John David Wilson
Quick Facts
Biography
John David Wilson (8 August 1919 – 20 June 2013) was an English artist, animator and producer. He owned his own production studio, Fine Arts Films.
Early years
Wilson was born August 8, 1919 in Wimbledon, England. He was educated at the Watford Grammar School for Boys, Harrow Art School and the Royal College of Art; among his teachers was Robin Darwin.
World War II
During World War II, Wilson served with the London Rifle Brigade. He was badly wounded in the African Campaign in 1941; while recuperating in Cairo he spent time drawing cartoons. Some of these were brought to the attention of a printer in Durban who offered him a job; due to the seriousness of his injury he was discharged from the army and accepted the job.
Death
He died at Blackpool, England in 2013. In his last years he had suffered from Alzheimer's disease.
Credits
Film
- Peter Pan (film) (1952)
- Lady and the Tramp (film) (1952)
- Journey to the Stars (film) (shown at The 1962 Seattle World's Fair) (1952)
- Shinbone Alley (film) (1970)
- Grease (film) (1978)(titles)
- FernGully: The Last Rainforest (film) (1992)
Television
- Mr. Magoo (TV series) (1953)
- Petrushka (ballet) (segment on Sol Hurok Music Hour) (1956)
- The Sonny and Cher Show (TV series) (1970–73)
- The Carol Burnett Show (TV series) (1972–76)
- COS w/Bill Cosby (TV series) (1976)
- Stanley, the Ugly Duckling (TV show) (1982)
- Peter Pan and the Pirates (TV show) (1990)
- Space Cats (TV show) (1991)
- The Specialists / MTV (TV show) (1992)
- Madeline (TV show) (1994)
- ^
Awards
Military
- War Medal (UK)
- Victory Medal (UK)
- Desert Starl (UK)
- War Star (UK)
- King George VIl (UK)
Film
- Gerald McBoing-Boing (Academy Award)
- Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom (Academy Award)
- Shinbone Alley (Golden Phoenix)
- Madeline (ACE Award)
- Tara, the Stonecutter (New York Golden Eagle, London Film Festival Award, Edinburgh Film Festival Award)
Notable mentions
- Considered the father of the conceptual music video
- Innovated the use of caricatures of voice talent in animation