Tony Ross
Atlanta College of Art Faculty

Lou has taught me so much about animation. He also managed to keep me in a good humor — If I came in to work with a gripe, he would drawl, “Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?” Who can complain after that?

Hertz working with a student at Atlanta College of Arts. © 2005 Richard’s Studio of Photography.

Lakia Ross
Atlanta College of Art Faculty

One of my favorite memories of Lou is at the 2002 ACA Faculty Christmas party. My husband and I were sitting on a sofa chatting, when Lou walked over and boomed, “My God, your body language is scandalous! I don’t think I can take it!” He then proceeded to plop down in-between us to sample our plates of food, and share his. I had known him for all of a week — completely incorrigible, that man.

Robert Pope
DAGNABIT!

I worked with Lou Hertz from 1994 to 1996 when I was an animation director at the defunct DESIGNefx wing of Crawford Communications. Lou was instrumental in bringing me on board full-time at D/E, and he was a ball to work with. People in our type of work are seldom acknowledged by the management types; but Lou worked tirelessly to make sure our contributions were duly noted throughout the company. He played to his strengths, leaning hard into his role as “the old man of animation,” and the experience of his years gave him a credibility that benefited us all. He was a skilled manager, almost always a light touch. Measured doses of silly and serious tailored to the specific moment; Lou was a gasser from beginning to end.

William S. Thompson
Vice President of Post Production and Corporate Administration
Crawford Communications, Inc.

I first met Lou when he worked for David Bockel and Co., an Atlanta ad agency. I was immediately impressed with his creative ideas and sense of humor. Years later, he and I would work together at Crawford. Hertz joined Crawford in 1993 as a cel animator in DESIGNefx, Crawford’s nationally recognized graphics design and animation house which competed directly with Industrial Light & Magic and other top firms. Hertz later became head of Crawford’s cel animation group before leaving Crawford in 1998.

Lou was a very sweet man and a truly good soul. He mentored so many young people. I laugh when I think about him because he always made me smile. I told him once that he looked like Mr. Magoo and he said he used to work on that cartoon series, which I didn’t know at the time.

J.J. Sedelmaier
J.J. Sedelmaier Prods.

I first met Lou at Creative Circus, a wonderful art school in Atlanta. He was my official “greeter” at a screening I was invited to do there. He was so gracious, friendly, and made me feel like we’d been friends for years! He later visited our studio in White Plains, New York with one of his daughters that lives nearby. He treated the folks here to stories and anecdotes that had us entertained for the entire time he was here. He was one of those special people that you make a connection with immediately!

We ALL wish we’d known him for a longer period of time…

Bob Pettitt
Atlanta

I didn’t meet Lou until he was well into his 60s, and I was constantly amazed at his passion for the art and business of animation. We’d discuss current trends in animation and advertising, new editing and production software, travel, and anything else that stoked the fires of his curiosity. Of course it was always a treat to hear stories and anecdotes about the “good ol’ days” in the industry, but he was as active and vibrant a part of our industry here in Atlanta as the younger generation of artists in their 20s and 30s. His generosity was amazing and many of us, as artists and people, benefited greatly from his skill, experience, toughness, wisdom, humor and encouragement.

To me, this story illustrates Lou perfectly: I once brought a couple of friends to a screening of animated shorts, sponsored by ASIFA. Lou was running the check-in table. I was between assignments and had managed to scrounge up the $7 admission fee, in quarters. As I emptied my pockets of the change, he smiled warmly, held out his hands for it, and said, as much for my friends as me, “This is a tough business, but you’re gonna make it big.”

We’ll miss you Lou.

Kevin Cooper

I am writing to send a few kind words in the memory of Lou Hertz. I am proud to say that I was a student of his. He introduced me to the world of animation. Words can’t express the value of what I learned from him. I am a better person now and it pleases me to know that he was a crucial part of my life.