Thomas McKimson
Encyclopedia
Thomas Jacob "Tom" McKimson (March 5, 1907 - February 14, 1998) was an American
animator, best known for his work at Warner Bros.
studio. He was the older brother of animators Robert
and Charles McKimson
.
McKimson was born in Denver, Colorado, but relocated to Los Angeles
with his family in the 1920s. He began his career in animation in 1928, when he joined the Walt Disney Studio
, becoming an assistant to animator Norman Ferguson
. He left Disney in the early 1930s to work briefly for Romer Grey Studios, then joined Harman-Ising
Studios around 1932. After Harman and Ising left Warner Bros. Animation for MGM, McKimson became a member of Bob Clampett
's animation unit, where he is credited with the original design for Tweety Bird. McKimson also provided animation for Bob McKimson and Arthur Davis's units.
During his time at Warner Bros., McKimson also worked for Dell Comics
, providing illustrations for the Bugs Bunny
and Road Runner comic books. McKimson also illustrated the Roy Rogers
daily comic strip from 1949 to 1953 in collaboration with his brother Charles and artist Pete Alvarado
, using the collective pseudonym "Al McKimson." He left Warners in 1947 to become art director for Dell's parent company Western Publishing
, where he remained until his retirement in 1972.
McKimson was active in the Masonic
fraternity. He was the Master of Melrose Lodge No. 355 in Hollywood in 1954 and a founding member of Riviera Lodge No. 780 in Pacific Palisades, California in 1956, and later an Inspector and the Grand Tyler of the Grand Lodge of California. He was also a polo enthusiast, playing on the same team as Walter Lantz
animator Ray Abrams.
McKimson died on Valentine's Day, 1998 in West Los Angeles at the age of 90.
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 older 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 Charles McKimson
Charles McKimson
Charles Edson "Chuck" McKimson, Jr. 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...
.
McKimson was born in Denver, Colorado, but relocated 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 1928, when he joined the Walt Disney Studio
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...
, becoming an assistant to animator Norman Ferguson
Norman Ferguson
William Norman "Norm" Ferguson was an animator for Walt Disney Studios and a central contributor to the studio's stylistic development in the 1930s. He is most frequently noted for his contribution to the creation of Pluto, one of the studio's best-known and most enduring characters, and is the...
. He left Disney in the early 1930s to work briefly for Romer Grey Studios, then joined Harman-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...
Studios around 1932. After Harman and Ising left Warner Bros. Animation for MGM, McKimson became a member of Bob Clampett
Bob Clampett
Robert Emerson "Bob" Clampett was an American animator, producer, director, and puppeteer best known for his work on the Looney Tunes animated series from Warner Bros., and the television shows Time for Beany and Beany and Cecil...
's animation unit, where he is credited with the original design for Tweety Bird. McKimson also provided animation for Bob McKimson and Arthur Davis's units.
During his time at Warner Bros., McKimson also worked for Dell Comics
Dell Comics
Dell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in pulp magazines. It published comics from 1929 to 1973. At its peak, it was the most prominent and successful American company in the medium...
, providing illustrations for the Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is a animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most...
and Road Runner comic books. McKimson also illustrated the 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...
daily comic strip from 1949 to 1953 in collaboration with his brother Charles 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:...
, using the collective pseudonym "Al McKimson." He left Warners in 1947 to become art director for Dell's parent company Western Publishing
Western Publishing
Western Publishing, also known as Western Printing and Lithographing Company was a Racine, Wisconsin firm responsible for publishing the Little Golden Books. Western Publishing also produced children's books and family-related entertainment products as Golden Books Family Entertainment...
, where he remained until his retirement in 1972.
McKimson was active in the Masonic
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
fraternity. He was the Master of Melrose Lodge No. 355 in Hollywood in 1954 and a founding member of Riviera Lodge No. 780 in Pacific Palisades, California in 1956, and later an Inspector and the Grand Tyler of the Grand Lodge of California. He was also a polo enthusiast, playing on the same team as Walter Lantz
Walter Lantz
Walter Benjamin Lantz was an American cartoonist, animator, film producer, and director, best known for founding Walter Lantz Productions and creating Woody Woodpecker.-Early years and start in animation:...
animator Ray Abrams.
McKimson died on Valentine's Day, 1998 in West Los Angeles at the age of 90.