Animation Artifacts &Hubley &Models 29 Jun 2009 07:47 am
Dig models
- Dig was a half-hour Special that was produced by John and Faith Hubley for CBS Saturday morning fare. It was supposed to be one of three programs on the earth around us, but it ended up as the only one of the three to have been completed.
The lion’s share of the animation was done by Tissa David and Johnny Gentilella. Phil Duncan, Vinny Bell and Chuck Harriton also did their share of the work.
The story was about a boy and his dog that accidentally get into a construction site and soon find themselves talking with a rock.
The rock takes them underground to a musical journey through the geology of the earth. The music and songs were by Quincy Jones. Jack Warden plays the lead rock, Ray Hubley was the boy, and plenty of others from the Group theater (such as Morris Carnovsky and Maureen Stpleton) did other voices underground.
Tissa handled most of the boy and a couple of the rock songs and conversations. She also helped construct some of the characters doing models. Here are some of the rough models she put together and worked from.
This was one of John’s earliest drawings (post storyboard). It was
probably done while in conversation about the character with Tissa.
This is Tissa’s first version of the boy.
The dog also takes shape.
Here “Iggy” the rock is formed.
on 29 Jun 2009 at 10:19 am 1.richard o'connor said …
When I first asked Tissa about this film she said “Did you like my self-portrait?” I had thought maybe she snuck herself into a crowd scene, instead she had designed the rock as her likeness.
on 27 Jan 2011 at 3:56 pm 2.Kim said …
Any chance anyone knows where we can buy a copy of the video Dig. Ive been looking for this for the last 28 years.. I remember watching it once at about 6 and ever since I was trying to figure out its name. Finally figured the name out last night so now Im looking to be able to watch it again.
on 27 Jan 2011 at 4:52 pm 3.Michael said …
Go here for a copy of DIG. It’s been out for quite a while on different tapes & DVDs and is still available on Amazon (though now it’s a bit pricey.)
on 25 Feb 2012 at 6:05 pm 4.Thomas said …
I put this cartoon in the same category as so many other lost classics, cartoons that didn’t talk down to kids. If you see any more copies on sale, please post it here!