special projects

Cartoon Carnival: 
The Documentary (2021)

Tommy José Stathes is Consulting Producer on Cartoon Carnival: The Documentary—a fun and informative new documentary about the early days of animation. An Andrew T. Smith production. This film is now available on home video from Century 21 Films in the UK, as region-free DVD or Blu-ray discs that can be played in any territory.

Turner Classic Movies: Cartoon Carnival premiere and 100th Anniversary of Fleischer Studios (2021)

In October of 2021, Turner Classic Movies aired two retrospective blocks of Fleischer Studios cartoons, in brand new restorations produced by Tommy José Stathes.
That same evening, Cartoon Carnival: The Documentary enjoyed its worldwide premiere on Turner Classic Movies. Read more about these broadcasts here. Below, you'll find TCM host Ben Mankiewicz's intros and outros for both programs.

Turner classic movies: 
100th Anniversary of 
bray studios (2014)

In October of 2014, T.J.S. provided Turner Classic Movies with a selection of ten animated shorts celebrating the centennial of Bray Studios' incorporation as part of the network's "Back to the Drawing Board" evening of animation programming. The Bray films were sourced from the Stathes Archives and the Bray Animation Project in newly-mastered digital HD restorations. Robert Osborne hosted with T.J.S. as guest co-host. T.J.S.' guide to the program is here and TCM's online article about the show is here. 

the bray animation project

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The Bray Animation Project is an online guide to the first successful animated cartoon studio and its pioneering animated films, produced in 1913 through 1936. It's also a database showing which of the studio's films are known to survive. 

Visit the Bray Animation Project

Turner Classic Movies: "Century of Animation Showcase: 1923" and "Walt's Early wonderlands" (2023)

In celebration of Silent Movie Day 2023, Turner Classic Movies aired two T.J.S.-produced programs on 9/29/23. The first, entitled "Century of Animation Showcase: 1923," was a collection of newly restored shorts from a century prior. The second program, "Walt's Early Wonderlands," showcased rare and favorite selections from Disney's career in the 1920s—also in newly restored versions.
A guide to both programs can be found here.

Turner Classic Movies: "Century of Animation showcase: 1922" (2022) and "Before Mickey Mouse" (1982)

In celebration of Silent Movie Day (Sept. 29th) in 2022, Turner Classic Movies aired two T.J.S.-produced programs. The first was the re-repremiere of Ronald Schwarz's seminal documentary film, Before Mickey Mouse (1982), in a newly restored 2K version—this, after the rights to the film and its master materials were formally acquired earlier that year by Stathes. Second, a program entitled Century of Animation Showcase: 1922; a collection of newly restored shorts from a hundred years prior. A brief guide to both programs can be found here. For more information on Before Mickey Mouse, see this page.

tcm silent animation: 2012

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In October 2012, T.J.S. provided a program of newly restored early cartoons to Turner Classic Movies, for a Sunday evening of animation broadcasts. The program's focus was animation produced in New York City during the first three decades of the cartoon industry. Veteran TCM host Robert Osborne presented the films, and the program was co-hosted by noted animation historian Jerry Beck. A guide to the program is here.

Book Contributions

OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS
Furniss, Maureen. The New History of Animation. (Thames and Hudson, 2016) Paul Terry cartoon film still.

Apgar, Garry. Mickey Mouse: Emblem of the American Spirit. (Walt Disney Family Foundation Press, 2015)
Various early animation film stills/images (erroneously uncredited in first printing).

Engle, John. Surfing in the Movies: A Critical History. (McFarland, 2015) Bobby Bumps film still.

Gerstein, David. Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: "Race to Death Valley." (Fantagraphics, 2011) Mutt & Jeff film stills.

Yoe, Craig. The Complete Milt Gross. (IDW, 2010)
Bray / Lantz film still. 
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Flip the Frog: The Complete Series (Blu-ray, Thunderbean Animation, 2023) Film footage

The Complete Cubby Bear (Blu-ray/DVD, Thunderbean Animation, 2016) Film footage

American Experience: Walt Disney (2015) Film footage

Ub Iwerks' Willie Whopper (Blu-ray/DVD, Thunderbean Animation, 2015) Film footage

Classics From the Van Beuren Studio (Blu-ray/DVD, Thunderbean Animation, 2015) Film footage

Technicolor Dreams and Black and White Nightmares (Blu-ray/DVD, Thunderbean Animation, 2014)
Archival materials