For this article, Bill compiled his Top 10 ‘Desert Island’ Animated Films. In his inimitable style, he cannot be constrained to just 10.

1. Oskar Fischinger – Study No. 6 and Motion Painting No. 1
2. Jordan Belson – Chakra and Light
3. James Whitney – Yantra and Lapis
4. Anthony Gross – Joie de Vivre and Foxhunt
5. Hans Fischerkoesen – Weatherbeaten Melody and The Snowman
6. Paul Grimault – Little Soldier and King and Mr. Bird
7. Barry Purves – Screenplay
8. Lejf Marcussen – Public Opinion and Tonespor
9. Frédéric Back – Crac!
10. Yuri Norstein – Tale of Tales
11. Priit Pärn - Picnic
12. Jules Engel - Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wet Paint, Coaraze, Villa Rospigliosi

Bill and Oskar’s widow Elfriede share a light moment. Courtesy of The Fischinger Archive.

"And I have decided to move to that desert island and just watch these films forever!” he exclaims. Other films he’d take, which didn’t make the "official" list, include Bartosch’s L’Idee; Night on Bald Mountain (Alexandre Alexeïeff and Claire Parker), Lotte Reiniger's The Adventures of Prince Achmed, Looking for Mother (Te Wei and Qian Jajun), Robert Darroll’s films and several Betty Boop cartoons. And if there’s room, the complete works of several of the above, including Fischinger — on film or DVD please.

Act III
Beyond his many accomplishments, the internal facts of his life are another matter. His spiritual interests include Buddhism, and James Whitney's and Jordan Belson’s beliefs have influenced him. He’s well-read, fluent in French, German, Spanish, Greek, Latin, Czech and Italian, with some Russian. He’s an avid viewer of The History Channel, and still attends opera. And he continues working with the Fischinger legacy today.

First, I want to stress that Bill is a wonderful human being: honest, generous, true to his friends. Second, he's an extremely intelligent, cultivated and open-minded film critic and historian. Third, he gave a lot to culture without asking anything, just for free, just because it was worth it. Bill taught me all I know about some great filmmakers. Not only Oskar Fischinger (which is obvious) but also James Whitney (an underestimated genius), John Whitney, Hy Hirsh, Pat O'Neill. And he also taught me a lot about UPA.
— Giannalberto Bendazzi, 2003

He now lives in Hollywood with his cats, and remains the glamorous Bill Moritz.

In 2003, Moritz moved his research collection to The Center for Visual Music. For more about the films above, Dr. Moritz’s work and Fischinger, please visit www.centerforvisualmusic.org and www.oskarfischinger.org. Be sure to check out the many articles Bill Moritz has written for Animation World Magazine over the past years.

Cindy Keefer is director of The Center for Visual Music, and has worked with Moritz and his collection since 1997. Her recent projects include the preservation and exhibition of films by John and James Whitney, Jordan Belson, Jules Engel and other animators. She is a member of ASIFA and AMIA.