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The Great Cartoon Directors
The Great Cartoon Directors is the only book to profile the remarkable careers and achievements of the Hollywood cartoon directors of the 1930s, '40s, and '50s whose unique humor has entertained people around the world for seven decades. Nine of the best cartoon directors are featured: Friz Freleng, the creator of Speedy Gonzales, Yosemite Sam, and the Pink Panther; Ub Iwerks, the designer of Mickey Mouse and the wizard behind the first sound animated film, Steamboat Willie ; Chuck Jones, the genius behind Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, the Road Runner and Coyote; William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, who won seven Academy Awards for their Tom and Jerry cartoons; Bob Clampett, who directed Warner Brothers cartoons featuring Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, and Tweety; Tex Avery, who revolutionized the theory of cartoon-making, invented Daffy Duck, and introduced Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd to the screen; Walter Lantz, the creator of Woody Woodpecker; and Dave Fleischer, the father of Betty Boop and Popeye.Each chapter surveys the finest work of these directors and takes the reader behind the scenes to learn not only how they came up with their big ideas, but also how they managed to keep their characters fresh, topical, and unpredictable. Many of the directors granted exclusive interviews for the book and provided illustrations from their personal collections. With complete filmographies of each director's work, descriptions of many of their best cartoons, and dozens of sketches, drawings, and stills, The Great Cartoon Directors is a sure treasure trove of animation lore and an in-depth look at the creators of some of America's most beloved cartoons.
261 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1983
24 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Lenburg
44 books4 followersJEFF LENBURG is a prolific, award-winning author, celebrity biographer, entertainment historian, and writer-producer. He has authored 35 books, both fiction and non-fiction. His work has garnered nominations for several awards, including the American Library Association's "Best Non-Fiction Award" and the Evangelical Christian Publisher Association's Gold Medallion Award for "Best Autobiography/Biography."
In his teens, Jeff began interviewing many famous Hollywood personalities and became a frequent contributor to many leading and respected film journals and magazines that published his freelance work.
As one of the nation's premier biographers, he has authored 18 acclaimed celebrity memoirs and biographies. They include: the autobiography of actor Lorenzo Lamas, "Renegade at Heart"; the eight-book "Legends of Animation" series featuring biographies of Tex Avery, Walt Disney, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Matt Groening, Walter Lantz, John Lasseter, Hayao Miyazaki, and Genndy Tartakovsky; "How to Make a Million Dollars With Your Voice (Or Lose Your Tonsils Trying)" with radio/TV legend Gary Owens; "All the Gold In California and Other People, Places & Things" with Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Larry Gatlin; "Peekaboo: The Story of Veronica Lake," the only authorized biography of her; "Dudley Moore: An Informal Biography"; "Dustin Hoffman: Hollywood's Antihero"; and "Steve Martin: An Unauthorized Biography."
An acknowledged authority on cartoon animation, Jeff has spent three decades preserving its history. He has penned seven books about its history: the first-ever "Who's Who in Animated Cartoons: An International Guide to Film and Television's Award-Winning and Legendary Animators"; three editions of "The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons," the most comprehensive history and so-called "Bible" on animated cartoons ever produced; "The Great Cartoon Directors"; and two editions of "The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoon Series," the first reference book on animated cartoons ever produced.
In 1993, in recognition of his contributions to the world of animation, Jeff was inducted into Hollywood's "Cartoon Legends Walk of Fame" along with cartoon icons William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, Friz Freleng, June Foray and Don Messick.
Jeff is also a leading expert on the Three Stooges comedy team. A close friend of the original Stooges Moe Howard and Larry Fine and latter-day additions Joe Besser and Joe DeRita (and the only author-historian to have known them), he has co-written two books about this wacky comedy trio: "The Three Stooges Scrapbook," the official, authorized history, and "Once A Stooge, Always A Stooge," the autobiography of Three Stooges member Joe Besser. In 1983, along with radio-TV legend Gary Owens and his twin brother Greg, he spearheaded a nationwide write-in campaign that earned the Stooges their long overdue star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Jeff is also the author of numerous popular references: "Career Opportunities in Animation," a guide to a career in film, television, and games animation; two editions of "The Facts On File Guide to Research," the most comprehensive guide ever written on the subject of writing and research; and "Baseball's All-Star Game," a definitive game-by-game history of baseball's mid-summer classic.
