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Thursday, December 15, 2005

ROSS, Virgil

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Birth/Death

Occupation/Title

Bio Summary

Early Life/Family

Education/Training

Career Outline

Comments On Style

Influences

Personality

Anecdotes

Miscellaneous

Filmography

Honors

Annie Award: Winsor McCay Award 1988


Related Links

Bibliographic References

Contributors To This Listing


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posted by Stephen Worth @ 2:15 PM   Read Comments Or Post Yours

1 Comments:

At 4:51 PM, Anonymous Keith Rogers said...

Birth/Death
b. August 8, 1907; d. May 17, 1996

Occupation Title
Virgil Ross was credited as animator numerous times, though he was a master at his craft which he practiced for decades.

Bio Summary
Virgil Ross was born in 1907 and witnessed firsthand the birth of such great animated stars as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. His 60 year career spanned work from Mintz to Schlesinger/Warner Bros. and through the era of low budget television animation.
Though men such as Chuck Jones and Tex Avery, whom Ross followed to Schlesinger Studios, dominate the lore of Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes, Ross left an indelible stamp in the movements of the great Schlesinger/Warner Bros. characters. So entwined with the world of animation, Ross even married an ink and paint girl at Schlesinger’s. He remained at Warner Bros. until 1964, when he roamed to different studios including Filmation, Hanna Barber, DePatie Freleng (where he followed Friz Freleng, the director to whose unit Ross worked for twenty years).
He passed away in May of 1996 after suffering a stroke earlier that year. Ross worked as he advanced in years, though he spent much of his later public life attending gallery and store openings dedicated to his and other’s work in the golden age of animation. In the twilight of his life his work achieved the beaux arts status denied his craft as animation slipped past its golden age.

Early Life/Family
Virgil Ross married Frances Ewing, a fellow Schlesinger employee who worked as an ink and paint girl.

Education/Training
First hired as a trainee for $6 a week to work at Mintz, Ross gained on-the-job training and eventually worked his way up to animator, first for Tex Avery at Lantz, then for so many years at Schlesinger/Warner Bros.

Career Outline
Ross began work as a trainee for Mintz and worked on Oswald the Rabbit cartoons, a foreshadowing perhaps of his great success animating an even greater rabbit in the future. He gained a break with Tex Avery at Lantz, hired as an animator, though he only worked a scant six months at the studio. When Tex Avery convinced Leon Schlesinger to hire him as a director, Ross joined Tex’s team at Termite Terrace. Under Tex Ross was involved in the evolution of Bugs Bunny, animating what Chuck Jones called “the mature Bugs Bunny” if not the definitive Bugs in “A Wild Hare” in 1940. He worked on Tex’s pictures until he left the studio, at which time Ross worked under the direction of Bob Clampett. Ross, however, did not animate in the sort of extreme dynamic characteristic of Clampett. He prospered as he began under the direction of Friz Freleng and helped Freleng bring such great stars to life like Sylvester and Tweety in their definite forms. Ross worked under Freleng until 1964 when he moved on to other projects. Animating under Hanna Barbera, Filmation, DePatie Freleng, Chuck Jones, Sam Nicholson, and Marvel, Ross would never again be the prolific animator he was in his Warner Bros. days.
At Filmation in the 60s and 70s he participated in the superhero craze in animation. He animated characters from Batman to Superman and even worked for a time on the Star Trek cartoon series. Joining his long time director Friz Freleng at DePatie Freleng in the 1970s, Ross animated on the Pink Panther series. As his career wound down, he returned to projects involving the old Warner Bros. characters. He also spent some of his time doing work for galleries and attending opening of Warner Bros. stores which featured his artwork.

Comments on Style
His style of animation relied more on his subtle acting seen through the characters. This put him at odds with the more outrageous Bob Clampett who supervised Ross’ unit for a while during the 40s. Though Ross had many more dimensions than subtlety. He could convey superb action with the very best and is legendary for his ability to animate dance and action sequences. Many admire his sequence in “Rhapsody Rabbit” with Bugs trying to untangle his fingers. Ross embodied consistency and it has been pointed out that his characters often held true to their forms often after the model sheet had been modified. His Daffy Duck, a prime example, was often shorter with a longer bill than the standard version of the 50s and 60s.

Influences
Despite early breaks from Avery that brought him to Warner Bros. and his experience with Oswald the Rabbit, Ross’ determination to stick to an earlier version of Daffy shows his passive resistant to influence.

Personality
Virgil Ross, in the words of Martha Sigall, “was one of the nicest people I ever met in the cartoon business.” As his career wound down and he entered the semi-retired life an artist he always had time for his fans, signing and making drawings.

