Animating Mad Magazine!

The animators at Disada Productions, were very happy when we got the
contract to produce a fully-animated television commercial based on
the weird, distinctive characters Don Martin drew in each issue of Mad
Magazine. Most of us enjoyed the magazine and appreciated the many
talented artists and funny writers who did each issue.

Soon Don Martin's characters came to life with their floppy feet
without shoes and dopey expressions on our storyboards, on sheets of
animation paper and in color on cels. In the commercial they played
enumerators, people who went door to door getting information for
putting together a voter's list for elections. The client was the
government of the province of Quebec.

We made the commercial in French and in English versions, sixty,
thirty and ten seconds long. There were rural versions and one for
cities. A newspaper ad campaign also featured the characters. Over the
years collectors of Mad Magazine memorabilia have obtained some of our
artwork. Sadly, Don Martin died a few years ago, but his contribution
as one of the self-named “gang of idiots” remains a highlight of a
cultural institution that continues to publish today.

Now see the end result of our great work!