Dick Huemer
Encyclopedia
Dick Huemer was an animator
in the Golden Age of Animation.
cartoon studio in 1916, he joined the Fleischer Studio in 1923 where he developed the Koko clown character. Later he moved to Hollywood as an animator and director for the Charles Mintz studio, and then to the Disney Studio
, where he remained for the duration of his career, except for a 3-year hiatus from 1948-51 when he pioneered animated TV commercials and created the "Buck O'Rue" comic strip. Some of his most creative work was done in partnership with Joe Grant
; examples include Fantasia
(story director), Dumbo
(screenplay), and several propaganda films to advance the U.S. war effort during World War II
. Atypically, Dick and Joe submitted Dumbo to Walt not as a completed storyboard, but as a series of narrative chapters, each ending in a cliff-hanger; this was intended to pique Walt's enthusiasm for the project, and it worked. Dick was at the Disney organization from April 16 1933 to February 28 1973.
by the Disney Studio in February 1973 at a ceremony attended by a number of his peers.
Accepted the Winsor McCay Award
at the Annie Awards in October 1978 and was introduced by Ward Kimball
.
On October 10 2007, Huemer's son Dr. Richard P. Huemer accepted the Disney Legends
that was awarded in Huemer's name.
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...
in the Golden Age of Animation.
Career
While as an artist-illustrator living in The Bronx, New York, he first began his career in animation at the Raoul BarréRaoul Barré
Raoul Barré was a Canadian and American cartoonist, animator of the silent film era, and artist.Barré was born in Montreal, Quebec, the only artistic child of an importer of communion wine...
cartoon studio in 1916, he joined the Fleischer Studio in 1923 where he developed the Koko clown character. Later he moved to Hollywood as an animator and director for the Charles Mintz studio, and then to the Disney Studio
Walt Disney Studios (Burbank)
The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, United States, serve as the international headquarters for media conglomerate The Walt Disney Company. The Walt Disney Studio's house offices for each of the company's divisions along with creative spaces designed for movie production. The Walt Disney...
, where he remained for the duration of his career, except for a 3-year hiatus from 1948-51 when he pioneered animated TV commercials and created the "Buck O'Rue" comic strip. Some of his most creative work was done in partnership with Joe Grant
Joe Grant
Joe Grant was a Disney artist and writer.Born in New York City, New York, he worked for The Walt Disney Company as a character designer and story artist beginning in 1933 on the Mickey Mouse short, "Mickey's Gala Premiere". He was a Disney legend. He created the Queen in Snow White and the Seven...
; examples include Fantasia
Fantasia (film)
Fantasia is a 1940 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and released by Walt Disney Productions. The third feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film consists of eight animated segments set to pieces of classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski, seven of which are...
(story director), Dumbo
Dumbo
Dumbo is a 1941 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and released on October 23, 1941, by RKO Radio Pictures.The fourth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, Dumbo is based upon the storyline written by Helen Aberson and illustrated by Harold Pearl for the prototype of a...
(screenplay), and several propaganda films to advance the U.S. war effort 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...
. Atypically, Dick and Joe submitted Dumbo to Walt not as a completed storyboard, but as a series of narrative chapters, each ending in a cliff-hanger; this was intended to pique Walt's enthusiasm for the project, and it worked. Dick was at the Disney organization from April 16 1933 to February 28 1973.
Awards and Accomplishments
Given a MousecarMousecar
The Mousecar is a prestigious in-house award given by The Walt Disney Company for a variety of reasons, including service to the company as well as to the community as a whole...
by the Disney Studio in February 1973 at a ceremony attended by a number of his peers.
Accepted 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...
at the Annie Awards in October 1978 and was introduced by Ward Kimball
Ward Kimball
Ward Walrath Kimball was an animator for the Walt Disney Studios. He was one of Walt Disney's team of animators known as Disney's Nine Old Men.-Career:...
.
On October 10 2007, Huemer's son Dr. Richard P. Huemer accepted the Disney Legends
Disney Legends
Established in 1987, the Disney Legends program recognizes people who have made an extraordinary and integral contribution to The Walt Disney Company. The honor is awarded annually during a special ceremony....
that was awarded in Huemer's name.
