Bringing the Funny

Bringing the Funny

or: Inmates at the Asylum

Just found out we lost one of the good ones the other day. If you grew up on cartoons in the 80s and beyond then Barry Caldwell was one of the biggest reasons you laughed. Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, Osmosis Jones and others. Barry worked as an animator, director and storyboard artist and it was as a fellow storyboard artist where I met him At Filmation circa 1980-ish. It’s one thing to draw in a way that others recognize as satisfying the definition of humor. To draw in a way that makes you laugh all by itself is something else. His simplicity, body language, composition, timing were a joy to behold. Man knew how to draw the Funny.

I’ll probably go to hell for telling this but, it’s not as though I haven’t had a long standing reservation. (Just as a set-up, I’m the only guy in the following story who’s not African American.) Once upon a time, I’m out on the balcony at Filmation on a break with Larry Houston, and Don Manual. Larry looks out over the parking lot, spots Barry and yells out, “Hey, n*****, get away from my car!” Barry looks up, smiles and waves. I, on the other hand explode. As a Navy brat, I spent some time growing up in the Deep South. My experience with the word was from KKK types who beat the crap out of you and your brother, throw rocks through your windows in the middle of the night and try to murder your mother. Suddenly I’m 12 years old again hiding in the closet under a pile of clothes. Screaming at Larry, I say “HEY, YOU CAN’T CALL HIM THAT! WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU!” There’s a beat of silence and then Barry, Larry and Don all burst out in laughter. “Sure we can,” says Larry, “You can’t but, we can.” Oh, what a laugh we had over that one… Maybe you had to be there…

Don, Larry, hope you’re well. To Barry’s family, friends and fans, Love and Mercy.

Happy Trails

Smitty