Isadore Ellis (January 19, 1910 – April 26, 1994) was an American animator best known for working for Warner Bros. Cartoons under the Bob Clampett and Frank Tashlin units. He was credited as I. Ellis.
Career
Ellis had a long career in the animation industry, which started at Ub Iwerks Studio in 1935. After two years, Ellis moved to
Leon Schlesinger Productions
Warner Bros. Cartoons, Inc. was an American animation studio, serving as the in-house animation division of Warner Bros. during the Golden Age of American animation. One of the most successful animation studios in American media history, it was ...
, where he worked under Bob Clampett's unit. After Clampett took over
Tex Avery
Frederick Bean "Tex" Avery (February 26, 1908 – August 26, 1980) was an American animator, cartoonist, director, and voice actor. He was known for directing and producing animated cartoons during the golden age of American animation. His mo ...
's unit, Ellis continued to animate in his old unit under the supervision of
Norman McCabe
Norman McCabe (February 10, 1911 – January 17, 2006) was an English-born American animator who enjoyed a long career that lasted into the 1990s.
Early career
McCabe was born in England and raised in the United States. He soon developed a ...
, Frank Tashlin, and Robert McKimson.Lenburg, Jeff. Who's Who in Animated Cartoons. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, 2006. Ellis reunited with Clampett after McKimson took over Tashlin's unit. However, Ellis relocated to McKimson's unit after
Art Davis
Arthur David Davis (December 6, 1934 – July 29, 2007) was a double-bassist, known for his work with Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner and Max Roach.
Biography
Davis was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United Stat ...
took over the Clampett unit. In 1948, Ellis left to do commercial work.
In the 1960s, Ellis worked for several animation studios for television. He worked for Gerald Ray Studios, which at the time was contracted in co-produce the
Popeye the Sailor
Popeye the Sailor Man is a fictional cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar.UPA and Krantz Films until finally moving to
Hanna-Barbera Productions
Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ) was an American animation studio and production company which was active from 1957 to 2001. It was founded on July 7, 1957, by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera following the decision of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to c ...
in 1968, where he would spend the next twelve years animating.
Ellis died on April 26, 1994, at age 84.