Monday, October 18, 2010

Freeze Frame! - Bre'r Baer and Gregory and His Rubber Band

As we continue our Freeze Frame! exploration of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the destination today is a dark alley in Toontown that is briefly traveled by P.I. Eddie Valiant.  Two faded posters pay homage to individuals who were part of the film's animation crew.

One poster features a character called Bre'r Baer with the caption:

NOT TOO HARD
NOT TOO SOFT
HE'S JUUUST RIGHT!

The poster makes reference to Dale Baer who was a chief executive and supervising animator on Who Framed Roger Rabbit.  Baer has since become one of Disney's seasoned and veteran animators, working on such films as The Lion King, Tarzan, Chicken Little, Home on the Range and Meet the Robinsons.  He most recently animated Ray in The Princess and the Frog.

Nearby in the alley is another poster that advertises Gregory and his Rubber Band.  This likely refers to Gregory Hinde, a production assistant and animator on Who Framed Roger Rabbit.  The poster would be alluding to Hinde's primary career path as a musician and composer.  He would go on to create music for such animated television series as The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, The Wild Thornberrys and Evil Con Carne.


Elsewhere in Toontown is a door to a business named "Jane's Jade Jazz."  Is this a reference to coordinating animator Jane Baer (and spouse of Dale?), the only prominent "Jane" listed in the film's animation credits?

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