Archive for Animators

Ub Iwerks

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , , , on September 17, 2018 by Cade

March 24, 1901 – July 7, 1971

Here’s a simple question: Would there be a Walt Disney without Ub Iwerks?

Here’s a complicated answer: Yes…but probably not the Disney we know today.

Ubbe Eert “Ub” Iwerks was close friends with Walt dating back to their days in Kansas City as struggling artists. Iwerks was at Disney’s side through ALL of the early milestones: Laugh-O-Gram, the financial struggles, the move to Los Angeles, the creation of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit…the LOSS of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to Universal, and the creation of a mouse by the name of “Mickey.” Iwerks served as the chief animator for Disney. His ability to draw and animate quickly coupled with his quirky sense of humor made him an invaluable asset to the fledgling entertainment empire. Ub’s style can be prominently displayed in the legendary Mickey short, Steamboat Willie, which he animated in its entirety. Continue reading →

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Friz Freleng

Posted in Hillside Memorial Park with tags , , on September 7, 2018 by Cade

August 21, 1906 – May 26, 1995

Legendary, Academy Award winning animator, Isadore Freleng – known to his friends as “Friz” – was responsible for the creation and/or development of some of the most recognizable American cartoon characters of all time: Porky Pig, Sylvester the Cat, Tweety, Yosemite Sam among others. Freleng grew up in Kansas City where he worked with other soon-to-be pioneers and legends like Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks before eventually and inevitably making the move to Hollywood. After a brief move to New York, Freleng was enticed back to California by friends Rudolph Ising and Hugh Harmon to begin working for Warner Bros. and their Looney Tunes shorts. Friz went on to direct more than 250 cartoons for Warner Bros. Continue reading →

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William Hanna

Posted in Ascension Cemetery with tags , , , on February 24, 2014 by Cade

hanna1July 14, 1910 – March 22, 2001

As one half of the most successful film and television animation duo in the history of Hollywood, William Hanna created cultural icons like Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo and The Jetsons. Hanna started his career in animation in the Harman and Ising1 studio out of a simple need for a post-Depression job. He quickly rose through the ranks and moved on to MGM. At MGM, he met Joseph Barbera and the two quickly teamed up and started a 60 year partnership. Hanna-Barbera’s early success with the classic cat and mouse series Tom and Jerry (which won 7 Academy Awards) led to more an more successes – especially among adult viewers. Sensing they had something to offer, they forayed into prime time television with a spoof of The Honeymooners called The Flintstones. The Flintstones became the first truly successful animated prime time series and ran for 6 seasons. Continue reading →

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