By JOHN CARTER JR
Tiger Media Network
Over the past few years, the director and creator of Cartoon Network’s “Courage the Cowardly Dog” has been at work along with his Stretch Films team to create his upcoming short film “Howl if You Love Me.” Dilworth previously mentioned this project in our 2019 interview, saying:
“I am very excited about a new short, “Howl if you love me.” It’s a hand-animated romantic horror comedy. I returned to schooling myself on how to write a good story. Each day, I post process vlogs on my YouTube channel, Stretch Films. I will record the entire production until the completion of the film, however long that takes, and whatever comes in the way. The film is independently produced, and with no big studio funding, we’re happy to accept donations.”
The cartoon creator has continued posting progress updates alongside development on his YouTube channel since then, working over half a decade on the short. Also mentioned in that 2019 interview was the news that Stretch Films was working on a prequel of sorts for “Courage the Cowardly Dog.” At the time all Dilworth could say was: “Stretch is developing a prequel. I noticed so many reboots I thought, “Why not Courage?” We’re under a confidentiality agreement, unfortunately. Stay tuned for more later.”
Since then, Dilworth shared on his YouTube channel a pilot for a Courage the Cowardly Dog prequel titled “Before Courage: the Goblins of Litter.” However, the video has since been set to private, and Dilworth has updated his fans on the project:
“Cartoon Network and Warner Brothers produced the pilot, but decided not to move forward,” Dilworth said.
Dilworth said his inspiration for creating the pilot was his desire to continue “Courage The Cowardly Dog.” In the process of making this pilot, Dilworth says it was important to maintain continuity and that original series actor Paul Schoeffler is a “genius.” However during the production of the film, Dilworth would mourn the loss of different people, including longtime Muriel voice actor Thea White, whose last role was in “Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog” and the woman who inspired the creation of the character Muriel Barrie who Dilworth had many fond memories of. The development of this short has been a long labor of love from those at Stretch, with Dilworth wishing to thank his team members William Hohauser, Valerie Johnson and Pavel Tsvetanski.
While the Courage reboot never came to be, Dilworth has ultimately completed his next film project, telling Tiger Media Network his motivation to do so was “ a reason to live.” Dilworth says that he is “grateful” that the short is finally completed and what keeps him inspired to create animation like in the upcoming Howl is “to make better films.”
After decades developing cartoons and characters Dilworth says he is looking for “release.” Yet he is still excited about sharing the film with his fans whom he often interacts with on social media and through fan mail. If you are excited about the upcoming film, Dilworth has announced various film festival dates for screenings of his new short on his Instagram page.
Festival Dates for “Howl If You Love Me” include:
Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology (PFCAT)
August 21-25. Portland, OR
Cinema Crypt Film Festival
Oct, Los Angeles, CA.
Simply Weird Film Fest
October 30, Atlanta, GA
Dalmatia Film Festival, Croatia
August 7-8, Kastela
August 22-23, Pirovac
December 2-5, Split
Short Film Program / Movistar Plus+
August 1, 2024 – July 31, 2025
Spain and Andorra
Corrosivo Film Fest
August 30 – September 7
San Jose, Costa Rica
31st Chicago Underground Film Festival
September 11-15, Chicago, IL
Delco Horror Haven Film Fest
Sept 29, Media, PA.
57th Sitges – Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantastic de Catalunya
October 3 – 13, Stiges, Spain
John Dilworth’s Social Media:
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