Of Mice and Magic

Whether you’re seeking movie gifts or something for the history buffs in your life, this comprehensive guide to animation and cartoons has it all. In this one-of-a-kind definitive history of American animated cartoons, renowned film critic and historian Leonard Maltin presents the most extensive filmography on cartoons ever compiled. 

In this revised and updated edition of Of Mice and Magic, Leonard Maltin not only recreates this whole glorious era from the silent days through the Hollywood golden age to Spielberg’s An American Tail, he traces the evolution of the art of animation and vividly portrays the key creative talents and their studios. This definitive history of American animated cartoons also brings Maltin’s many fans up to date on the work being done today at the Walt Disney and Warner Bros. studios, and other developments in the world of animation.

Drawing on colorful interviews with many of the American cartoon industry’s principals, Maltin has come up with a gold mine of anecdotes and film history. Behind the scenes were genius animators and entrepreneurs such as Walt Disney, Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, Mel Blanc, and a legion of others. In all, Maltin has put together a glorious celebration of a universally loved segment of Americana.

Of Mice And MagicPreface

Preface to the Revised Edition

1. The Silent Era
2. Walt Disney
3. Max Fleischer
4. Paul Terry and Terrytoons
5. Walter Lantz
6. Ub Iwerks
7. The Van Beuren Studio
8. Columbia: Charles Mintz and Screen Gems
9. Warner Bros.
10. MGM
11. Paramount/Famous Studios
12. UPA
13. The Rest of the Story

Filmographies by Studios

The Walt Disney Cartoons
The Max Fleischer Cartoons
Terrytoons
The Walter Lantz Cartoons
The Ub Iwerks Cartoons
The Columbia/Screen Gems Cartoons
The Warner Bros. Cartoons
The MGM Cartoons
The Paramount/Famous Studios Cartoons
The UPA Cartoons

Academy Award Nominees and Winners
Glossary of Animation Terms
Sources for Cartoons on Film and Video
Index

"Informative and delightful … wonderful personal observations … Maltin has presented a history both readable and captivating."
—The Hollywood Reporter

"Lovingly detailed … wonderfully written … an excellent book."
—New York Times Book Review

"The most complete history of animation available."
—Los Angeles Times

"Maltin is an impressive archivist and a lively chronicler."
—Publisher's Weekly

Leonard Maltin is an American film critic and historian. His many books include Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons, Leonard Maltin's 151 Best Movies You've Never Seen, and Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide. He lives in Los Angeles, California.