Preserving a Saturday Morning tradition and a legendary animation studio? Ans: Warner Archive- #2
IWAO TAKAMOTO-Legendary Artist, Designer,Animator & Producer-
Left: Iwao “hard” at work — Iwao always had a smile on his face…
Born of Japanese immigrants in Los Angeles, California-1925-Iwao was more than an extremely bright student, he was exceptional academically. When the war came(WWII) he and his family ended up in an internment camp for Japanese Americans-Manzanar. Although not an ideal situation-he started to draw and during his time there sparked a chance meeting with two gentlemen who were both involved in the film business as studio art directors. The Two liked his drawings and asked him if he had considered drawing as a career.
After the war when the internment camps were dismantled Iwao keeping what the two studio art directors had said decided to take his work-sketchpads, drawings- to Walt Disney Studios. The amazing thing is Iwao had never taken art or drawing classes or attended an Art School-in fact he did not even possess a professional portfolio. Yet after only 15 minutes into his interview he found himself working for Disney. He was that good-naturally.
Iwao started with Walt Disney Studios in 1947 and stayed with them thru 1960.During that time and started as an assistant animator within the short film division-first under Bob Carlson. Then moved to feature films assisting legendary Milt Kahl. Iwao was able to gained a lot of experience as well sharpen his skills during this period with his work on Lady and The Tramp, Sleeping Beauty and Peter Pan. All three films became instant classics.
When 1960 rolled around Walt had decided to cut production output on thr animated films and release one every other year. This left just enough work for the top animators so he made the decision to leave. He started with Hanna Barbera shortly after that and became one of the top designers and creative personal behind such classic and iconic cartoon series ever produced.
Starting with Scooby Doo, Where Are You and it’s astronomical success he never looked back….there was just no slowing Iwao down. And more followed including- Wacky Races and the personally directed, full length Charlotte’s Web(1972)… plus far too many more to mention. Within a decade Iwao became a household name in animation as a producer and a director and worked thru the 90’s. He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement by Japanese American National Museum in 1996 plus ASIFA(International Animated Film Society) bestowed upon him the Winsor McCay Award for Lifetime Achievement. The year previous he was overseeing the design for the live action/CGI Scooby Doo. All this from a guy who never took one art or drawing lesson.
Link- Further information regarding Iwao Takamoto and his career.
Additional notes of talent in Hanna Barbera’s bullpen are listed below:
Peter Alvarado-Layouts & Character Drawing. Peter worked on H-B New Adventures of Huck Finn, ABC Saturday Superstar Movie 1972–1973
Edward Benedict -HB main character designer and layout artist. Edward was associated with Pixie Dixie,Quick Draw McGraw, The Flintstones,Top Cat, Dastardly and Muttley, Hong Kong Fuey. He was a recipient of 2004 Winsor McCay Award — Lifetime Achievement.
Wesley Hazelton Sr- designed Pebbles and Bamm Bamm
WillIam Hicks-H-B LATE 1950'S-90'S-Drawing- Quick Draw McGraw, Secret Squirrel, The Wacky Races, Scooby Doo, Where Are You?, Josie and The Pussycats, and Theatrical Film- The Man Called Flintstone. William was also a recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award Winsor McCay
Alex Lovy- Animator/Director-Started with Walter Lantz Studios…directing Woody Woodpecker shorts-helmed storyboards-earned 2 Oscars nominations, worked thru the 80's-started H-B 1959…as Producer/Story Director-Jonny Quest, Atom Ant, Secret Squirrel, Frankenstein Jr/Impossibles, Dastardly and Muttley, Perils of Penelope Pitstop, Harlem Globetrotters and co-wrote The Man Called Flintstone
Charles Augustus (Nick) Nichols-24 years at Disney-Academy Award Winner helmed the Pluto cartoons and director of Grand Canyonscope- 1954 filmed in CinemaScope starring Donald Duck-Joined H-B in 1962, October-animator, Director of Animation-Herculoids/Moby Dick and Mighty Mightor and Animation Supervisor for Jonny Quest, The Man Called Flintstone, Harlem Globetrotters, Scooby Doo, Where Are You?
Next week -
La- La Land Records(see link) — Jonny Quest the Music —Original Television Soundtrack including coverage on Hoyt Curtin plus The Quest Gang Explodes onto Bluray courtesy of Warner Archive(see link)
Coming soon Alex Toth Tribute and two of the most iconic of the Saturday Morning Hanna Barbera series…plus all those vintage ads and commercials you love so much…
Til then this is Doc saying “be dangerous and Diabolik”
Links- to related stories/articles and Warner Archive & Lalal-Land Records
