Michael Lah
Encyclopedia
Michael Richard Lah was an American
animator
. He is best known for his work at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
studios, primarily as a member of Tex Avery
's animation unit.
Lah was born in Illinois
. He worked briefly at Walt Disney Studios
before joining MGM in the early 1940s. His first work at MGM was for Hugh Harman and Rudolph Ising
. After Harman and Ising left, Lah worked briefly on Bill Hanna and Joseph Barbera
's Tom and Jerry
series. He then joined Tex Avery's unit as lead animator, where he remained until the studio closed in 1957. During Avery's absence in 1950-51, and after Avery left MGM in 1953, Lah was given co-directorial credit on many animated shorts.
After Lah left MGM, he briefly rejoined Hanna-Barbera at their TV cartoon studio as an animator, then joined Quartet Films, a commercial animation studio that created television commercials for Kelloggs and Green Giant
Foods.
Lah was an active member of ASIFA-Hollywood
, serving on the board for several years. In 1984, Lah received the Winsor McCay Award
for his lifetime of work in the animation field.
Lah died on October 13, 1995, in Los Angeles
, California
.
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...
. He is best known for his work at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
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...
studios, primarily 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 animation unit.
Lah was born in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. He worked briefly at Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
before joining MGM in the early 1940s. His first work at MGM was for Hugh Harman and Rudolph Ising
Harman and Ising
Hugh Harman and Rudolf "Rudy" Ising were an American animation team best known for founding the Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer animation studios...
. After Harman and Ising left, Lah worked briefly on Bill Hanna and Joseph Barbera
Joseph Barbera
Joseph Roland Barbera was an influential American animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoon artist, whose film and television cartoon characters entertained millions of fans worldwide for much of the twentieth century....
's Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry are the cat and mouse cartoon characters that were evolved starting in 1939.Tom and Jerry also may refer to:Cartoon works featuring the cat and mouse so named:* The Tom and Jerry Show...
series. He then joined Tex Avery's unit as lead animator, where he remained until the studio closed in 1957. During Avery's absence in 1950-51, and after Avery left MGM in 1953, Lah was given co-directorial credit on many animated shorts.
After Lah left MGM, he briefly rejoined Hanna-Barbera at their TV cartoon studio as an animator, then joined Quartet Films, a commercial animation studio that created television commercials for Kelloggs and Green Giant
Green Giant
Green Giant and Le Sueur are brands of frozen and canned vegetables owned by General Mills. The mascot of Green Giant is the Jolly Green Giant....
Foods.
Lah was an active member of ASIFA-Hollywood
ASIFA-Hollywood
ASIFA-Hollywood, a non-profit organization in Los Angeles, California, USA, which is a branch member of the "Association Internationale du Film d'Animation" or "ASIFA"...
, serving on the board for several years. In 1984, Lah received the Winsor McCay Award
Winsor McCay Award
The Winsor McCay Award is given to individuals in recognition of lifetime or career contributions in animation. The award is presented at the annual Annie Awards, presented by the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood...
for his lifetime of work in the animation field.
Lah died on October 13, 1995, in 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...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.