| Born: | September 21, 1912 |
|---|---|
| Death: | 2002 |
| Nationality: | Spokane, WA, USA |
Occupation - Title Animator and director. Biography Family/Early Life Jones moved to Hollywood with his family, finding work there as a child extra in Mac Sennett comedies. Education/Training He emerged from school in the depths of the Depression. Chuck graduated from Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles (now California Institute of the Arts). In 1932, he got his first job in the animation industry as a cel washer for the former Disney animator Ub Iwerks. Career Outline At age 25, he directed his first animated film. In 1936, he was an animator for Leon Schlesinger Studio (later sold to Warner Bros). There, he animated with Tex Avery. He headed his own unit at WB. In the 1940s he directed a bunch of army training films during World War II of a popular character Private Snafu along with a re-election film for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He remained at Warner Bros. Animation until it closed in 1962. The first Road Runner cartoon was conceived as a parody of the mindless chase cartoons popular at the time, but audiences around the world embraced the series. Had a brief stint at Disney in 1955 during a hiatus at WB. Went on to MGM to create new episodes of Tom and Jerry. While there, he produced, co-directed, and co-wrote the screenplay for the critically acclaimed full-length feature THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH, and directed the Academy Award-winning film THE DOT AND THE LINE. In 1966, he directed one of the most infamous holiday television specials ever produced Dr. Seuss' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS. For a year in 1972, he worked as vice president of the American Broadcasting Company to improve children's programming. There, he made many animated specials for television. Style Jones is considered by many to be a master of characterization and timing Influences Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Mark Twain, Tex Avery ,Friz Ferleng, His cat Johnson. Personality Anecdotes "While at the breakfast table, Chuck would eat silently while reading a novel, and expected everyone at the table to do the same" (Linda Jones) Honors Oscar: The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics 1966 Cannes Film Festival: Golden Palm 1966 Oscar for lifetime achievement: 2002 Annie Award: Winsor McCay Award 1974 Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists Award: Golden Award 1984 Chicago International Film Festival: Special Jury Prize: The Magical World of Chuck Jones (1992) Denver International Film Festival: Special Jury Prize: The Magical World of Chuck Jones (1992) Directors Guild of America DGA Honorary Life Member Award 1996 World Fest Houston: Grand Award: Peter and the Wolf (1996) Danta Clarita International Film Festival: Lifetime Achievement Award 1999 Honorary Doctorates Filmography Miscellaneous