Anecdotes
Though it is often said that Ross was a great dancer which allowed him to animate these sorts of sequences so well, he had a unique experience under Bob Clampett making “Coal Black and De Sebben Dwarfs.” Clampett had his unit go to a Central Avenue night club in 40s L.A. to witness the zoot-suit culture and dancing that would appear in the cartoon. This experience probably informed Ross’ work, though he managed a Carmen Miranda and a Suma wrestler with Bugs Bunny just fine.

Filmography
1. From Hare to Eternity (1997) (special thanks)
2. "That's Warner Bros.!" (1995) TV Series (animator)
3. "Merrie Melodies: Starring Bugs Bunny and Friends" (1990) TV Series (animator)
4. Daffy Duck's Quackbusters (1988) (animator)
5. Christmas in Tattertown (1987) (TV) (animator)
6. "The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show" (1986) TV Series (animator)
7. "The Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes Comedy Hour" (1985) TV Series (animator)
8. "The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo" (1985) TV Series (animator)
9. Daffy Duck's Movie: Fantastic Island (1983) (animator: classic cartoons)
... aka Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island (USA: short title)
10. Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore (1983) (animator)
... aka A Day for Eeyore (USA: short title)
11. Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales (1982) (animator)
... aka Bugs Bunny's 1001 Rabbit Tales (USA: short title)
12. Hey Good Lookin' (1982) (animator)
13. The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat (1982) (TV) (animator)
... aka The Cat in the Hat Get's Grinched (USA: video title)
14. The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie (1981) (animator)
... aka Friz Freleng's Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie
15. Bugs Bunny's Bustin' Out All Over (1980) (TV) (master animator)
16. Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales (1979) (TV) (animator)
17. The Great American Chase (1979) (animator) (segment "Bugs at Home")
... aka The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie (USA: video title)
18. Pink in the Woods (1979) (animator)
19. Pinktails for Two (1978) (animator)
20. The Pink of Bagdad (1978) (animator)
21. Pink Press (1978) (animator)
22. Cat and the Pinkstalk (1978) (animator)
23. Pink Daddy (1978) (animator)
24. Pink Lightning (1978) (animator)
25. Pink Pictures (1978) (animator)
26. "The All New Pink Panther Show" (1978) TV Series (animator)
27. "The Fantastic Four" (1978) TV Series (animator)
... aka The Fabulous Fantastic Four (UK: video box title)
... aka The New Fantastic Four (USA: promotional title)
28. "The Sylvester & Tweety Show" (1976) TV Series (animator)
29. "The Pink Panther Laugh and the Half Hour and Half Show" (1976) TV Series (animator)
30. Pink Piper (1976) (animator)
31. Bobolink Pink (1975) (animator)
32. Pink Elephant (1975) (animator)
33. "The Oddball Couple" (1975) TV Series (animator)
34. Pink Plasma (1975) (animator)
35. Pink Da Vinci (1975) (animator)
36. Journey Back to Oz (1974) (animator)
37. "Star Trek" (1973) TV Series (animator)
... aka Star Trek: TAS (USA: promotional abbreviation)
... aka Star Trek: The Animated Adventures (USA)
... aka Star Trek: The Animated Series
... aka The Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek (USA: video box title)
38. "The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie" (animator)
... aka The New Saturday Superstar Movie (USA: second season title)
- Daffy Duck and Porky Pig Meet the Groovie Goolies (1972) TV Episode (animator)
39. Fritz the Cat (1972) (animator)
40. Chilly's Hide-a-Way (1971) (animator)
41. Airlift a la Carte (1971) (animator)
42. Moochin' Pooch (1971) (animator)
43. "Archie's Fun House" (1970) TV Series (animator)
44. "The Adventures of Batman" (1969) TV Series (animator)
... aka The Adventures of Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder (USA: complete title)
45. "The Batman/Superman Hour" (1968) TV Series (animator)
46. "The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour" (1968) TV Series (animator)
47. "The Archie Show" (1968) TV Series (animator)
48. "The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure" (1967) TV Series (animator)
