A quick search online states they were mostly animated by Jan Svochak of J.J. Sedelmaier Productions. There's a certain UPA or Jay Ward look to them, but that was the pervasive style of the time and plenty of agencies would play follow the leader when it came to style.
I haven't seen them use these characters in ages, but then I can't recall seeing ANY Hawaiian Punch commercials in a long time. It seems a bit too cartoon-violent for the PC climate these days. If they did bring the characters back it would probably be just to radically surf and "slam" down a bottle.
Thanks, Steve. I thought Lew Keller might have done the first ones but couldn't find any information about the original ad campaign or agency. In fact, sources vary about when the first Punchy ads aired; it was between 1961 and '63.
It does look like Lew Keller but these were East coast spots. I think Sal Butta also did some of the later Frito Bandito commercials after Cascade closed down.
Wow, when I was a kid the Hawaiian Punch guy freak me out. The guy who got punched also is in the top three frightening characters for eight-year-old me; which also including the guys from the early 60's Tom and Jerry (Dicky Moe) and the antagonists on Pink Panther.
Most people know Jan’s work from the years he put in on the Hawaiian Punch campaign. He was the head animator from the 60’s up to the early 90’s. His hand also steered the design consistency.Jan Svochak was born in Czechoslovakia, moved to the U.S. in the 30’s and then returned to Europe to fight in WWII (he was in the tank corps that liberated Dachau). After the war, he worked at Famous Studios in NYC and assisted Marty Taras on series like Baby Huey, Little Audrey, and Herman & Katnip. He also freelanced for Pelican Films, Byron Rabbitt, Zanders, Perpetual Motion Pictures, Buzzco, Ink Tank, Jumbo, and here at JJSP. While at Perpetual Motion Pictures, Jan, Candy Kugel, (i think Vinnie Caffarelli) and Russel Calabrese did the “Mr. Hipp” series of cartoons for NBC’s Saturday evening “Weekend” program in the early 1970’s, a precursor to SNL.
If anyone is interested, I just had Sal Butta in my comic shop and he confirmed he drew and designed these spots. If you go to "The Deep Archives" you can see some of the originals attributed to him.
This is some nice looking stylish and cartoony stuff. I wonder who designed and animated it.
17 comments:
Oh, how I loved that sugary crap. Super sweet fruit flavored syrup and eye hooking cartoon ads, what happened to stuff like that?
A quick search online states they were mostly animated by Jan Svochak of J.J. Sedelmaier Productions. There's a certain UPA or Jay Ward look to them, but that was the pervasive style of the time and plenty of agencies would play follow the leader when it came to style.
I haven't seen them use these characters in ages, but then I can't recall seeing ANY Hawaiian Punch commercials in a long time. It seems a bit too cartoon-violent for the PC climate these days. If they did bring the characters back it would probably be just to radically surf and "slam" down a bottle.
John, do you want to see my new comic?
Don't Let This Happen To You
When I was a kid I always thought that the Hawaiian Punch guy had antlers. Now it just looks like he's wearing a straw hat.
Alot better then the current 'tude-riddled design.
J J Sedelmaier may have done recent spots with the character, but the 60s spots were done by a guy named Sal Butta in New York.
These are super stylish and well drawn. I wish I could see that specific commercial anywhere.
However, I did find this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86IpU3g-S8Q
That's why I credited the search. It was Wikipedia, and we all know how trustworthy that can be.
I thought Sedelmaier came along later, anyway. The original Fedex and "where's the beef?" era.
Looked like Fred Crippen to me.
wasnt it friz freleng? that what i always heard, probably wrong. i loved these spots and the old capn crunch comercials with jene le feet! fun stuff!
Thanks, Steve. I thought Lew Keller might have done the first ones but couldn't find any information about the original ad campaign or agency. In fact, sources vary about when the first Punchy ads aired; it was between 1961 and '63.
It does look like Lew Keller but these were East coast spots. I think Sal Butta also did some of the later Frito Bandito commercials after Cascade closed down.
-These are great, I printed a screen grab from an old commercial where he actually punches the other guy & knocks him on his @$$...
Wow, when I was a kid the Hawaiian Punch guy freak me out. The guy who got punched also is in the top three frightening characters for eight-year-old me; which also including the guys from the early 60's Tom and Jerry (Dicky Moe) and the antagonists on Pink Panther.
Most people know Jan’s work from the years he put in on the Hawaiian Punch campaign. He was the head animator from the 60’s up to the early 90’s. His hand also steered the design consistency.Jan Svochak was born in Czechoslovakia, moved to the U.S. in the 30’s and then returned to Europe to fight in WWII (he was in the tank corps that liberated Dachau). After the war, he worked at Famous Studios in NYC and assisted Marty Taras on series like Baby Huey, Little Audrey, and Herman & Katnip. He also freelanced for Pelican Films, Byron Rabbitt, Zanders, Perpetual Motion Pictures, Buzzco, Ink Tank, Jumbo, and here at JJSP. While at Perpetual Motion Pictures, Jan, Candy Kugel, (i think Vinnie Caffarelli) and Russel Calabrese did the “Mr. Hipp” series of cartoons for NBC’s Saturday evening “Weekend” program in the early 1970’s, a precursor to SNL.
Blammo - Lots of great info.
Great post
I never realized how well done/drawn these were.
If anyone is interested, I just had Sal Butta in my comic shop and he confirmed he drew and designed these spots. If you go to "The Deep Archives" you can see some of the originals attributed to him.
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