Producers vs Animators 1980
The Challenge!!

(Original Challenge Memo)

Words and Images care of Darrel Van Citters:

A number of animators would play volleyball almost every day at lunch and often at the 3 PM break on the court just north of the old Animation building. It’s now a parking lot at the side entrance to the studio. I forget what prompted it but I decided to challenge Ron Miller to a volleyball match, probably since he was sports minded and competitive. I sent the challenge via inter-office mail and amazingly, he took us up on it and got together his team from the third floor, all producers. Ron had the studio provide his team with uniforms from the costume department, we all wore our delightful seventies clothes. Tom Wilhite was even enlisted and was provided a uniform but he declined. (more…)

Producers vs Animators 1980

(Video care of Randy Cartwright)

1980 Crew
Hanna-Barbera

Photo Care of Phil Phillipson

A lot of animation artists in late 1970’s and early 1980’s cut their teeth in the business at television animation studios like Hanna-Barbera and Filmation Studios. These union studios had on the job training programs where you could learn the trade and get your start in an entry level union position as an inbetweener with the opportunity to work your way up to assistant animator and animator. The above photo is of the crew of artists that were working on Hanna-Barbera’s second feature film Heidi’s Song.

I see many people that I know went on to work at Walt Disney Feature Animation. Let me know who you recognize in the text box below.

Early 1980’s Cal-Arts

Photo Care of Rusty Mills

From Left to Right:
Geoff Schroder (1/2 pictured), Rusty Mills, Dan Jeup (in front), Gerry Bowers, Steve Moore, Kevin Lima, Kirk Wise, Tim Hauser

Before we all worked together at Walt Disney Feature Animation this group from the early 1980’s of Cal Arts reads like a who’s who in the animation film industry.

From Left to Right:
Mike Show (1/2 pictured), Rusty Mills( Boris Badinoff), Rob Minkoff (Sammy Davis Jr. claus), Steve Moore (blue meanie), Leon Joosen (Jack the ripper?), Mona Koth (Witch), Breth Koth (bum)