Charles Thorson
Charles Thorson | |
---|---|
Born |
Charles Gustav Thorson August 29, 1890 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
Died |
7 August 1966 75) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | (aged
Nationality | Canadian |
Area(s) | Cartoonist |
Notable works | Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd |
Charles Gustav Thorson (29 August 1890 – 7 August 1966), born Karl Gustaf Stefanson, was a Canadian political cartoonist, character designer, children's book author and illustrator. Thorson is best known as the man who designed and named Bugs Bunny.[1]
Early life
Thorson was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, of Icelandic descent. Politician Joseph Thorson was his older brother.
Career
From 1935 to 1945, Thorson worked in American animation studios, including The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros.[2] He created hundreds of cartoon characters, including Snow White, Elmer Fudd, Little Hiawatha, Sniffles the Mouse, 'Inki and the Mynah', The Lady Known as Lou, and Twinkletoes. In 1939 he designed the character Bugs Bunny.[2]
Thorson wrote two children's books, Keeko in 1947 and Chee-chee and Keeko in 1952, about the adventures of a little Indian (Native American) boy. He also created the character Punkinhead, which appeared in several children's books and in Eaton's catalogues for many years.[3]
Thorson died in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1966.
References
Notes
- ↑ Barrier, Michael. Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in Its Golden Age. United States: Oxford University Press. p. 360. ISBN 978-0-19-516729-0. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
- 1 2 Neal Gabler (2007). Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination. Vintage Books. pp. 431–. ISBN 978-0-679-75747-4.
- ↑ Audrey Greer (2006). The Santa Claus Parade Story: 100 Years of Great Parades in Toronto. J.B. Greer. pp. 26–. ISBN 978-0-9781978-0-3.
Bibliography
- Cartoon Charlie: The Life and Art of Animation Pioneer Charles Thorson, by Prof. Gene Walz (with the assistance of Stephen Thorson. Winnipeg, Canada: Great Plains Publications, 1998. 222 pages. ISBN 0-9697804-9-4.
- Charlie Thorson fonds, University of Manitoba