Cartoonist. Best remembered as the creator of the cartoon characters "Rocky and Bullwinkle". In 1938 he began his career in animation working with his uncle Paul Terry at New York's Terrytoons, the studio that turned out "Mighty Mouse", "Heckle and Jeckle", and other theatrical shorts. After serving in the US Navy during World War II, he returned to Terrytoons to work full time in 1946. Anderson pitched the idea of producing cartoons for the budding television market, but when Terry rejected it he headed for Los Angeles and teamed with a then-unknown young producer, Jay Ward. In 1948 their efforts resulted in "Crusader Rabbit", the first cartoon series created specifically for television, which initially ran for 195 episodes through 1951. Skimpy profits ended the partnership, but in 1959 Ward began developing unsold material Anderson had created (including the characters Rocket J. Squirrel, Bullwinkle J. Moose, and the Canadian Mountie Dudley-Do-Right) as a new series, "Rocky and His Friends". Later renamed "The Bullwinkle Show", it originally ran until 1964 and then for decades in reruns. By then Anderson had become successful working for an ad agency in Northern California, and was only an advisor on the show's first season. It was not until 1996, as part of a settlement with Jay Ward Productions, that he was acknowledged for originating some of the most popular characters in TV animation. He remained in advertising until his retirement, creating slogans for Berkeley Farms, Skippy Peanut Butter, and the Smucker's Company.
Cartoonist. Best remembered as the creator of the cartoon characters "Rocky and Bullwinkle". In 1938 he began his career in animation working with his uncle Paul Terry at New York's Terrytoons, the studio that turned out "Mighty Mouse", "Heckle and Jeckle", and other theatrical shorts. After serving in the US Navy during World War II, he returned to Terrytoons to work full time in 1946. Anderson pitched the idea of producing cartoons for the budding television market, but when Terry rejected it he headed for Los Angeles and teamed with a then-unknown young producer, Jay Ward. In 1948 their efforts resulted in "Crusader Rabbit", the first cartoon series created specifically for television, which initially ran for 195 episodes through 1951. Skimpy profits ended the partnership, but in 1959 Ward began developing unsold material Anderson had created (including the characters Rocket J. Squirrel, Bullwinkle J. Moose, and the Canadian Mountie Dudley-Do-Right) as a new series, "Rocky and His Friends". Later renamed "The Bullwinkle Show", it originally ran until 1964 and then for decades in reruns. By then Anderson had become successful working for an ad agency in Northern California, and was only an advisor on the show's first season. It was not until 1996, as part of a settlement with Jay Ward Productions, that he was acknowledged for originating some of the most popular characters in TV animation. He remained in advertising until his retirement, creating slogans for Berkeley Farms, Skippy Peanut Butter, and the Smucker's Company.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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Alexander Hume Anderson Jr.
1920-2010
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