It, a bio of animation icon Ward Kimball. In this FAQ, you'll find details like when it will be published, what it will look like, and how to get a copy. amidamidi.substack.com/p/the-ward-k...

amidamidi.substack.com

The Ward Kimball Biography Is Coming

When it will be published, what it will look like, and how to get a copy

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Some of the incredible background paintings from Ward Kimball’s Magic Highway, USA (1958). Don’t know who painted these but the four credited BG artists are Gordon Legg, Barbara Begg, Irv Wyner and Al Dempster. Has this show ever been restored?

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

One of Ward Kimball’s favorite drawing exercises was caricaturing photos of people he found in the newspaper. #WardKimballBiography publishing 2027

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Ran the latest estimates on the page count for my upcoming Ward Kimball biography and it’s now over 600 pages. (Please don’t tell my publisher.)

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

COYOTE VS. ACME releases on August 28, and I can't wait to see it again on opening weekend. I was lucky enough to catch a private screening on the WB lot in 2023 (photo from that screening) and I loved it then. Here are my thoughts from that first viewing: www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film...

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

INSIDE UPA has long been my most difficult book to find, but the fine folks at Animation Obsessive have now made it accessible to all on the internet (with my blessing). I'll be sharing another interesting UPA discovery on my Substack in a few weeks.

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Watched 28 films in July. My top 5 of the month: 1. To Sleep with Anger (1990) – Charles Burnett 2. Deep Cover (1992) – Bill Duke 3. Wake in Fright (1971) – Ted Kotcheff 4. Straight Time (1978) – Ulu Grosbard 5. Knightriders (1981) – George Romero

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Just ordered this new book — Welcome to Wackyland: The Wonderful World of Bob Clampett — by Bob's daughter Ruth and animation director Darrell van Citters. 256 pages, 450 images, $60. Available via stuartngbooks.com.

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Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Nowadays I write an occasional newsletter about animation history, my upcoming Ward Kimball bio & whatever else happens to catch my attention. This latest piece about my foray into political activism came about unexpectedly, but I'm glad it's resonating. It's always free here: amidamidi.substack.com

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