Halloween's coming up in just a couple of days, so this amazing, surreal Fleisher bros. Betty Boop animation featuring the creepiest rendition of Cab Calloway singing Minnie the Moocher is here to help to get you in the mood.

I'm super excited for Halloween - it's one of my favorite holidays. Whether we do much to celebrate it this year will probably just depend on how Hurricane Sandy affects Baltimore over the next two days. Classes were canceled at MICA this morning due to the weather, so I'm thinking it's going to turn into a much needed sketching and cleaning sort of day. Teaching and illustration work has made life so hectic lately I haven't had much time for either in a while. We've got electricity for now and fingers crossed that we keep it the whole time!

p.s. - For an equally bizarre, but wonderful vintage skeleton-themed video, check out this amazing version of the costumed Lennon sisters singing "Dry Bones" on television. You won't regret it!

This short (only 30 seconds!), sweet hand-watercolored animation by Shishi Yamazi has enchanted me all week. Maybe it will inspire you to put on your dancing shoes as you're making your Friday night plans.

You can see several other equally beautiful animations on the artist's vimeo site here.

I believe this was shot by the Lumiere Brothers and each frame hand-colored. So beautiful.