Burbank Studio
Bob McIntoch
Notes
We interviewed Bob McIntosh in his Bel Aire home in 2004
Camera: Patrick Dunavan
Bob McIntosh was Pete Burness’ primary background artist on the Magoo series, although Bob did color on other UPA films as well. He spent most of his post-UPA days as a fine artist, whose paintings hang in many galleries, and he was a panelists at the UPA Tribute at the AFI in 2004. Btw, Patrick Dunavan also videotaped the UPA Tribute at the AFI.
Bob McIntosh is part of a presently unreleased scene.
Bill Melendez
Notes
We interviewed Bill Melendez in his busy Studio City studio in 2004, sitting in front of a monitor that was showing some of the UPA films he had animated some 50 years earlier.
Camera: Patrick Dunavan
Bill Melendez was a top animator during the golden years of UPA. He later became better known as the director of the Charlie Brown specials, with Charles Schultz. Besides the two camera shoot with Bill in front of the monitor showing his films, we later filmed him at his drawing board, demonstrating his love of the art of animation, and how Gerald and Charlie Brown are similar designs. Bill was also on a panel, during the AMPAS “Great to be Nominated” series, as well as the panel at the Egyptian Theatre UPA Tribute in 2006.
Bill Melendez is part of the Cartoonz is Cartoonz scene.
Joe Messerli
Notes
We interviewed Joe Messerli in his home in New York in 2006.
Joe Messerli was a comic book artist, when he decided to study at Choinards. There he met UPA artists who eventually led to him working there on the CBS television series. Joe met Evelyn Field, who was an ink and painter at UPA. They got married, and were still together when Joe died. Our UPA romance story, albeit with a bittersweet ending.
Joe Messerli is part of a presently unreleased scene.
Jimmy Murakami
Notes
We interviewed Jimmy Murakami during a break in his role as a jurist at the international animation festival at Zagreb in 2006.
Jimmy Murakami was able to give us a wonderful interview, albeit squashed, between competition screenings. Jimmy was one of the hot young talents on the CBS Boing television series, working much of the time with Fred Crippen, Ernie Pintoff. and Mel Leven. Later, he formed Murakami/Wolff with Fred Wolff, creating countless award winning shorts, and later moved to Dublin, Ireland, to live and continue his creative output.
Jimmy Murakami is part of a presently unreleased scene.
