Summary

Tex Avery, considered the father of screwball animation, was one of the most influential animators of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Creator of such classic characters as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Droopy, he directed many cartoons for Warner Bros., MGM, and Walter Lantz Productions and was nominated for six Academy Awards. Avery did much of his groundbreaking work in Hollywood, running the famous "Termite Terrace" animation studio. There, with a team that included fellow innovators Chuck Jones and Bob Clampett, Avery developed an animation style based on the idea that the artist could do anything in a cartoon and didn't need to base it in reality. Although Avery was blind in one eye, he did not let it hold him back. Known for his inventiveness and comic timing, he forged a legacy that influences animators today. Tex Avery illustrates this animation pioneer's life, his inspiration, and his lasting effect on the animation world.

Chapters include:

• The Birth of a Cartoon Revolutionary
• Unleashing the Lunacy at Warner Bros.
• Roaring Back at MGM
• Screwball with a Purpose
• One Last Splash of Buffoonery.

Specifications

Full-color and black-and-white photographs and illustrations. Bibliography. Resources. Index.

About the Author(s)

Jeff Lenburg is an award-winning author, celebrity biographer, and nationally acknowledged expert on animated cartoons. He has written nearly 30 books—including such acclaimed histories of animation as Who's Who in Animated Cartoons and The Great Cartoon Directors. His Facts On File book The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons is considered to be the definitive reference for animation fans. His books have been nominated for several awards, including the American Library Association's "Best Nonfiction Award" and the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association's Gold Medallion Award for "Best Autobiography/Biography." Lenburg lives in Arizona.