In a career that spans more than sixty years, animator Tissa David has brought to life characters as diverse as Mr. Magoo, Shakespeare's Titania, and Raggedy Ann. David broke through the male-dominated animation industry by becoming only the second woman (after Lotte Reiniger) to direct an animated feature, "Bonjour Paris", in 1953.
Born in Hungary in 1921, she attended the Academy of Beaux Arts in Budapest, where she also co-owned an animation studio. She escaped the Communist takeover of Hungary by moving to Paris in 1950, and then to the United States in 1955.
Collaborating over the years with such formidable animators as Grim Natwick, John and Faith Hubley, Richard Williams, Michael Sporn, and R.O. Blechman, Tissa David established a distinctive style that is quickly recognizable yet not easily imitated. Her sensual line, economical motion, and emotional acting has graced numerous television commercials, specials, shorts and features--everything from AT+T spots to Sesame Street--many of which will be shown in full or excerpted this evening.
Tissa David will be present to discuss her life and career with animation historian and filmmaker John Canemaker.
Organized by Joshua Siegel, Assistant Curator, Department of Film and Media, The Museum of Modern Art, and John Canemaker, author of "The Art and Flair of Mary Blair" (Disney Editions, Fall 2003).
Special thanks to Emily Hubley; Michael Sporn; R.O. Blechman; Michael Schlesinger, Columbia Pictures
