Charles McKimson
Encyclopedia
Charles Edson "Chuck" McKimson, Jr. (December 20, 1914 - April 16, 1999) was an American
animator, best known for his work at Warner Bros.
studio. He was the younger brother of animators Robert
and Thomas McKimson
. His father was a newspaperman who later become the editor of the Scandia Journal in Scandia, Kansas.
McKimson was born in Denver, Colorado
. The family located to Los Angeles
with his family in the 1920s. He began his career in animation in 1937, when he joined Leon Schlesinger Productions
as a member of Tex Avery
's unit. McKimson left the studio during World War II
to serve in the US Army Signal Corps, returning in 1946. Upon his return he was assigned to his brother Robert's unit, where he worked as a lead animator. Charles received co-story credit on one short, 1955's All Fowled Up
(the other writer being Sid Marcus), starring Foghorn Leghorn — a character utilized exclusively by Robert. While at Warner Bros.
McKimson drew the syndicated Roy Rogers
comic strip from 1949 to 1953, in collaboration with his other brother Thomas and artist Pete Alvarado
. The strip was published under the pseudonym
"Al McKimson."
McKimson left Warner Bros. Animation in 1954, after Jack Warner
briefly shut down the animation division. He subsequently joined Dell Publishing
, where he served as Art Director for their comic and coloring books division. In 1961 McKimson worked as animation director on the short-lived animated television series Calvin and the Colonel
.
McKimson died in 1999 at the age of 84.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
animator, best known for his work at Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
studio. He was the younger brother of animators Robert
Robert McKimson
Robert "Bob" Porter McKimson, Sr. was an American animator, illustrator, and director best known for his work on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from Warner Bros., and later DePatie-Freleng Enterprises...
and Thomas McKimson
Thomas McKimson
Thomas Jacob "Tom" McKimson was an American animator, best known for his work at Warner Bros. studio. He was the older brother of animators Robert and Charles McKimson....
. His father was a newspaperman who later become the editor of the Scandia Journal in Scandia, Kansas.
McKimson was born in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. The family located to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with his family in the 1920s. He began his career in animation in 1937, when he joined Leon Schlesinger Productions
Warner Bros. Cartoons
Warner Bros. Cartoons, Inc. was the in-house division of Warner Bros. Pictures during the Golden Age of American animation. One of the most successful animation studios in American media history, Warner Bros. Cartoons was primarily responsible for the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies theatrical...
as a member of Tex Avery
Tex Avery
Frederick Bean "Fred/Tex" Avery was an American animator, cartoonist, voice actor and director, famous for producing animated cartoons during The Golden Age of Hollywood animation. He did his most significant work for the Warner Bros...
's unit. McKimson left the studio during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to serve in the US Army Signal Corps, returning in 1946. Upon his return he was assigned to his brother Robert's unit, where he worked as a lead animator. Charles received co-story credit on one short, 1955's All Fowled Up
All Fowled Up
All Fowled Up is a 1954 Foghorn Leghorn animated short film from Warner Bros. released in 1955 and directed by Robert McKimson. The cartoon also features Henery Hawk and the Barnyard Dawg.-Plot:...
(the other writer being Sid Marcus), starring Foghorn Leghorn — a character utilized exclusively by Robert. While at Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
McKimson drew the syndicated Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
comic strip from 1949 to 1953, in collaboration with his other brother Thomas and artist Pete Alvarado
Pete Alvarado
Peter J. Alvarado, Jr. was an American animation and comic book artist. Alvarado's animation career spanned almost 60 years. He was also a prolific contributor to Western Publishing's line of comic books.-Animation:...
. The strip was published under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Al McKimson."
McKimson left Warner Bros. Animation in 1954, after Jack Warner
Jack Warner
Jack Leonard "J. L." Warner , born Jacob Warner in London, Ontario, was a Canadian American film executive who was the president and driving force behind the Warner Bros. Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California...
briefly shut down the animation division. He subsequently joined Dell Publishing
Dell Publishing
Dell Publishing, an American publisher of books, magazines and comic books, was founded in 1921 by George T. Delacorte, Jr.During the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, Dell was one of the largest publishers of magazines, including pulp magazines. Their line of humor magazines included 1000 Jokes, launched in...
, where he served as Art Director for their comic and coloring books division. In 1961 McKimson worked as animation director on the short-lived animated television series Calvin and the Colonel
Calvin and the Colonel
Calvin and the Colonel was an animated cartoon television series in 1961 about Colonel Montgomery J. Klaxon, a shrewd fox and Calvin T. Burnside, a dumb bear. Their lawyer was Oliver Wendell Clutch, who was a weasel . The colonel lived with his wife Maggie Belle and her sister Sue, who did not...
.
McKimson died in 1999 at the age of 84.