Philip Monroe (October 31, 1916 – July 13, 1988) was an American animator and director best known for working for Warner Bros. Cartoons under the supervision of

Chuck Jones Charles Martin Jones (September 21, 1912 – February 22, 2002) was an American animator, director, and painter, best known for his work with Warner Bros. Cartoons on the ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of shorts. He wrote, produ ...

. Monroe had also worked for UPA.

Career

Monroe started working at Leon Schlesinger Productions (the company later known as Warner Bros. Cartoons) in June 1934. He was initially only an inbetweener. The studio at this point was loosely-enough organized to allow opportunities of rapid advancement for ambitious young inbetweeners, like Monroe. According to a later interview with Monroe, "some guys" were content to be "inbetweeners all their lives", while others searched for opportunities to do something else and move up in the studio's hierarchy. Monroe himself managed to befriend animator

Robert McKimson Robert Porter McKimson Sr. (October 13, 1910 – September 29, 1977) was an American animator and illustrator, best known for his work on the ''Looney Tunes'' and '' Merrie Melodies'' series of cartoons from Warner Bros. Cartoons and later DePa ...

and served as his inbetweener for a while. He was soon promoted to become McKimson's assistant. By the end of 1935, Monroe had been promoted again and started serving as an animator in his own right.Barrier (2003), Warner Bros., pp. unnumbered pages Monroe is best known as an animator for

, but would also work with

Friz Freleng Isadore "Friz" Freleng (August 21, 1905May 26, 1995), credited as I. Freleng early in his career, was an American animator, cartoonist, director, producer, and composer known for his work at Warner Bros. Cartoons on the ''Looney Tunes'' and '' ...

Bob Clampett Robert Emerson Clampett Sr. (May 8, 1913 – May 2, 1984) was an American animator, director, producer and puppeteer. He was best known for his work on the '' Looney Tunes'' animated series from Warner Bros. as well as the television shows '' ...

and Frank Tashlin in the 1940s. He would be drafted into the

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

in 1943, but returned to the studio in 1946. Jones' considered him one of his favorite animators, along with Ken Harris, Ben Washam and Abe Levitow. In 1951, Monroe left for UPA, working under the supervision of

John Hubley John Kirkham Hubley (May 21, 1914 – February 21, 1977) was an American animation director, art director, producer and writer known for his work with the United Productions of America (UPA) and his own independent studio, Storyboard, Inc. (late ...

and

Pete Burness Wilson D. "Pete" Burness (June 16, 1904 – July 21, 1969) was an American animator and animation director. He was perhaps best known for his work on the Mr. Magoo series. He also contributed to the ''Tom and Jerry'' series, ''Looney Tunes'', ...

. He eventually left UPA to freelance, and in 1959 went back to Warners to head their commercial department, where he directed commercials featuring Charlie the Tuna.http://www.michaelbarrier.com/Interviews/Monroe/Monroe1976.html He eventually went back into the entertainment department as an animator in Jones' unit, and was chosen to finish two shorts (''

The Iceman Ducketh ''The Iceman Ducketh'' is a 1964 Warner Bros. '' Looney Tunes'' theatrical cartoon directed by Phil Monroe and Maurice Noble, with a story by John W. Dunn. The short was released on May 16, 1964, and stars Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. It was the pe ...

'', ''

Woolen Under Where ''Woolen Under Where'' is a 1963 Warner Bros. ''Merrie Melodies'' cartoon co-directed by Phil Monroe and Richard Thompson (animator), Richard Thompson. The short was released on May 11, 1963, and stars Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog. Mel Blanc provid ...

'') under Chuck Jones' unit after Jones was fired. After Warner Bros. Cartoons closed in 1963, Monroe did many animation stints until he ended up at

Chuck Jones Productions The following is the filmography of American animator Chuck Jones. Warner Bros. Cartoons Inc. Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies Theatrical shorts (1938–1964) * '' The Night Watchman'' (1938) (director) * '' Dog Gone Modern'' (1939) (director) ...

. He would continue animating for Jones until his retirement. Monroe died from

pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer arises when cell (biology), cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a Neoplasm, mass. These cancerous cells have the malignant, ability to invade other parts of t ...

on July 13, 1988, aged 71.

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Monroe, Phil 1916 births 1988 deaths American animators American animated film directors Warner Bros. Cartoons directors Place of birth missing