Animated World of DC Comics: Superman in Secret Agent (1943)

 The "Secret Agent" in this Superman short is a blonde stunner carrying important papers. Pretty much a by-the-numbers adventure..........

A very rare short where Superman doesn't say anything. Bud Collyer must've been given the day off.....

Rating: A-.

Toon Rock: Me & Magdalena (2016-26)

 10 years ago, the surviving Monkees recorded "Good Times!", which marks its 10th anniversary this year with a double-CD reissue, and the release of the single, "Me & Magdalena", presented as an animated music video.

"Magdalena" was written by Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie), with Mike Nesmith on vocals. Davy Jones, who'd passed on 4 years before the album's release, is depicted in the video in the tour bus.

Micky Dolenz (ex-Funky Phantom, Devlin, Wonder Wheels) is the lone surviving Monkee today, with the passing of Nesmith & Peter Tork.

Toon Legends: Don Donald (1937)

 Before there was Daisy Duck, there was Donna Duck.

Donna is the love interest of Donald Duck in 1937's "Don Donald", which has both south of the border, or so it'd seem, and a lovers' quarrel is at the center of this short.

Ultimately, Disney realized that Donald needed a girlfriend was more relatable, hence Daisy. Clarence Nash voiced both Donald & Donna, who would've been better off as Donald's sister.

Rating: B-.

Getting Schooled: Dumbo's Circus (1985)

 Back when the Disney Channel was a premium service, they mined the Disney vaults to develop original series based on existing properties.

One such example was Dumbo's Circus. More than 40 years after the movie, Dumbo has grown up to own his own circus, teaching the kids about circus life. The series marked the return of ex-Mouseketeer Sharon Baird to Disney, and she brought with her some of her colleagues from her days with the Kroffts, including Van Snowden, Patty Mahoney (ex-Far Out Space Nuts), and voice actor Walker Edmiston, who'd done some projects for Disney previously, as did Hal Smith.

Let's check a sample episode:

Unfortunately, one season's worth of original episodes were produced, and the series went off the air after a couple of rerun cycles in 1987. Today, the series sits in the Disney vaults.

No rating. Just a public service.

Tooniversary: A complete episode of The Super Six (1966)

 DePatie-Freleng's superhero spoof, The Super Six, marks its 50th anniversary this year. In this episode, you'll see:

Super Bwoing in "Easy Kid Stuff". The "apprentice" lands a babysitting gig. With predictable results.

The Brothers Matzoriley vs. "Dirty Pierre".

Granite Man in "Cement Mix-Up":

Paul Frees' narration in the Granite Man segment has him doing his famous Orson Welles mimic. Frees also voices Dirty Pierre.

No rating.

Toonfomercial: Woody Woodpecker for Sugar Pops (early 70's)

 While Woody Woodpecker was shifting between syndication and network runs in the 70's, Kellogg's brought him back, this time to shill for Sugar (now Corn) Pops.

Here, Woody's on the beach with a couple of kids.......

Don't know who did the animation for this one, as Universal had at the time closed their animation studio.

Looney TV: Bartholomew Versus The Wheel (1964)

 The mid-60's, we know, brought new ideas to Warner Bros..

One of those was 1964's "Bartholomew Versus The Wheel", about a dog who has a beef with wheels after a scooter runs over his tail. Mel Blanc provides the vocal effects for Bartholomew, the cat, and assorted others, while Leslie Barringer is credited as the narrator.

Directed by Robert McKimson.

This plays like it was adapted from a children's book, but I suspect it might be the other way around.

Rating: B.