Ub Iwerks(1901-1971)
- Animation Department
- Director
- Visual Effects
Ub Iwerks worked as a commercial artist in Kansas City in 1919 when he
met Walt Disney who was in the same
profession. When Disney decided to form an animation company, Ub Iwerks
was the first employee he had due to his skill at fast drawing as well
as being a personal friend.
When Charles Mintz raided Disney's
animation studio and stole the rights to their character Oswald the
Rabbit, Ub was the only associate to remain with Disney. He served as
the principal animator for the first Mickey Mouse shorts and Silly
Symphonies. Iwerks was so prominent in the production of these shorts
that it was speculated that Ub was the dominant force behind the
success of Disney Productions. The combination of Iwerks' rising
ambitions, occasional differences with Walt and a tempting deal with
Pat Powers to finance his own studio
prompted him to break away in 1930. His studio was never a tenth of the
artistic or financial success that Disney was. He simply did not have
the creative talents of his partner and his characters, Flip the Frog
and Willy Whopper were rather dull failures. His studio was closed in
1936 when Powers withdrew his support. He worked for Columbia starting
in 1938 and worked for two years until he decided to return to Disney.
The two men never commented on their renewed relationship but the
reunion was mutually beneficial. Iwerks was able to abandon animation
and concentrate on technical development which helped create many of
the special effects that the Disney company excelled in for decades,
especially concerning the live action animation combination sequences
in Song of the South (1946) and
Mary Poppins (1964).
met Walt Disney who was in the same
profession. When Disney decided to form an animation company, Ub Iwerks
was the first employee he had due to his skill at fast drawing as well
as being a personal friend.
When Charles Mintz raided Disney's
animation studio and stole the rights to their character Oswald the
Rabbit, Ub was the only associate to remain with Disney. He served as
the principal animator for the first Mickey Mouse shorts and Silly
Symphonies. Iwerks was so prominent in the production of these shorts
that it was speculated that Ub was the dominant force behind the
success of Disney Productions. The combination of Iwerks' rising
ambitions, occasional differences with Walt and a tempting deal with
Pat Powers to finance his own studio
prompted him to break away in 1930. His studio was never a tenth of the
artistic or financial success that Disney was. He simply did not have
the creative talents of his partner and his characters, Flip the Frog
and Willy Whopper were rather dull failures. His studio was closed in
1936 when Powers withdrew his support. He worked for Columbia starting
in 1938 and worked for two years until he decided to return to Disney.
The two men never commented on their renewed relationship but the
reunion was mutually beneficial. Iwerks was able to abandon animation
and concentrate on technical development which helped create many of
the special effects that the Disney company excelled in for decades,
especially concerning the live action animation combination sequences
in Song of the South (1946) and
Mary Poppins (1964).