Don Towsley (May 11, 1912 – November 25, 1986) was an

animator An animator is an artist who creates multiple images, known as frames, which give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, and video gam ...

working at

Walt Disney Animation Studios Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS), sometimes shortened to Disney Animation, is an American animation studio that creates animated features and short films for The Walt Disney Company. The studio's current production logo features a scene fro ...

, and later at

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

and

Filmation Filmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live-action programming for television from 1963 until 1989. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1962. Filmation's founders and pr ...

Career

Starting out at Disney, Towsley worked on three shorts in the ''

Silly Symphony ''Silly Symphony'' is an American animated series of 75 musical short films produced by Walt Disney Productions from 1929 to 1939. As the series name implies, the ''Silly Symphonies'' were originally intended as whimsical accompaniments to pieces ...

'' series, animating the band in ''

The Cookie Carnival ''The Cookie Carnival'' is an animated short produced by Walt Disney Productions and originally released May 25, 1935. It is a Cinderella story involving a cookie girl who wishes to be queen at the cookie carnival, and a homage to the Atlantic Ci ...

'' (1935), a scene of dancing hens ultimately cut from '' Cock o' the Walk'' (1935), and the introduction and opening scene of ''

Donald's Better Self ''Donald's Better Self'' is a 1938 Disney cartoon featuring Donald Duck. This 8 minute short premiered in March 1938, and it was distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. Plot Donald is fast asleep in his bed. As he turns in his sleep, his Conscienc ...

'' (1938). In 1938, Towsley became the main animator for the

Donald Duck Donald Fauntleroy Duck is a cartoon character created by The Walt Disney Company. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor shirt and cap with a bow tie. Donald is known fo ...

short films, following Fred Spencer's death. Towsley contributed to the 1940 film ''

Pinocchio Pinocchio ( , ) is a fictional character and the protagonist of the children's novel ''The Adventures of Pinocchio'' (1883) by Italian writer Carlo Collodi of Florence, Tuscany. Pinocchio was carved by a woodcarver named Geppetto in a Tuscan vil ...

'', as part of the team responsible for

Jiminy Cricket Jiminy Cricket is the Disney version of the "Talking Cricket" (Italian: ''Il Grillo Parlante''), a fictional character created by Italian writer Carlo Collodi for his 1883 children's book ''The Adventures of Pinocchio'', which Walt Disney adapt ...

and Monstro the Whale. He also animated the "

Pastoral Symphony The Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, also known as the ''Pastoral Symphony'' (German: ''Pastorale''), is a symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven and completed in 1808. One of Beethoven's few works containing explicitly programmatic con ...

" segment of the 1940 film ''

Fantasia Fantasia International Film Festival (also known as Fantasia-fest, FanTasia, and Fant-Asia) is a film festival that has been based mainly in Montreal since its founding in 1996. Regularly held in July of each year, it is valued by both hardcore ...

''. In 1943, Towsley, along with a team of animators, contributed to a wartime animated short film titled ''Der Fuehrer's Face'' produced by Walt Disney. In 1948, after leaving the Disney studio, Towsley created a line of children's wallpaper cutouts, featuring images of animals. In the 1960s, Towsley worked for MGM's ''

Tom and Jerry ''Tom and Jerry'' is an American Animated cartoon, animated media franchise and series of comedy short films created in 1940 by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Best known for its 161 theatrical short films by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the series c ...

'' series, including animation work on 1965's ''

Haunted Mouse This is a complete list of the 164 shorts in the ''Tom and Jerry'' series produced and released between 1940 and 2014. Of these, 162 are theatrical shorts, one is a made-for-TV short, and one is a 2-minute sketch shown as part of a telethon. ...

''. Towsley joined the

animation studio in 1968 as an associate director. He directed episodes of ''

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids ''Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids'' is an American animated television series created, produced, and hosted (in live action bookends) by comedian Bill Cosby, who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including Fat Albert and himself. Fil ...

'' (1972–74), '' My Favorite Martians'' (1973–75), ''

The New Adventures of Gilligan ''The New Adventures of Gilligan'' is an American Saturday morning animated series produced by Filmation, which aired on ABC during the 1974–1975 seasons. The show was based on the 1964–1967 sitcom ''Gilligan's Island''. A few years later, Fi ...

