Isadore Sparber

Filed under: People, Animator, Artist, Director, Producer, Storyboard Artist, Writer, Inkwell / Fleischer Studios, Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios, Paramount Pictures,

Full Name:

Isadore Sparber

Occupation / Title:

Animator, Artist, Director, Producer, Storyboard Artist, Writer

Date of birth:

07/03/1906

Date of death:

29/08/1958

Biography

An animator born in America, Sparber first got his start in animation through the Fleischer Studios in 1922. Contributing as an uncredited writer to Superman, Betty Boop and Popeyes cartoons, as well as on Fleischer features Gulliver’s Travels, and Mr. Bug Goes to Town,Sparber’s name first appeared in the 1941 cartoon Quiet Pleaze, as the label for a demolition company – Sparber Destruction Co.

Career outline

When Fleischer Studios relocated to the West Coast in 1938, Sparber followed, and in 1942, when the Fleischer Studios was shut down by Paramount Pictures and renamed Famous Studios. Continuing three series created by Fleischers, Popeye the Sailor, Superman and Screen Songs, as well as a handful of other characters such as Casper the Friendly Ghost, Little Lulu, Little Audrey, Baby Huey and Noveltoons. Three Fleischer employees were promoted to run the animation studio, including Sam Buchwald, Isadore Sparber, who was in charge of storyboarding, and Seymour Kneitel. Moving the studio back to New York, Famous Studios began producing cartoons aimed at children, where Sparber worked as a supervisor to the new crop of animators.

In 1956, Sparber along with many animators were fired from the studios, as Paramount took control of Famous Studios, renaming it Paramount Cartoon Studios. After these events, the cartoons released by Paramount severely decreased in quality, as budget cutting forced animators to use limited animation, ceasing to use Technicolor and other cheaper processes instead.

References:

Beck, Jerry. “Kneitel, Sparber & Tytla.” Cartoon Brew. Cartoon Brew, 16 Apr. 2004. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.

“Izzy Sparber.” IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2015.

Scivally, Bruce. Superman on Film, Television, Radio, and Broadway. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2008. Print.

Barrier, J. Michael. Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in Its Golden Age. New York: Oxford UP, 1999. Print.