Ken Harris
Encyclopedia
Ken Harris was an American
animator
who worked for several film
studios. He is widely considered as one of the master animators of his time.
Harris's most famous work was at Warner Bros. Cartoons
under the supervision of director Chuck Jones
; this association began in 1938 and lasted until 1962. Jones described him as "... a virtuoso. Ken Harris did it all."
After Jones left Warner's, Harris worked with former animator Phil Monroe on two cartoons before Warner Bros. closed its cartoon department. In 1963, Harris worked briefly for Friz Freleng
on the titles of the original The Pink Panther
, then for Hanna-Barbera
on their first feature film Hey There It's Yogi Bear! (1964), then rejoined Jones at M-G-M
for three years. After work as an animator on How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
(1966) — directed by Jones, a longtime friend of Dr. Seuss
— Harris came to the studio of independent animator Richard Williams in London
, where he served as Richard's mentor as well as his employee. Harris's credits with Richard included A Christmas Carol
(1971) — as animator of Ebenezer Scrooge — the opening titles of The Return of the Pink Panther
(1975), and the still-unfinished animated feature The Thief and the Cobbler
(animating the Thief of the title, which is very reminiscent of Ken's earlier work animating Wile E. Coyote for Jones).
Among the many scenes Harris animated: Mama Bear doing an outrageous tap-dance(which Chuck Jones, that cartoon's director, and Harris' longtime collaborator, has said was inspired by Mike Maltese, "who could really dance that way") in "A Bear For Punishment"; Wile E. Coyote consuming earthquake pills in "Hopalong Casualty"; as well as the lengthy dance sequence in "What's Opera, Doc?".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
animator
Animator
An animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...
who worked for several film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
studios. He is widely considered as one of the master animators of his time.
Harris's most famous work was at Warner Bros. Cartoons
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...
under the supervision of director Chuck Jones
Chuck Jones
Charles Martin "Chuck" Jones was an American animator, cartoon artist, screenwriter, producer, and director of animated films, most memorably of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts for the Warner Bros. Cartoons studio...
; this association began in 1938 and lasted until 1962. Jones described him as "... a virtuoso. Ken Harris did it all."
After Jones left Warner's, Harris worked with former animator Phil Monroe on two cartoons before Warner Bros. closed its cartoon department. In 1963, Harris worked briefly for Friz Freleng
Friz Freleng
Isadore "Friz" Freleng was an animator, cartoonist, director, and producer best known for his work on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from Warner Bros....
on the titles of the original The Pink Panther
The Pink Panther
The Pink Panther is a series of comedy films featuring the bungling French police detective Jacques Clouseau that began in 1963 with the release of the film of the same name. The role was originated by, and is most closely associated with, Peter Sellers...
, then for Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
on their first feature film Hey There It's Yogi Bear! (1964), then rejoined Jones at M-G-M
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
for three years. After work as an animator on How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (TV special)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a 1966 American animated television special directed by Chuck Jones. It is based on the homonymous children's book by Dr. Seuss, the story of The Grinch trying to take away Christmas from the townsfolk of Whoville below his mountain hideaway...
(1966) — directed by Jones, a longtime friend of Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss
Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American writer, poet, and cartoonist most widely known for his children's books written under the pen names Dr. Seuss, Theo LeSieg and, in one case, Rosetta Stone....
— Harris came to the studio of independent animator Richard Williams in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he served as Richard's mentor as well as his employee. Harris's credits with Richard included A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol (1971 film)
A Christmas Carol is an Academy Award-winning animated cartoon adaptation of Charles Dickens' venerable 1843 novella which was a made-for-television production originally broadcast on ABC in the United States.-Cast and characters:...
(1971) — as animator of Ebenezer Scrooge — the opening titles of The Return of the Pink Panther
The Return of the Pink Panther
The Return of the Pink Panther is the fourth film in the Pink Panther series, released in 1975. The film stars Peter Sellers in the role of Inspector Clouseau in his third Panther appearance, after the original The Pink Panther and A Shot in the Dark.Herbert Lom also reprises his role as Chief...
(1975), and the still-unfinished animated feature The Thief and the Cobbler
The Thief and the Cobbler
The Thief and the Cobbler is an animated feature film, famous for its animation and its long, troubled history. The film was conceived by Canadian animator Richard Williams, who worked 28 years on the project. Beginning production in 1964, Williams intended The Thief and the Cobbler to be his...
(animating the Thief of the title, which is very reminiscent of Ken's earlier work animating Wile E. Coyote for Jones).
Among the many scenes Harris animated: Mama Bear doing an outrageous tap-dance(which Chuck Jones, that cartoon's director, and Harris' longtime collaborator, has said was inspired by Mike Maltese, "who could really dance that way") in "A Bear For Punishment"; Wile E. Coyote consuming earthquake pills in "Hopalong Casualty"; as well as the lengthy dance sequence in "What's Opera, Doc?".