'' (1974–77), ''

The U.S. of Archie ''U.S. of Archie'' is a Saturday morning cartoon show on CBS from September 7 to December 21, 1974. A spin-off (media), spin-off of the popular Archie Comics, Archie comic books and The Archie Show, television show. It ran for a total of sixteen ...

'' (1974–76), ''

The New Adventures of Batman ''The New Adventures of Batman'' is an animated series that aired on CBS from February 12 to May 28, 1977, featuring the DC Comics superheroes Batman and Robin, and Batgirl. The series was a Filmation and DC Comics production in association with ...

'' (1977), '' Sabrina, Super Witch'' (1977–78) and ''

The New Adventures of Flash Gordon ''The New Adventures of Flash Gordon'', also known as ''The Adventures of Flash Gordon'', is a 1979-1982 animated television series. The series is actually called ''Flash Gordon'' but the expanded title is used in official records to distinguish ...

'' (1979–80), among others. He also directed a sequence in Filmation's 1972 film, '' Journey Back to Oz''.

Films worked on

1930s

*''

Donald's Cousin Gus ''Donald's Cousin Gus'' is a 1939 Walt Disney cartoon in which Donald Duck is visited by his gluttonous cousin, Gus Goose, who proceeds to eat Donald out of house and home. It was released on May 19, 1939. Gus Goose debuted as a recurring charact ...

'' (1939) *'' Donald's Golf Game'' (1938) *'' Moving Day'' (1937) *''

'' (1936) *''

Mickey's Service Station ''Mickey's Service Station'' is a 1935 animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by United Artists. The film, which stars Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy as car mechanics, was also the final black-and-white appe ...

'' (1935) *''

Two-Gun Mickey ''Mickey Mouse'' (originally known as ''Mickey Mouse Sound Cartoons'') is a series of American animated comedy short films produced by Walt Disney Productions. The series started in 1928 with Steamboat Willie and ended in 1953 with '' The Simpl ...

'' (1934)

1940s

*''

Drip Dippy Donald ''Drip Dippy Donald'' is a seven-minute Donald Duck cartoon made by the Walt Disney Company in 1948. The Technicolor cartoon was released by Walt Disney Productions, and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. The cartoon was directed by the Disney an ...

'' (1948) *'' Wide Open Spaces'' (1947) *''Crazy with the Heat'' (1947) *''

Donald's Dilemma ''Donald's Dilemma'' is a 1947 Walt Disney Studios animated cartoon directed by Jack King and starring Donald and Daisy Duck. It was originally released on July 11, 1947 in the United States. This short is somewhat of a misnomer. Although Do ...

'' (1947) *''It's a Grand Old Nag'' (supervising animator) (1947) *''

Dumb Bell of the Yukon ''Dumb Bell of the Yukon'' is a 1946 Disney animated short starring Donald Duck and Daisy Duck. It was directed by Jack King. Plot It starts off with Donald reading a letter from Daisy telling him to make her some fur coats. So, Donald goes off ...

'' (1946) *'' Wet Paint'' (1946) *''Donald's Double Trouble'' (1946) *''Sleepy Time Donald'' (1946) *'' Old Sequoia'' (1945) *''Cured Duck'' (1945) *''

Donald's Crime ''Donald's Crime'' is a 1945 American animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The cartoon, which parodies film noir crime dramas of the time, follows Donald Duck as he struggles with guilt a ...

'' (1945) *'' The Plastics Inventor'' (1944) *''Saps in Chaps'' (1942) *''

Bambi ''Bambi'' is a 1942 American animated drama film directed by David Hand (supervising a team of sequence directors), produced by Walt Disney and based on the 1923 book ''Bambi, a Life in the Woods'' by Austrian author and hunter Felix Salten. ...

'' (additional animation - uncredited) (1942) *''

Dumbo ''Dumbo'' is a 1941 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The fourth Disney animated feature film, it is based upon the storyline written by Helen Aberson and Harold Pearl, a ...

'' (1941) *''

'' (animation supervisor) (segment " The Pastoral Symphony") (1940) *''

'' (1940)

1960s

*'' Pink on the Cob'' (additional animator: animation) (1969) *''Carte Blanched'' (additional animator: animation) *"

The Archie Show ''The Archie Show'' (also known as ''The Archies)'' is an American musical animated sitcom television series produced by Filmation for CBS. Based on the Archie Comics, created by Bob Montana in 1941, ''The Archie Show'' aired Saturday mornings ...