49. The Spy Swatter (1967) (animator)
50. The Music Mice-Tro (1967) (animator)
51. Quacker Tracker (1967) (animator)
52. "The Road Runner Show" (1966) TV Series (animator)
53. Clippety Clobbered (1966) (animator)
54. The Solid Tin Coyote (1966) (animator)
55. Out and Out Rout (1966) (animator)
56. Shot and Bothered (1966) (animator)
57. Chaser on the Rocks (1965) (animator)
58. Highway Runnery (1965) (animator)
59. Hairied and Hurried (1965) (animator)
60. Just Plane Beep (1965) (animator)
61. Boulder Wham! (1965) (animator)
62. Tired and Feathered (1965) (animator)
63. "Linus! The Lion Hearted" (1964) TV Series (animator)
64. Señorella and the Glass Huarache (1964) (animator)
65. Hawaiian Aye Aye (1964) (animator)
66. Nuts and Volts (1964) (animator)
67. Dumb Patrol (1964) (animator)
68. The Unmentionables (1963) (animator)
69. Chili Weather (1963) (animator)
70. Philbert (Three's a Crowd) (1963) (animator)
71. Mexican Cat Dance (1963) (animator)
72. Devil's Feud Cake (1963) (animator)
73. Shishkabugs (1962) (animator)
74. The Jet Cage (1962) (animator)
75. Honey's Money (1962) (animator)
76. Mexican Boarders (1962) (animator)
77. Crow's Feat (1962) (animator)
78. Quackodile Tears (1962) (animator)
79. The Last Hungry Cat (1961) (animator)
80. Prince Violent (1961) (animator)
... aka Prince Varmint (TV title)
81. The Pied Piper of Guadalupe (1961) (animator)
82. The Rebel Without Claws (1961) (animator)
83. D' Fightin' Ones (1961) (animator)
84. Lighter Than Hare (1960) (animator)
85. Trip for Tat (1960) (animator)
86. "The Bugs Bunny Show" (1960) TV Series (animator)
87. "The Flintstones" (1960) TV Series (animator)
88. From Hare to Heir (1960) (animator)
89. Mouse and Garden (1960) (animator)
90. Hyde and Go Tweet (1960) (animator)
91. Person to Bunny (1960) (animator)
92. Goldimouse and the Three Cats (1960) (animator)
93. Horse Hare (1960) (animator)
94. Tweet Dreams (1959) (animator)
95. Here Today, Gone Tamale (1959) (animator)
96. Wild and Woolly Hare (1959) (animator)
97. Tweet and Lovely (1959) (animator)
98. Mexicali Shmoes (1959) (animator)
99. Apes of Wrath (1959) (animator)
100. Trick or Tweet (1959) (animator)
101. A Bird in a Bonnet (1958) (animator)
102. Knighty Knight Bugs (1958) (animator)
103. A Waggily Tale (1958) (animator)
104. A Pizza Tweety-Pie (1958) (animator)
105. Hare-Less Wolf (1958) (animator)
106. Gonzales' Tamales (1957) (animator)
107. Show Biz Bugs (1957) (animator)
108. Greedy for Tweety (1957) (animator)
109. Bugsy and Mugsy (1957) (animator)
110. Birds Anonymous (1957) (animator)
111. Piker's Peak (1957) (animator)
112. Tweety and the Beanstalk (1957) (animator)
113. Tweet Zoo (1957) (animator)
114. Two Crows from Tacos (1956) (animator)
115. Yankee Dood It (1956) (animator)
116. A Star Is Bored (1956) (animator)
117. Tugboat Granny (1956) (animator)
118. Napoleon Bunny-Part (1956) (animator)
119. Tree Cornered Tweety (1956) (animator)
120. Rabbitson Crusoe (1956) (animator)
121. Tweet and Sour (1956) (animator)
122. Heir-Conditioned (1955) (animator)
123. Roman Legion-Hare (1955) (animator)
124. Hyde and Hare (1955) (animator)
125. Lumber Jerks (1955) (animator)
126. Stork Naked (1955) (animator)
127. Pests for Guests (1955) (animator)
128. Pizzicato Pussycat (1955) (animator)
129. Goo Goo Goliath (1954) (animator)
130. Yankee Doodle Bugs (1954) (animator)
131. Satan's Waitin' (1954) (animator)
132. Muzzle Tough (1954) (animator)
133. Dr. Jerkyl's Hide (1954) (animator)
134. Bugs and Thugs (1954) (animator)
135. Captain Hareblower (1954) (animator)
136. I Gopher You (1954) (animator)
137. Dog Pounded (1954) (animator)
138. Sandy Claws (1954) (animator)
139. Robot Rabbit (1953) (animator)
140. Catty Cornered (1953) (animator)
141. A Street Cat Named Sylvester (1953) (animator)
142. Tom Tom Tomcat (1953) (animator)
143. Hare Trimmed (1953) (animator)
144. Ant Pasted (1953) (animator)
145. Southern Fried Rabbit (1953) (animator)
146. Fowl Weather (1953) (animator)
147. A Mouse Divided (1953) (animator)
148. Snow Business (1953) (animator)
149. Hare Lift (1952) (animator)
150. Tree for Two (1952) (animator)
151. A Bird in a Guilty Cage (1952) (animator)
152. Cracked Quack (1952) (animator)
153. Ain't She Tweet (1952) (animator)
154. Little Red Rodent Hood (1952) (animator)
155. Foxy by Proxy (1952) (animator)
