Jules Engel Tribute
Animation pioneer Jules Engel, who passed away Sept. 6, 2003 at the age of 94, was loved by many and inspired many generations of animators by way of his teaching, art and animation career. ANIMATION WORLD MAGAZINE will pay tribute to this inspirational man in a collection of thoughts and pictures from those who knew and admired him. We have been receiving many e-mails already from people who were touched by him. Please add your remembrances, anecdotes, express your feelings about him as well as any photos or drawings you would like to share in this online memorial to Jules Engel. Just e-mail us at editor@awn.com by Sept. 23 to be part of this tribute article to be published Sept. 25. Contributions may be edited for space, but we will include something from every one. Please include your title and where you are from.
Following is the official obit issued by CalArts, regarding his death and funeral services on Sept. 13, 2003:
Jules Engel, a true pioneer in the art of animation and one of the most beloved educators in the history of CalArts, died on September 6 in Simi Valley, CA, following a short illness. He was 94.
Engel's illustrious career as an animator, producer, film director and fine artist ranged from working on the Walt Disney classics FANTASIA and BAMBI to creating groundbreaking cartoons for the United Productions of America (UPA) and Format Films, and, later, to his own internationally celebrated abstract animations and live-action films.
In 1970, Engel founded CalArts' Program in Experimental Animation, widely recognized as one of the world's foremost centers for animation arts. In 2001, CalArts hailed his indelible contribution to the arts by conferring on him the title of Institute Fellow, the highest honor it awards to faculty.
"Jules' death is an enormous loss for us at CalArts," said Steven D. Lavine, president of CalArts. "Jules was the spiritual center of our School of Film/Video in that he always championed the personal vision of the individual artist.
"Over the years, CalArts students have always appreciated his keen advice, generosity and personal graciousness. Jules summed up his teaching philosophy perfectly when he said, 'It's not what I give to my students that's so important; it's what I don't take away.' He will be greatly missed by the entire CalArts community."
Engel was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1909 and moved to Oak Park, Illinois, when he was a boy. Inspired by the work of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo while in high school, he came to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the arts. Once in Los Angeles, he was first hired by a local artist to sketch landscapes.
Engel began his career in animation at the studios of Charles Mintz, where he was first employed as an inbetweener. In the late 1930s, he moved to the Walt Disney Studios and used his expertise in capturing movement to design the choreography for several key sequences in the landmark animated feature FANTASIA, including "The Chinese Dance," "The Russian Dance" and "The Dance of the Hours." While at Disney, he also worked as a key colorist on BAMBI, one of the studio's all-time masterpieces.
During World War II, he served in the Hal Roach Motion Picture Unit of the Army Air Corps.
Engel was one of the founders of the innovative animation studio UPA, where he, along with Robert Cannon and others, developed theatrical cartoons such as GERALD MCBOING-BOING, MADELINE and MR. MAGOO, from 1944 to 1959. Engel, who had been a fine artist since the 1930s, drew on contemporary art to design sophisticated color palettes that gave UPA animations their distinctively modern look and sensibility.
In 1959, Engel joined forces with friends and UPA colleagues Herb Klynn and Buddy Getzler to launch Format Films. There, he worked on several popular cartoon shows including THE ALVIN SHOW and THE LONE RANGER. Engel also collaborated with Dr. Seuss author Theodore Geisel and Oscar-winning filmmaker and designer Saul Bass. In 1962, he directed and produced the Oscar-nominated animated short, ICARUS MONTGOLFIER WRIGHT, based on a script by science fiction writer Ray Bradbury.
Following is the official obit issued by CalArts, regarding his death and funeral services on Sept. 13, 2003:
Jules Engel, a true pioneer in the art of animation and one of the most beloved educators in the history of CalArts, died on September 6 in Simi Valley, CA, following a short illness. He was 94.
Engel's illustrious career as an animator, producer, film director and fine artist ranged from working on the Walt Disney classics FANTASIA and BAMBI to creating groundbreaking cartoons for the United Productions of America (UPA) and Format Films, and, later, to his own internationally celebrated abstract animations and live-action films.
In 1970, Engel founded CalArts' Program in Experimental Animation, widely recognized as one of the world's foremost centers for animation arts. In 2001, CalArts hailed his indelible contribution to the arts by conferring on him the title of Institute Fellow, the highest honor it awards to faculty.
"Jules' death is an enormous loss for us at CalArts," said Steven D. Lavine, president of CalArts. "Jules was the spiritual center of our School of Film/Video in that he always championed the personal vision of the individual artist.
"Over the years, CalArts students have always appreciated his keen advice, generosity and personal graciousness. Jules summed up his teaching philosophy perfectly when he said, 'It's not what I give to my students that's so important; it's what I don't take away.' He will be greatly missed by the entire CalArts community."
Engel was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1909 and moved to Oak Park, Illinois, when he was a boy. Inspired by the work of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo while in high school, he came to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the arts. Once in Los Angeles, he was first hired by a local artist to sketch landscapes.
Engel began his career in animation at the studios of Charles Mintz, where he was first employed as an inbetweener. In the late 1930s, he moved to the Walt Disney Studios and used his expertise in capturing movement to design the choreography for several key sequences in the landmark animated feature FANTASIA, including "The Chinese Dance," "The Russian Dance" and "The Dance of the Hours." While at Disney, he also worked as a key colorist on BAMBI, one of the studio's all-time masterpieces.
During World War II, he served in the Hal Roach Motion Picture Unit of the Army Air Corps.
Engel was one of the founders of the innovative animation studio UPA, where he, along with Robert Cannon and others, developed theatrical cartoons such as GERALD MCBOING-BOING, MADELINE and MR. MAGOO, from 1944 to 1959. Engel, who had been a fine artist since the 1930s, drew on contemporary art to design sophisticated color palettes that gave UPA animations their distinctively modern look and sensibility.
In 1959, Engel joined forces with friends and UPA colleagues Herb Klynn and Buddy Getzler to launch Format Films. There, he worked on several popular cartoon shows including THE ALVIN SHOW and THE LONE RANGER. Engel also collaborated with Dr. Seuss author Theodore Geisel and Oscar-winning filmmaker and designer Saul Bass. In 1962, he directed and produced the Oscar-nominated animated short, ICARUS MONTGOLFIER WRIGHT, based on a script by science fiction writer Ray Bradbury.
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