Bill Tytla and Robert McKimson

Robert McKimson and Bill Tytla are legends in the world of animation. While both artists have left an impressive legacy, they differed greatly in style and personality.

McKimson (1911-1977) created some of Warner Brothers’ most memorable cartoon characters, such as Speedy Gonzalez, Foghorn Leghorn, and the Tasmanian Devil. Although he is considered as a �brilliant’ animator by film historians, he has also been referred to as an �uninspired’ director (Robert). Nevertheless, his work with two genius animators, Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng, as a team is responsible for a myriad of unforgettable cartoons from the 1940’s through the 1960’s, and had a profound impact on Warner’s house style (Robert).

McKimson began his career as an animator trainee at the Walt Disney Studio during the late 1920’s, but soon left to work at the Romer Grey Cartoon Studio with his brother Tom. However, in 1930, when that career choice failed, McKimson went to work as an animator for Hugh Harman’s and Rudolf Ising’s new studio who were making cartoons for distribution by Warner Brothers under producer Leon Schlesinger (Robert). There, he worked as the principal model sheet maker, which means he was responsible for creating a certain character in different poses and attitudes, and is credited with giving the “look and physical attitudes of some of the studio’s most important character” (Robert). For example, in 1943, under the direction of Tex Avery, McKimson drew the original model sheet on Bugs Bunny, and is responsible for drawing the famous pose of Bugs leaning against a tree with a partially eaten carrot in his hand (Robert). In 1946 when McKimson was promoted to director, he created one of his most famous characters, Foghorn Leghorn, in “Walky Talky Hawky,” which was nominated for an Oscar award (Robert). He also created the son of Sylvester the Cat and a kangaroo called Hipity Hooper.

When Warner Brothers closed the animation department, McKimson went to United Production of America, where he worked on the television series, “The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo,” for NBC from 1964 through1965 (Robert). He then went to work as a freelancer for DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, where he worked on commercials, television series and theatrical shorts. In 1968, he returned to Warner Brothers when the studio reopened, however the budget had been drastically cut and the new characters were for the most part, forgettable (Robert). McKimson spent his last years freelancing as an animator/animation director (Robert).

Interestingly, it was after McKimson’s death that his creation, the “Tasmanian Devil” gained its greatest popularity. When it was introduced in 1954, executive producer Edward Selzer considered it “distasteful” and ordered it retired, however Jack Warner loved the cartoon character and ordered additional cartoons created (Robert). By 1991, the Tasmanian Devil’s popularity had reached cult status when “Taz-Mania” joined the Fox network’s afternoon lineup (Robert).

For the most part, McKimson’s cartoons were faster-paced and more graphic than those of other directors, and he is known for having a “squarer” style (McCorry). For example, Kevin McCorry points out that McKimson’s “Bugs has droopier eyes and in earlier cartoons squatter and fatter legs, his Daffy has wider beak, and his Sylvester has fluffier, white cheek hair” (McCorry).

Vladimir (Bill) Tytla (1904-1968) is considered as “Animation’s Michelangelo” (Vladimir). His most famous characters include