Yellow Submarine animator Ron Campbell
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Beatles animator Ron Campbell brings his Yellow Submarines to St. Petersburg
Maggie Duffy, Times Staff Writer
Published: May 11, 2018
Ron Campbell, who worked on "Yellow Submarine," "The Beatles" cartoon series, "The Smurfs," "The Jetsons" and "Scooby Doo"will showcase his cartoon paintings at Libertine Contemporary Fine Art Gallery. Courtesy of Ron Campbell
As a boy in Australia in the 1940s, Ron Campbell was awestruck by the Saturday
afternoon cartoons in the local movie theatre.
afternoon cartoons in the local movie theatre.
Little did he realize that years later he would become a leading animator,
director
and producer on many of animation’s most popular cartoons, including
Popeye, Scooby Doo, The Beatles Cartoon Series and the iconic Beatles’
animated movie, Yellow Submarine.
director
and producer on many of animation’s most popular cartoons, including
Popeye, Scooby Doo, The Beatles Cartoon Series and the iconic Beatles’
animated movie, Yellow Submarine.
After a 50-year career, Campbell is retired but continues to paint the characters
he worked on, especially the Beatles, and displays them in galleries around
the world. Campbell brings his cartoon pop art to St. Petersburg’s Libertine
Contemporary Fine Art Gallery through Sunday, where he will be on hand
to chat about his work and impressive career.
he worked on, especially the Beatles, and displays them in galleries around
the world. Campbell brings his cartoon pop art to St. Petersburg’s Libertine
Contemporary Fine Art Gallery through Sunday, where he will be on hand
to chat about his work and impressive career.
Like most kids, Campbell loved drawing since an early age. But the
animated antics of Tom and Jerry and Heckle and Jeckle were both
enchanting and perplexing, as he couldn’t understand what was making
them move.
animated antics of Tom and Jerry and Heckle and Jeckle were both
enchanting and perplexing, as he couldn’t understand what was making
them move.
He remembers asking his great grandmother what they were. She
explained that they were just drawings.
explained that they were just drawings.
"You mean, I can make drawings can come alive?," Campbell recalled
thinking. "It was magical. It was like an epiphany to me."
thinking. "It was magical. It was like an epiphany to me."
He later attended the Swinburne Art Institute in Melbourne, but
Campbell
was largely self-taught. He’d spend his Saturday afternoons in the
Melbourne library poring over animation and drawing books,
learning about Walt Disney and Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera.
Campbell
was largely self-taught. He’d spend his Saturday afternoons in the
Melbourne library poring over animation and drawing books,
learning about Walt Disney and Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera.
Television came to Australia in 1956. After a brief stint animating
commercials for Royal Greenhouse Productions, he went into
business for himself. Then the American company King Features
came to Australia looking for animators, and hired Campbell. He
worked on Popeye, Krazy Kat and other shows for American television.
commercials for Royal Greenhouse Productions, he went into
business for himself. Then the American company King Features
came to Australia looking for animators, and hired Campbell. He
worked on Popeye, Krazy Kat and other shows for American television.
In 1964, King Features head of film and television Al Brodax saw
the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show and got the idea to make an
animated series about the Fab Four. When he called Campbell to
ask him to direct the series, Campbell misunderstood.
the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show and got the idea to make an
animated series about the Fab Four. When he called Campbell to
ask him to direct the series, Campbell misunderstood.
"I said, ‘Al, insects make terrible subjects for children’s cartoons,’"
Campbell remembered.
Campbell remembered.
The Beatles cartoon series debuted in 1965, and was wildly successful.
But the Beatles themselves weren’t involved beyond the use of their
songs; the characters were voiced by actors.
But the Beatles themselves weren’t involved beyond the use of their
songs; the characters were voiced by actors.
The success of the series eventually led to Yellow Submarine, and
Brodax once again contacted Campbell, this time to do animation.
Campbell, who by this time was living in the U.S., worked on the
Sea of Time sequence and the action between Chief Blue Meanie
and his sidekick, Max, using the psychedelic art style that defined
the era. The film is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Brodax once again contacted Campbell, this time to do animation.
Campbell, who by this time was living in the U.S., worked on the
Sea of Time sequence and the action between Chief Blue Meanie
and his sidekick, Max, using the psychedelic art style that defined
the era. The film is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Meanwhile, he was busy storyboarding for the first season of Scooby
Doo and animating for George of the Jungle. He went on to work on
many of the most legendary cartoons ever, including The Flintstones,
The Jetsons, TheSmurfs and Rugrats. He even worked on the very last
scene of the very last episode on the last hand-drawn cartoon series,
Ed, Edd and Eddy.
Doo and animating for George of the Jungle. He went on to work on
many of the most legendary cartoons ever, including The Flintstones,
The Jetsons, TheSmurfs and Rugrats. He even worked on the very last
scene of the very last episode on the last hand-drawn cartoon series,
Ed, Edd and Eddy.
Campbell’s gallery shows include paintings of many of the beloved
characters from these series. The Beatles cartoon series remains one
of the most popular, which people love to tell Campbell at his art shows.
characters from these series. The Beatles cartoon series remains one
of the most popular, which people love to tell Campbell at his art shows.
"I meet all the people now who used to watch it as a kid," Campbell
said. "Believe me, they’re nuts about it. I’ve had hundreds of people
tell me about the happy memories they’ve had watching it."
said. "Believe me, they’re nuts about it. I’ve had hundreds of people
tell me about the happy memories they’ve had watching it."
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