William T. Hurtz

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland

A little boy whose dreams transcend reality is sucked into his own fantasy, which is everything he has dreamed of, until he unleashes an old secret that may not only destroy this perfect dream world but reality itself.

The Great Rights

A cartoon explaining the American Bill of Rights and Constitution. A man imagines a "nightmare world" without these documents, where Orwellian thugs censor and arrest with impunity. When reminded of the Bill of Rights, the man fights back and eventually defeats the forces of faceless totalitarianism.

The Unchained Goddess

A scientist and a writer explain the various meteorological phenomena to Meteora, the goddess of weather, while giving an insight into the technology involved in predicting them and warning about the threat of global climate change.

The Strange Case of the Cosmic Rays

Part of acclaimed filmmaker Frank Capra's "Wonders of Life" series of science-based films (which won an Emmy Award for Best Editing) teaches kids about the power of gamma rays and radiation.

Hemo the Magnificent

Professor Frank Baxter and some animated friends answer questions about blood. what makes it red? Why do little animals' hearts beat so quickly? And so much more.

Hemo the Magnificent

Professor Frank Baxter and some animated friends answer questions about blood. what makes it red? Why do little animals' hearts beat so quickly? And so much more.

Our Mr. Sun

One entry in a series of films produced to make science accessible to the masses—especially children—this film describes the sun in scientific but entertaining terms.

Look Who's Driving

Look Who’s Driving: A super-rare UPA educational film from 1954 directed by Bill Hurtz (The Unicorn in the Garden) and designed by Bob Dranko. There’s nothing revolutionary about this short but it’s a superb bit of stylishly designed Fifties animation.

Bringing Up Mother

John Smith is a fugitive on the run, all because of the suppressive childhood inflicted on him by his mother. When he was two years old she had tricked him into exchanging his crib for a bed and later, she brought home a baby brother when he was expecting a sister. John has had enough and is running away from home but has to stop at the curb as his mother won't let 6-year-old John cross the street.

The Unicorn in the Garden

Based on James Thurber's short-story about a mild, henpecked man who, while preparing his breakfast, looks out the window and sees a unicorn eating flowers in the garden. He rushes upstairs to inform his domineering wife, and she accuses him of being crazy and threatens to have him put away. He persists that he did see a unicorn in the garden, and she phones for the authorities to come take him away. But when they arrive, with strait-jackets, they find the wife rambling and raving about seeing the unicorn, and promptly take her away.

Hotsy Footsy

Magoo's at a Rutgers alumni dance and winds up squaring off with a pro wrestler at the arena across the alley, thinking he's dancing with the wife of an old friend.

Man Alive!

This Oscar-nominated documentary short is from the American Cancer Society. Ed ignores his car problems and then fixes it without using a good mechanic. He also ignores stomach problems. Will he go to a doctor? Is it cancer?

More Than Meets the Eye

Promotional film extoling the virutes of radio advertising, even in a new era of televison.

Frosty the Snowman

This short little cartoon is based on the popular song by Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson, first recorded in 1950 by Gene Autry as his followup to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Man on the Land

Oil Industry PR film from UPA. The story of man's conquest of the soil through the ages with background of narration and ballads. Starts with prehistoric times and ends in the present, showing how oil-powered machines have banished the threat of famine.

Gerald McBoing-Boing

The story of a little boy who would only talk in sound effects. With story by Dr. Seuss (and Bill Scott of Rocky and Bullwinkle fame) this cartoon won the Oscar for best short subject (animated) for 1950.