Director
- Goofy and Wilbur (1939)
- The Whalers (1938)
- Scrappy's Auto Show (1933)
- ... aka Auto Show (1933)
- Hollywood Babies (1933)
- Sandman Tails (1933)
- Movie Struck (1933)
- World's Affair, The (1933)
- Technocracked (1933)
- Match Kid, The (1933)
- False Alarm (1933)
- Beer Parade (1933)
- Scrappy's Party (1933)
- Sassy Cats (1933)
- Wolf at the Door, The (1932)
- Bad Genius, The (1932)
- Flop House (1932)
- Great Bird Mystery, The (1932) ... aka Famous Bird Case, The (1932)
- Black Sheep (1932)
- Camping Out (1932)
- Fare Play (1932)
- Battle of the Barn (1932)
- Stepping Stones (1932)
- Pet Shop, The (1932)
- Railroad Wretch (1932)
- Treasure Runt, The (1932)
- Minding the Baby (1932)
- Chinatown Mystery, The (1932)
- Showing Off (1931)
- Dog Snatcher, The (1931)
- Sunday Clothes (1931)
- Little Pest (1931)
- Yelp Wanted (1931)
- Museum, The (1930)
Features
- Alice in WonderlandAlice in Wonderland (1951 film)Alice in Wonderland is a 1951 American animated feature produced by Walt Disney and based primarily on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with a few additional elements from Through the Looking-Glass. Thirteenth in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film was released in New...
(1951) - Peter and the WolfPeter and the Wolf (1946 film)An animated dramatization of the 1936 musical composition by Sergei Prokofiev, produced by Walt Disney, with Sterling Holloway providing the voice of the narrator. It was originally released theatrically in 1946 as a segment in Make Mine Music...
(1946) - Make Mine MusicMake Mine MusicMake Mine Music is an animated feature produced by Walt Disney and released to theatres by RKO Radio Pictures on August 15, 1946. It is the eighth animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series....
(1946) - Saludos AmigosSaludos AmigosSaludos Amigos is a 1942 animated feature produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures. It is the 6th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. It is the first of six package films made by the Disney studio in the 1940s...
(1943) - DumboDumboDumbo is a 1941 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and released on October 23, 1941, by RKO Radio Pictures.The fourth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, Dumbo is based upon the storyline written by Helen Aberson and illustrated by Harold Pearl for the prototype of a...
(1941) - The Reluctant DragonThe Reluctant DragonThe Reluctant Dragon is an 1898 children's story by Kenneth Grahame , which served as the key element to the 1941 feature film with the same name from Walt Disney Productions. The story has also been set to music as a children's operetta by John Rutter, with words by David Grant...
(1941) - FantasiaFantasia (film)Fantasia is a 1940 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and released by Walt Disney Productions. The third feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film consists of eight animated segments set to pieces of classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski, seven of which are...
(1940) (story director)
TV shows (some dates uncertain)
- An Adventure in Art (1958) #5694
- Tricks of Our Trade (1956) #5664
- The Plausible Impossible (1956) #5644
- The Story of the Animated Drawing (1955) #5605
- Concerto con Doodle (195?) (never aired)
- The Roy Williams Show (c. 1950)
Cartoons
- Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom (1953)*
- Melody (1953)
- Chicken Little (1943)
- Reason and Emotion (1943)
- Education for Death (1942)
- Der Fuehrer's Face (1942)*
- The New Spirit (1942)
Animator
- Wynken, Blynken and Nod (1938)
- Lonesome Ghosts (1937)
- Little Hiawatha (1937) ...aka Hiawatha (1937)
- Mickey's Elephant (1936)
- Alpine Climbers (1936)
- Mickey's Rival (1936)
- Mickey's Polo Team (1936)
- Broken Toys (1935)
- Music Land (1935)
- Mickey's Garden (1935)
- Water Babies (1935)
- The Band Concert (1935)
- The Tortoise and the Hare (1934)*
- The Goddess of Spring (1934)
- Peculiar Penguins (1934)
- The Wise Little Hen (1934)
- Funny Little Bunnies (1934)
- The Grasshopper and the Ants (1934)
- The China Shop (1934)
- The Night Before Christmas (1933)
- Giantland (1933)
- The Steeplechase (1933)
- The Pied Piper (1933)
- Puppy Love (1933)
- Lullaby Land (1933)
- By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1927)
- Koko In 1999 (1927)
- Hell is Freezing Over (c. 1926)
- Koko the Barber (1925)
- Oh Mabel (1924)
- More for Fleischer, Associated Animators, and Raoul Barré - to be updated later.
- * Denotes AMPAS ("Academy") Award.
Phonograph records
- The Who-zis and The What-zis
- Melody
- Toot, Whistle, Plunk, and Boom
- A Christmas Adventure in Disneyland
