People | Rarebit Early Animation Wiki

People – Full Database

Jump into our full database of people involved in the history of early animation.

Explore: Cartoonists

See all cartoonists listed in our database.

Explore: Directors

See all directors listed in our database.

Explore: Voice Actors

See all voice actors listed in our database. Pictured: Mel Blanc.

A biography of Art Babbitt, animator of Geppetto in Pinnochio, the Wicked Queen in Snow White, and the Stork in Dumbo. Working for Walt Disney, he developed Dippy Dog into Goofy, one of the stars of the studio. As a union activist, he also acted as a thorn in Disney’s side.

Featured Biography: Heck Allen

Heck Allen was an American screenwriter, novelist and story artist who had a long standing collaboration with Tex Avery.

Biography of the Month: Duke Redbird

Other than being the first indigenous director of NFB producing anime subjecting indigenous people, Duke Redbird is also a poet, writer, and social activtist advocating rights for his people.

Biography of the Month: Joe Oriolo

Oriolo was a cartoon animator who was born in Union City in 1913. He created the famed Casper the Friendly Ghost character, and directed more than one thousand cartoons, including the first syndicated television series of Felix the Cat.

Biography of the Month: Lin Wenxiao

Introducing the female director who created one of the most emotionally triggering work in Early Chinese Animation.

Biography of the Month: Kemp Powers

Introducing co-director and co-writer of Soul as well as latest well known Spider-Verse series

Biography of the Month: Yan Dingxian

Introducing co-director of Nezha, who is also the designer of the Monkey King (aka Sun Wukong).

Biography of the Month: Marcell Jankovics

Introducing director of “Son of the White Mare”, who is also one of the most well-known Hungarian animator

Biography of the Month: Hayao Miyazaki

Introducing Japan’s most internationally renowned animator

Biography of the Month: Isao Takahata (高畑勲)

Introducing director of “Grave of the Fireflies” and co-founder of Studio Ghibli

Biography of the Month: Vatroslav Mimica

Introducing director of Tifusari, representative of the Zagreb school of animation of Croatia

Biography of the Month: Jin Fuzai (金复载)

Introducing the chief composer of China’s most famous animation studio and the founder of the department of Performing Arts

Biography of the Month: René Laloux

A French animator committed to the creation of sci-fi animations

Biography of the Month: Ray Harryhausen

A pioneer in stop-motion animation and special effect

Biography of the Month: Amer Shomali

A multimedia artist exploring socio-political landscape of Palestine

Biography of the Month: The Wan Brothers (万氏兄弟)

Biography of the Month: Roque Federizon Lee (Roxlee)

“Thou Shalt not lose the passion of making films; work, work and work up to your last breath”

Biography of the Month: Yōji Kuri (久里洋二)

Introducing one of the pioneer independent animator of Japan.

Biography of the Month: Taiji Yabushita (藪下泰司)

Introducing a pioneer in early Japanese animation.

Biography of the Month: Sally Cruikshank

Introducing an early animator known for her surrealist animation for real-action movie’s opening sequences and the well-known Sesame Street

Biography of the Month: Walter Tournier

Walter Tournier is an Uruguayan stop-motion animator, director, documentary filmmaker, and a sculptor.

Biography of the Month: George Studdy (Co-Curated by Malcolm Cook))

Introducing an early British print cartoonist and animator who created an iconic animal figure, Bonzo the Dog, of the 1920s

Biography of the Month: Lou Scheimer

Learn about the man who created the Filmation generation.

Biography of the Month: Len Lye (Co-curated by Alla Gadassik)

Learn more about the pioneer of direct animation.

Biography of the Month: Jiři Trnka

Discover the “Puppet Master” of stop-motion animation.

Biography of the Month: Layaly Badr

Discover award-winning Palestinian screenwriter, artist, and animator Layaly Badr.

Biography of the Month: Ludwig Bemelmans

Learn more about the creator of everyone’s favourite cartoon little girl.

Biography of the Month: Hermína Týrlová

This month’s biography is Hermína Týrlová, who the director and animator often called the mother of Czech animation.

Biography of the Month: Charley Bowers

This month’s featured biography is Charley Bowers, animator of Dog Gone and silent film comedian.

Biography of the Month: Rein Raamat

This month’s biography is the artist, animator, director, and producer Rein Raamat!

Biography of the Month: Antoinette Starkiewicz

This month’s biography is about the groundbreaking Polish-Austrialian artist and animator Antoinette Starkiewicz.

Biography of the Month: Paul Driessen

This month’s biography is the Dutch-Canadian animator Paul Driessen!

Biography of the Month: Joe De Nat

This month’s biography is the composer Joe De Nat.

Biography of the Month: Hans Fischerkoesen

Hans Fischer was one of the first people to bring an animated film to German cinemas through his 1919 film Das Loch im Westen (The Hole in the West). (Klatt, 2013) “Fisher” was a common surname in Germany, so Fischer adopted the alias “Fischerkoesen” to distinguish himself. The name was created by combining his surname with the name of his birthplace, the town of Bad Kösen in eastern Germany. 

Mae Questel

Mae Kwestel was given her stage name, Questel, by her teacher Joseph G. Geiger when she attended the Theatre Guild School as a teen. She was born September 13, 1908, in the Bronx, NY. She was raised by her Orthodox Jewish parents, Simon Kwestel and Frieda (Glauberman) Kwestel. Against her family’s wishes, Questel pursued a career in acting. At 17 Questel won a local Helen Kane impersonation contest, catching the attention of Max Fleisher, who offered her a position as a voice actor at Fleisher Studios. She went on to provide the voice for Betty Boop, Olive Oyl and Little Audrey.