In addition, Jeff has turned to writing fiction. In 1995, he published his first novel, "Scared to Death: A Lori Matrix Hollywood Mystery."
As writer and producer, Jeff has also worked on many top-rated programs and specials for ABC, NBC, PBS, and Tribune Broadcasting, served on the advisory board of Cartoon Network in its development from its inception, and as founder of his own company, Sandcastle Entertainment, develops original properties for both film and television, including live-action and animated television series (including original branded reality series), specials, and documentaries, and original branded characters for animation.
Throughout h
In his teens, Jeff began interviewing many famous Hollywood personalities and became a frequent contributor to many leading and respected film journals and magazines that published his freelance work.
As one of the nation's premier biographers, he has authored 18 acclaimed celebrity memoirs and biographies. They include: the autobiography of actor Lorenzo Lamas, "Renegade at Heart"; the eight-book "Legends of Animation" series featuring biographies of Tex Avery, Walt Disney, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Matt Groening, Walter Lantz, John Lasseter, Hayao Miyazaki, and Genndy Tartakovsky; "How to Make a Million Dollars With Your Voice (Or Lose Your Tonsils Trying)" with radio/TV legend Gary Owens; "All the Gold In California and Other People, Places & Things" with Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Larry Gatlin; "Peekaboo: The Story of Veronica Lake," the only authorized biography of her; "Dudley Moore: An Informal Biography"; "Dustin Hoffman: Hollywood's Antihero"; and "Steve Martin: An Unauthorized Biography."
An acknowledged authority on cartoon animation, Jeff has spent three decades preserving its history. He has penned seven books about its history: the first-ever "Who's Who in Animated Cartoons: An International Guide to Film and Television's Award-Winning and Legendary Animators"; three editions of "The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons," the most comprehensive history and so-called "Bible" on animated cartoons ever produced; "The Great Cartoon Directors"; and two editions of "The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoon Series," the first reference book on animated cartoons ever produced.
In 1993, in recognition of his contributions to the world of animation, Jeff was inducted into Hollywood's "Cartoon Legends Walk of Fame" along with cartoon icons William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, Friz Freleng, June Foray and Don Messick.
Jeff is also a leading expert on the Three Stooges comedy team. A close friend of the original Stooges Moe Howard and Larry Fine and latter-day additions Joe Besser and Joe DeRita (and the only author-historian to have known them), he has co-written two books about this wacky comedy trio: "The Three Stooges Scrapbook," the official, authorized history, and "Once A Stooge, Always A Stooge," the autobiography of Three Stooges member Joe Besser. In 1983, along with radio-TV legend Gary Owens and his twin brother Greg, he spearheaded a nationwide write-in campaign that earned the Stooges their long overdue star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Jeff is also the author of numerous popular references: "Career Opportunities in Animation," a guide to a career in film, television, and games animation; two editions of "The Facts On File Guide to Research," the most comprehensive guide ever written on the subject of writing and research; and "Baseball's All-Star Game," a definitive game-by-game history of baseball's mid-summer classic.
In addition, Jeff has turned to writing fiction. In 1995, he published his first novel, "Scared to Death: A Lori Matrix Hollywood Mystery."
As writer and producer, Jeff has also worked on many top-rated programs and specials for ABC, NBC, PBS, and Tribune Broadcasting, served on the advisory board of Cartoon Network in its development from its inception, and as founder of his own company, Sandcastle Entertainment, develops original properties for both film and television, including live-action and animated television series (including original branded reality series), specials, and documentaries, and original branded characters for animation.
Throughout h
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 30, 2018
A good overview of some of the most well-known cartoon creators of the classic studio era, as well as a few lesser-known ones at independent or smaller studios. Photos of most of the subjects and detailed explanations of their work processes and environments. A quick read and a good reference for those who wish to explore the world of toons beyond what you see on the screen.
Displaying 1 of 1 review