Space Ghost: “The Heat Thing” (1966)
Filed under: Animation, 1960s, Animation Series, Bill Hanna, Color, Hanna-Barbera Studios, Joe Barbera, Space Ghost, U.S.A.,
Space Ghost: “The Heat Thing”
Directed by: Producers:Joseph Barbera
William Hanna
Animated by:Ed Barge
George Nicholas
Ed Parks
Music by:Ted Nichols
Billy Getty
Richard Olson
Layouts by:Walt Clinton
Mo Gollub
Alex Toth
Backgrounds by:Rene Garcia
Bob Gentle
F. Montealegre
Studio:Hanna-Barbera Productions Inc.
Release date:10/09/1966
Running time:7 min
Color process:Color
Synopsis
Space Ghost imagines intergalactic adventures through the superhero Space Ghost and his sidekicks Jace and Jan, and their pet monkey Blip, who assist in keeping outer space free from trouble. Space Ghost was pivotal in the rising popularity of superhero cartoons in the 1960s, and paved the way for other superhero cartoons, such as Superman. Unlike Superman, however, Space Ghost was developed for television rather than adapted from comic books. Space Ghost had a variety of superpowers, but his ability to make himself invisible (thanks to his belt) was perhaps one of his most effective.
In “The Heat Thing,” while flying over Jupiter, a 30ft monster made of molten material that throws lava bomb attacks Jace. The cartoon addresses human fears of the unknown and the perceived threat of the “other,” which is depicted as a groaning, grumbling, red-hot mass in this episode.
References:
IMDb. “The Heat Thing/The Worm People/Zorak”. IMDb, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1085624/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt.