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Robert McKimson
October 13, 1910 - September 27, 1977
He started his career in animation, along with many others, as an artist for Walt Disney's Oswald the Rabbit in 1928. After Disney went to produce Mickey Mouse cartoons, Hugh Harman & Rudolph Ising went to Warner Brothers to direct and co-produce cartoon shorts, along with producer Leon Schlesinger. McKimson was one of the many artists who tagged along. During his career at Warner Brothers, Robert McKimson developed into one of the most gifted artists ever. In fact, he was an animator under nearly all the major WB directors. They include Hugh Harman & Rudolph Ising (1930-1933), Friz Freleng (1933-1937), Frank Tashlin (1937-1938), Chuck Jones (1938-1940), Tex Avery (1940-1941), and Bob Clampett (1942-1946; Animating under Clampett's supervison was when McKimson's drawing talents truly began to blossom).
Robert McKimson was in part responsible for developing Bugs Bunny's popularity during the 1940's. Between 1942 & 1943, Bob Clampett gave a Bugs Bunny modeling assignment to McKimson, which soon became the basic Bugs Bunny model for all Warner Brothers animators. The models are still in use for WB animators of today. He also designed the familiar design in which Bugs Bunny leans on a tree while eating a carrot, which was originally on display at a Los Angeles department store for a holiday sale. McKimson finally got his chance to direct in 1943, in the WWII short, "Return of Mr. Hook, The". His premiere short, "Daffy Doodles", was released in 1946. His earlier supervisng efforts was influenced by none other than Bob Clampett, the last director he worked for. During his earlier directing efforts, Robert McKimson's brother, Charles McKimson, became his leading animator, who had previously been working at Warner Brothers as an animator under Tex Avery's supervison. Thomas McKimson, Robert's second brother, was also an animator for Warner Brothers, mainly under Bob Clampett's supervison; he was also a background & layout artist for Clampett's later WB cartoons.
Drawing had apparently run in the McKimson family. As director, Robert McKimson was responsible for the creation of such WB characters as Foghorn Leghorn, Barnyard Dog, Hippity Hopper, Bobo the Elephant, Tasmanian Devil, Sylvester Jr., and Speedy Gonzales, and helped develop the personality of other charcters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Elmer Fudd. He only directed two Oscar-nominated toons; "Walky Talky Hawky" (1946), and "Tobassco Road" (1957). Robert McKimson's supervising success was partially because of the writing efforts of Warren Foster. However, when Foster was 'permanently' placed under Friz Freleng's writing unit in 1956, McKimson's writing unit was replaced by Tedd Pierce. That was when his supervising talents began to slip. In addition, he lost all his original animators (not nearly having the same dramatic effects for the other Warner Brother directors), including Charles McKimson. Robert did some of the animating under his supervison for a while between 1955 & 1956, until he got a new team of directors, which completly changed his stylization. Along with the change of writers & artists, Robert McKimson soon developed a 'squarer style', which from that point on scarred his cartooning career as his quality began to fall behind the other WB directors.
The closing of the original Warner Brothers' Cartoon Studio in 1963 was when Robert McKimson's career started to hit rock bottom. Friz Freleng quickly teamed up with David DePatie to form DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, in hopes of creating more WB cartoons. McKimson naturally tagged along, directing most of the less popular toon shorts of the 1960's, even the ones under Billy Hendrick's WB production in the latter of the 60's after DePatie-Freleng left WB in 1967. After the Warner Brothers cartoons' second diminishment in 1970, McKimson returned to DePatie-Freleng Enterprises to direct some Pink Panther cartoons. At that point, the careers of a lot of the remaing cartoonists, whom were once well-known during the 40's & 50's, had been detracted as well. In 1977, on his 66th birthday, McKimson had a doctor's appointment, when he was listed in good health. He decided to celebrate that evening. Unfortunately, while he was dining at a Burbank restaurant with Friz Freleng and other colleagues, Robert McKimson died of a massive heart attack. This came only years before his cartoons became part of the Warner Brothers' 'Looney Tunes renaissance' of the 1980's.
Robert McKimson's cartooning career since its decline in the early 1960's, and his relatively early death in 1977 had mostly been pushed in the background from true recognition. But among many of today's cartoonists, McKimson stll remains one of the most influental artists ever.
Director
1. "Bugs n' Daffy Show, The" (1996) TV Series (original material)
2. "That's Warner Bros.!" (1995) TV Series (original material)
3. "Merrie Melodies: Starring Bugs Bunny and Friends" (1990) TV Series (original material)
4. Daffy Duck's Quackbusters (1988)
5. "Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show, The" (1986) TV Series (original material)
6. "Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes Comedy Hour, The" (1985) TV Series (original material)
7. Daffy Duck's Movie: Fantastic Island (1983)
8. Bugs Bunny Mother's Day Special, The (1979) (TV) (original material)
9. Bugs Bunny's Valentine (1979) (TV) (original material)
... aka Bugs Bunny's Cupid Capers (1979) (TV) (USA: video title)
10. Bugs Bunny's Howl-Oween Special (1978) (TV) (original material)
11. Bugs Bunny's Easter Special (1977) (TV)
... aka Bugs Bunny's Easter Funnies (1977) (TV) (USA: video title)
12. "Sylvester & Tweety Show, The" (1976) TV Series
13. Sherlock Pink (1976)
14. Pink Pro, The (1976)
15. Mystic Pink (1976)
16. It's Pink, But Is It Mink? (1975)
17. Pink Da Vinci (1975)
18. Heist and Seek (1974)
19. "Houndcats, The" (1972) TV Series
20. Injun Trouble (1969)
21. "Pink Panther Show, The" (1969) TV Series
22. Bugged by a Bee (1969) (as Bob McKimson)
23. Shamrock and Roll (1969) (as Bob McKimson)
24. Rabbit Stew and Rabbits Too (1969) (as Bob McKimson)
25. Fistic Mystic (1969) (as Bob McKimson)
26. Great Carrot-Train Robbery, The (1969) (as Bob McKimson)
27. "Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour, The" (1968) TV Series
28. Bunny and Claude: We Rob Carrot Patches (1968) (as Bob McKimson)
29. Bomb Voyage (1967)
30. Quiet Squad, Le (1967)
31. Daffy's Diner (1967)
32. "Road Runner Show, The" (1966) TV Series
33. Toulouse La Trick (1966)
34. Taste of Catnip, A (1966)
35. Sugar and Spies (1966)
36. Swing Ding Amigo (1966)
37. Feather Finger (1966)
38. Squeak in the Deep, A (1966)
39. Cock-a-Doodle Deux-Deux (1966)
40. Snow Excuse (1966)
41. A-Haunting We Will Go (1966)
42. Daffy Rents (1966)
43. Mexican Mousepiece (1966)
44. Muchos Locos (1966)
45. Astroduck, The (1966)
46. Go Go Amigo (1965)
47. Chili Corn Corny (1965)
48. Tease for Two (1965)
49. Rushing Roulette (1965)
50. Suppressed Duck (1965)
51. Well Worn Daffy (1965)
52. Assault and Peppered (1965)
53. Moby Duck (1965)
54. "Porky Pig Show, The" (1964) TV Series (theatrical cartoons)
... aka "Porky Pig and His Friends" (1971) (USA: syndication title)
55. False Hare (1964)
56. Dr. Devil and Mr. Hare (1964)
57. Freudy Cat (1964)
58. Bartholomew Versus the Wheel (1964)
59. Message to Gracias, A (1964)
60. Claws in the Lease (1963)
61. Aqua Duck (1963)
62. Banty Raids (1963)
63. Million Hare, The (1963)
64. Fast Buck Duck (1963)
65. Good Noose (1962)
66. Mother Was a Rooster (1962)
67. Slick Chick, The (1962)
68. Bill of Hare (1962)
69. Fish and Slips (1962)
70. Wet Hare (1962)
71. What's My Lion? (1961)
72. Daffy's Inn Trouble (1961)
73. Birds of a Father (1961)
74. Strangled Eggs (1961)
75. Hoppy Daze (1961)
76. Cannery Woe (1961)
77. Dog Gone People (1960)
78. "Bugs Bunny Show, The" (1960) TV Series
79. Dixie Fryer, The (1960)
80. Mice Follies (1960)
81. Crockett-Doodle-Do (1960)
82. Wild Wild World (1960)
83. West of the Pesos (1960)
84. People Are Bunny (1959)
85. Broken Leghorn, A (1959)
86. Bonanza Bunny (1959)
87. Cat's Paw (1959)
88. Backwoods Bunny (1959)
89. Mutt in a Rut, A (1959)
90. Mouse That Jack Built, The (1959)
91. China Jones (1959)
92. Mouse-Placed Kitten (1959)
93. Gopher Broke (1958)
94. Pre-Hysterical Hare (1958)
95. Weasel While You Work (1958)
96. Dog Tales (1958)
97. Now, Hare This (1958)
98. Feather Bluster (1958)
99. Tortilla Flaps (1958)
100. Don't Axe Me (1958)
101. Rabbit Romeo (1957)
102. Mouse-Taken Identity (1957)
103. Ducking the Devil (1957)
104. Tabasco Road (1957)
105. Boston Quackie (1957)
106. Fox-Terror (1957)
107. Cheese It, the Cat! (1957)
108. Bedevilled Rabbit (1957)
109. Honey-Mousers, The (1956)
110. Wideo Wabbit (1956)
111. Slap-Hoppy Mouse, The (1956)
112. Raw! Raw! Rooster! (1956)
113. Half-Fare Hare (1956)
114. Stupor Duck (1956)
115. Unexpected Pest, The (1956)
116. Mixed Master (1956)
117. High and the Flighty, The (1956)
118. Weasel Stop (1956)
119. Too Hop to Handle (1956)
120. Dime to Retire (1955)
121. Hole Idea, The (1955)
122. Lighthouse Mouse (1955)
123. All Fowled Up (1955)
124. Feather Dusted (1955)
125. Quack Shot (1954)
126. Gone Batty (1954)
127. Oily American, The (1954)
128. Devil May Hare (1954)
129. Little Boy Boo (1954)
130. No Parking Hare (1954)
131. Bell Hoppy (1954)
132. Design for Leaving (1954)
133. Wild Wife (1954)
134. Cats A-Weigh! (1953)
135. Of Rice and Hen (1953)
136. Easy Peckin's (1953)
137. Cat-Tails for Two (1953)
138. Plop Goes the Weasel (1953)
139. There Auto Be a Law (1953)
140. Muscle Tussle (1953)
141. Peck o' Trouble, A (1953)
142. Upswept Hare (1953)
143. Fool Coverage (1952)
144. Rabbit's Kin (1952)
145. Super Snooper, The (1952)
146. EGGcited Rooster, The (1952)
147. Hoppy-Go-Lucky (1952)
... aka Hippety Hopper and Sylvester in Hoppy-Go-Lucky (1952) (USA: complete title)
148. Oily Hare (1952)
149. Turn-Tale Wolf, The (1952)
150. Sock a Doodle Do (1952)
151. Kiddin' the Kitten (1952)
152. Thumb Fun (1952)
153. Who's Kitten Who? (1952)
154. Prize Pest, The (1951)
155. Big Top Bunny (1951)
156. Dog Collared (1951)
157. Sleepy Time Possum (1951)
158. Lovelorn Leghorn (1951)
159. Leghorn Swoggled (1951)
160. French Rarebit (1951)
161. Early to Bet (1951)
162. Corn Plastered (1951)
163. Fox in a Fix, A (1951)
164. Hare We Go (1951)
165. Bushy Hare (1950)
166. Pop 'im Pop! (1950)
167. Fractured Leghorn, A (1950)
168. Hillbilly Hare (1950)
169. It's Hummer Time (1950)
170. What's Up Doc? (1950)
171. Egg Scramble, An (1950)
172. Leghorn Blows at Midnight, The (1950)
173. Strife with Father (1950)
174. Boobs in the Woods (1950)
175. Hurdy-Gurdy Hare (1950)
176. Ham in a Role, A (1949)
177. Hippety Hopper (1949)
178. Swallow the Leader (1949)
179. Windblown Hare, The (1949)
180. Grey Hounded Hare, The (1949)
181. Henhouse Henery (1949)
182. Rebel Rabbit (1949)
183. Daffy Duck Hunt (1949)
184. Paying the Piper (1949)
185. Horsefly Fleas, A (1948)
186. A-Lad-in His Lamp (1948)
187. Foghorn Leghorn, The (1948)
188. Hot Cross Bunny (1948)
189. Shell Shocked Egg, The (1948)
190. Up-Standing Sitter, The (1948)
191. Hop, Look and Listen (1948)
192. Daffy Duck Slept Here (1948)
193. Gorilla My Dreams (1948)
194. Crowing Pains (1947)
195. Easter Yeggs (1947)
196. Hobo Bobo (1947)
197. Birth of a Notion (1947)
198. One Meat Brawl (1947)
199. Mouse-Merized Cat, The (1946)
200. Walky Talky Hawky (1946)
201. Acrobatty Bunny (1946)
202. Hollywood Canine Canteen (1946)
203. Daffy Doodles (1946)
204. Return of Mr. Hook, The (1943)
Miscellaneous Crew -
1. Incredible Mr. Limpet, The (1964) (sequence animation director)
2. Too Hop to Handle (1956) (animator)
3. Dime to Retire (1955) (animator)
4. Hole Idea, The (1955) (animator)
5. Great Piggy Bank Robbery, The (1946) (animator)