" TV series (associate director) (1968) *"

The Batman/Superman Hour ''The Batman/Superman Hour'' is a Filmation animated series that was broadcast on CBS from 1968 to 1969. Premiering on September 14, 1968, this 60-minute program featured new adventures of the DC Comics superheroes Batman, Robin and Batgirl alon ...

" TV series (associate director) (1968) *'' The Bear That Wasn't'' (1967) *'' Advance and Be Mechanized (''1967) *'' Cannery Rodent'' (1967) *''

Cat and Dupli-cat ''Cat and Dupli-cat'' is a 1967 Tom and Jerry short produced by Chuck Jones and MGM Animation/Visual Arts for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble, written by Jones and Michael Maltese, and animated by Dick Th ...

'' (1967) * ''Guided Mouse-ille ... a.k.a. Guided'' ''Mouse-ille or Science on a Wet Afternoon'' (1967) *''

The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R. ''The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R.'' is a 1967 ''Tom and Jerry'' short directed by Abe Levitow and produced by Chuck Jones. The title's a pun on ''The Man from U.N.C.L.E.''. Tom Thrush is a parody of Bryan Forbes, Turk Thrust from ''A Shot in the Dark ...

'' (1967) *''

O-Solar Meow This is a complete list of the 164 shorts in the ''Tom and Jerry'' series produced and released between 1940 and 2014. Of these, 162 are theatrical shorts, one is a made-for-TV short, and one is a 2-minute sketch shown as part of a telethon. ...

'' (1967) *''

Purr-Chance to Dream ''Purr-Chance to Dream'' is a 1967 short and the final ''Tom and Jerry'' short produced under MGM Animation/Visual Arts, and was directed by Ben Washam and produced by Chuck Jones. This is the final short of the original ''Tom and Jerry'' series ...

'' (1967) *'' Rock 'n' Rodent'' (1967) *'' Surf-Bored Cat'' (1967) *''

Shutter Bugged Cat ''Shutter Bugged Cat'' is a 1967 Tom and Jerry cartoon, produced in the Chuck Jones era. The story was supervised by Tom Ray. As with the previous cartoon '' Matinee Mouse'', William Hanna and Joseph Barbera received a special director's credit ...

'' (title animation - uncredited) (1967) *'' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'' (TV) ... a.k.a. ''Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!'' (USA: complete title) (1966) *'' The A-Tom-Inable Snowman'' (1966) *'' Catty-Cornered'' (1966) *'' Filet Meow'' (1966) *'' Jerry, Jerry, Quite Contrary'' (1966) *''

Love Me, Love My Mouse ''Love Me, Love My Mouse'' is a 1966 Tom and Jerry short produced by Chuck Jones and directed by him and Ben Washam. Plot Tom, in love with Toots, goes to her house, carrying Jerry in a ring box to woo her. Tom presents Jerry to his love in ...

(''1966) *''

Puss 'n' Boats ''Puss 'n' Boats'' is a 1966 Tom and Jerry short directed by Abe Levitow and produced by Chuck Jones, and is the first short with Carl Brandt as music composer. The title's a play-on-words of the phrase "Puss in Boots", and is similar to ''Crui ...

'' (1966) *''

Matinee Mouse This is a complete list of the 164 shorts in the ''Tom and Jerry'' series produced and released between 1940 and 2014. Of these, 162 are theatrical shorts, one is a made-for-TV short, and one is a 2-minute sketch shown as part of a telethon. ...

'' (title animation - uncredited) (1966) *'' The Dot and the Line ... a.k.a. The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics'' (supervising animator) (1965) *'' The Man from Button Willow'' (1965) *'' Ah, Sweet Mouse-Story of Life'' (1965) *'' Bad Day at Cat Rock'' (1965) *''

The Brothers Carry-Mouse-Off ''The Brothers Carry-Mouse-Off'' is a 1965 Tom and Jerry short (though the year of copyright is 1966) produced by Chuck Jones, and the only one directed by Jim Pabian. Jones and Pabian wrote the story and Eugene Poddany scored music, while Mauric ...

'' (1965) *'' The Cat's Me-Ouch'' (1965) *'' Duel Personality'' (1965) *''

'' (1965) *'' I'm Just Wild About Jerry'' (1965) *''

Jerry-Go-Round This is a complete list of the 164 shorts in the Tom and Jerry, ''Tom and Jerry'' series produced and released between 1940 and 2014. Of these, 162 are theatrical shorts, one is a made-for-TV short, and one is a 2-minute sketch shown as part of ...