156. Gift Wrapped (1952) (animator)
157. 14 Carrot Rabbit (1952) (animator)
158. Tweet Tweet Tweety (1951) (animator)
159. Ballot Box Bunny (1951) (animator)
160. Tweety's S.O.S. (1951) (animator)
161. His Hare Raising Tale (1951) (animator)
162. Room and Bird (1951) (animator)
163. A Bone for a Bone (1951) (animator)
164. The Fair Haired Hare (1951) (animator)
165. Putty Tat Trouble (1951) (animator)
166. Rabbit Every Monday (1951) (animator)
167. Canned Feud (1951) (animator)
168. Stooge for a Mouse (1950) (animator)
169. Canary Row (1950) (animator)
170. Bunker Hill Bunny (1950) (animator)
171. Golden Yeggs (1950) (animator)
172. All a Bir-r-r-rd (1950) (animator)
173. His Bitter Half (1950) (animator)
174. Big House Bunny (1950) (animator)
175. The Lion's Busy (1950) (animator)
176. Mutiny on the Bunny (1950) (animator)
177. Home, Tweet Home (1950) (animator)
178. Which Is Witch? (1949) (animator)
179. Each Dawn I Crow (1949) (animator)
180. Dough for the Do-Do (1949) (animator) (uncredited)
181. Bad Ol' Putty Tat (1949) (animator)
182. Knights Must Fall (1949) (animator)
183. Mouse Mazurka (1949) (animator)
184. Curtain Razor (1949) (animator)
185. High Diving Hare (1949) (animator)
186. Hare Do (1949) (animator)
187. Wise Quackers (1949) (animator)
188. Kit for Cat (1948) (animator)
189. Hare Splitter (1948) (animator)
190. Bugs Bunny Rides Again (1948) (animator)
191. Buccaneer Bunny (1948) (animator)
192. I Taw a Putty Tat (1948) (animator)
193. Back Alley Oproar (1948) (animator)
194. Slick Hare (1947) (animator)
195. Along Came Daffy (1947) (animator)
196. A Hare Grows in Manhattan (1947) (animator)
197. Rabbit Transit (1947) (animator)
198. Tweetie Pie (1947) (animator) (uncredited)
199. The Gay Anties (1947) (animator)
200. Rhapsody Rabbit (1946) (animator)
201. Racketeer Rabbit (1946) (animator)
202. Of Thee I Sting (1946) (animator)
203. Hollywood Daffy (1946) (animator)
204. Holiday for Shoestrings (1946) (animator)
205. Baseball Bugs (1946) (animator)
206. Peck Up Your Troubles (1945) (animator)
207. Hare Trigger (1945) (animator)
208. Life with Feathers (1945) (animator) (uncredited)
209. Slightly Daffy (1944) (animator) (uncredited)
210. Eatin' on the Cuff or The Moth Who Came to Dinner (1942) (animator)
... aka Eatin' on the Cuff (USA: short title)
... aka The Moth Who Came to Dinner (USA)
211. Nutty News (1942) (animator)
212. Any Bonds Today? (1942) (animator)
... aka Bugs Bunny Bond Rally (USA: video title)
... aka Leon Schlesinger Presents Bugs Bunny (USA: complete title)
213. Aloha Hooey (1942) (animator)
214. All This and Rabbit Stew (1941) (animator)
215. Porky's Preview (1941) (animator)
216. Wacky Wildlife (1940) (animator)
217. A Wild Hare (1940) (animator)
... aka The Wild Hare (USA: reissue title)
218. Screwball Football (1939) (animator)
219. Believe It or Else (1939) (animator)
220. Cinderella Meets Fella (1938) (animator)
221. Daffy Duck in Hollywood (1938) (animator)
222. Daffy Duck & Egghead (1938) (animator)
223. A Sunbonnet Blue (1937) (animator)
224. Uncle Tom's Bungalow (1937) (animator)
225. I Only Have Eyes for You (1937) (animator)
226. Porky's Duck Hunt (1937) (animator)
227. Milk and Money (1936) (animator)
228. I Love to Singa (1936) (animator)
229. Plane Dippy (1936) (animator)


Honors
ASIFA-Hollywood Annie Award: Windsor McCay Award in 1988 (lifetime achievement); Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists Golden Award in 1984.

Bibliographic References

Beck, Jerry. I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat: Fifty Years of Sylvester and Tweety. NY: Henry Holt & Co., 1991.

Filmography courtesy of imdb.com (accessed 29 October 2006) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0743910/

Jones, Chuck. Chuck Jones’ Chuck Reducks: Drawing from the Fun Side of Life. NY: Warner Books, 1996.
Sigall, Martha. Living Life Inside the Lines: Tales from the Golden Age of Animation. Jackson: University of Mississippi Press, 2005.

Sito, Tom. “Virgil Ross-In Memory.” Animation World Magazine 1, no. 4 (July 1996). http://www.awn.com/mag/issue1.4/articles/newsmag1.4.html

Weinman, Jaime J. Selecting bloggings from “Something Old, Nothing New.” http:zvbxrpl.blogspot.com

 

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