6. Baby Bottleneck (1946) (animator)
7. Book Revue (1946) (animator)
... aka Book Review (1946)
8. Bashful Buzzard, The (1945) (animator)
9. Gruesome Twosome, A (1945) (animator)
10. Old Grey Hare, The (1944) (animator)
11. Buckaroo Bugs (1944) (animator) (uncredited)
12. Jasper Goes Hunting (1944) (animator: "Bugs Bunny" sequence)
13. Hare Ribbin' (1944) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
14. What's Cookin' Doc? (1944) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
15. Itch in Time, An (1943) (animator) (uncredited)
16. Corny Concerto, A (1943) (animator)
17. Tortoise Wins by a Hare (1943) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
18. Hep Cat, The (1942) (animator)
19. Bugs Bunny Gets the Boid (1942) (animator) (uncredited)
20. Horton Hatches the Egg (1942) (animator)
21. Any Bonds Today (1942) (animator)
... aka Bugs Bunny Bond Rally (1942) (USA: video title)
... aka Leon Schlesinger Presents Bugs Bunny (1942) (USA: complete title)
22. Cagey Canary, The (1941) (animator)
23. Heckling Hare, The (1941) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
24. Crackpot Quail, The (1941) (animator)
25. Sniffles Bells the Cat (1941) (animator)
26. Ghost Wanted (1940) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
27. Tom Thumb in Trouble (1940) (animator)
28. Elmer's Candid Camera (1940) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
29. Sniffles and the Bookworm (1939) (animator)
30. Little Brother Rat (1939) (animator)
31. Old Glory (1939) (animator)
32. Robinhood Makes Good (1939) (animator)
33. Little Pancho Vanilla (1938) (animator)
34. Cracked Ice (1938) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
35. A-Lad-In Bagdad (1938) (animator) (uncredited)
36. Now That Summer Is Gone (1938) (animator)
37. Star Is Hatched, A (1938) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
38. My Little Buckeroo (1938) (animator)
39. Dog Daze (1937) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
40. Sweet Sioux (1937) (animator)
41. She Was an Acrobat's Daughter (1937) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
42. Pigs Is Pigs (1937) (animator)
43. CooCoo Nut Grove, The (1936) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
44. Toy Town Hall (1936) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
45. Sunday Go to Meetin' Time (1936) (animator)
46. When I Yoo Hoo (1936) (animator)
47. Fish Tales (1936) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
48. Cat Came Back, The (1936) (animator)
49. Fire Alarm, The (1935) (animator)
50. Lady in Red, The (1935) (animator)
51. Buddy's Bug Hunt (1935) (animator)
52. Along Flirtation Walk (1935) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
53. Country Boy (1935) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
54. Buddy's Circus (1934) (animator)
55. Shake Your Powder Puff (1934) (animator)
56. Why Do I Dream Those Dreams? (1934) (animator)
57. Going to Heaven on a Mule (1934) (animator)
58. Buddy's Adventures (1934) (animator)
59. Buddy and Towser (1934) (animator)
60. Bosko the Drawback (1933) (animator)
61. Dish Ran Away with the Spoon, The (1933) (animator) (as Bob McKimson)
62. Bosko's Knight-Mare (1933) (animator)
63. Bosko in Person (1933) (animator)
64. Bosko's Dizzy Date (1933) (animator)
65. Bosko and Honey (1932) (animator)
66. Bosko's Store (1932) (animator)
Producer
1. Bugs Bunny Superstar (1975) (associate producer)
Writer
1. Banty Raids (1963) (story)
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