'' (1965) *''

Of Feline Bondage ''Of Feline Bondage'' is a Tom and Jerry cartoon released in 1965, directed and produced by Chuck Jones, with animation by Ben Washam, Ken Harris, Don Towsley, Tom Ray and Dick Thompson. Plot Jerry runs in the house's pool room and into a c ...

'' (1965) *'' Tom-ic Energy'' (1965) *'' The Year of the Mouse ... a.k.a. Tom Thump'' (1965) *'' A Taste of Catnip'' (additional animation - uncredited) (marking Towsley's last animations of Sylvster) (1965) *''

The Cat Above and the Mouse Below ''The Cat Above and the Mouse Below'' is the second of thirty-four Tom and Jerry shorts produced by Chuck Jones, released in 1964. It was directed by Jones, co-directed by Maurice Noble, and is the second short written by Michael Maltese. Plot T ...

'' (1964) *''

Is There a Doctor in the Mouse? This is a complete list of the 164 shorts in the ''Tom and Jerry'' series produced and released between 1940 and 2014. Of these, 162 are theatrical shorts, one is a made-for-TV short, and one is a 2-minute sketch shown as part of a telethon. ...

'' (1964) *''

Much Ado About Mousing This is a complete list of the 164 shorts in the Tom and Jerry, ''Tom and Jerry'' series produced and released between 1940 and 2014. Of these, 162 are theatrical shorts, one is a made-for-TV short, and one is a 2-minute sketch shown as part of ...

'' (1964) *'' Snowbody Loves Me'' (1964) *'' The Unshrinkable Jerry Mouse'' (1964) *'' Penthouse Mouse'' (additional/title animation - uncredited) (1963) *''

The Yogi Bear Show ''The Yogi Bear Show'' is an American comedy animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions that centers on the misadventures of forest-dwelling bear Yogi in Jellystone Park. The show debuted in syndication on January 30, 1961 ...

'' TV series (1961) *''Talking of Tomorrow'' (1960)

1970s and 1980s

*''

Mickey Mouse Disco ''Mickey Mouse Disco'' is an album released by Disneyland Records in 1979. A late entry in the genre of disco, ''Mickey Mouse Disco'' included disco versions of Disney songs and Disney-fied versions of disco hits. The album was re-released on CD ...

'' (1980) *''

The Space Sentinels ''Space Sentinels'' (originally titled ''Young Sentinels'' and renamed midway through its only season) is a Saturday morning animated series produced by Filmation which debuted on the American NBC network on September 10, 1977 and ran for thirtee ...

'' TV series (animation director) ... a.k.a. '' The Young Sentinels'' (USA) (1977) *'' Fraidy Cat'' (1975) *''

Oliver Twist ''Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress'', Charles Dickens's second novel, was published as a serial from 1837 to 1839, and as a three-volume book in 1838. Born in a workhouse, the orphan Oliver Twist is bound into apprenticeship with ...

'' (sequence director) (1974) *''

'' (director) (1974) *'' U.S. of Archie'' (director) (1974) *''

Treasure Island ''Treasure Island'' (originally titled ''The Sea Cook: A Story for Boys''Hammond, J. R. 1984. "Treasure Island." In ''A Robert Louis Stevenson Companion'', Palgrave Macmillan Literary Companions. London: Palgrave Macmillan. .) is an adventure no ...

'' (sequence director) (1973) *'' Journey Back to Oz'' (sequence director) (1972) *''

The Aristocats ''The Aristocats'' is a 1970 American animated romantic musical comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and directed by Wolfgang Reitherman. The 20th Disney animated feature film, the film is based on a story by Tom McGowan and Tom Ro ...

'' (animator) (1970) *''

The Phantom Tollbooth ''The Phantom Tollbooth'' is a children's fantasy adventure novel written by Norton Juster, with illustrations by Jules Feiffer, first published in 1961. The story follows a bored young boy named Milo who unexpectedly receives a magic tollb ...

'' (animator) (1970) *''

Horton Hears a Who! ''Horton Hears a Who!'' is a children's book written and illustrated by Theodor Seuss Geisel under the pen name Dr. Seuss. It was published in 1954 by Random House. This book tells the story of Horton the Elephant and his adventures saving Whovil ...

'' (animator) (1970)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Towsley, Don 1912 births 1986 deaths American animators Walt Disney Animation Studios people Hanna-Barbera people Artists from Milwaukee