John Carter of Mars animation test by Bob Clampett

Back in the 1940s, animation director Bob Clampett (director of Bugs Bunny and creator of Beany and Cecil) proposed a series of animated theatrical shorts adapting the John Carter of Mars books by Edgar Rice Burroughs (creator of Tarzan).

This footage was the test reel for the studios. Apparently one major Hollywood studio was interested in producing these shorts, but changed their mind when they thought the concept might be too weird for some people.

It's too bad they never got made. Who knows what direction animated movies might have taken if John Carter of Mars hit the big screen.