Will Vinton Wacky Gags and Historic Camera Track

animateclay
2 hours ago
2 min read

The above video was recorded by artist, animator and glassblower alsborocreations.

Last month we wrote an article about a great gathering of animators and artists in Portland Oregon. It seems to have been a big success and some videos are just now appearing online. The above talk was given at the Lakewood Center of the Arts in Portland. To recap:

"Animation: Script to Screen" was a collaborative effort (JUNE 20-22nd 2025) between multiple stop-motion studios and featured artists in one exhibit, presenting the art form and industry of stop-motion.

As you will see, Webster went over the humorous gags that many animators made during the creation of Meet the Raisins, as well some Post Raisin Bran spots. In a way it is insightful into the way animators collaborated at the studio to boost morale. Especially when working with the uncertainty of animating without frame grabbers in those days.

Webster also possessed and donated a rare camera track that the late Will Vinton designed and built (see gallery for article). Will and the late Bob Gardiner used it for the Rainier Ale television commercial seen here:

The camera track was even featured in CineMagic magazine, called "CLAYMATION: making Movie History with Mud & Magic". The track was used early on in the studio before it became super famous.

Webster writes: "I'm donating the camera track that Will Vinton built for his very first commercials, specifically for this commercial for Rainier Beer that he and Bob Gardiner made in 1975. So naturally, to exhibit the track I built a replica of the close-up shot of the frog. It's not really a precise recreation of the actual Will & Bob setup, but it will be a nice photo op/museum piece. After this arts festival show, it will go to a newly created stop-motion museum in Portland, called MOSMA. The museum is still getting up and running, it's in the early stages but he's been making slow and steady progress."

UPDATE: Webster informed me that the track was built even earlier than thought for the Oscar winning film Closed Mondays!

Here's a gallery of images Webster shared. According to Webster: "Here's some photos of the camera track holding up a Mitchell for the "Divine Madness" trailer that Will did."

In the gallery you will notice some handwriting. Webster said "They used it on a lot of things. Martin the Cobbler as well. It's got Barry Bruce' handwriting, Bill Fiesterman's"