Grim Natwick

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One of the most influential animators in history, Grim Natwick (born Myron Noidveig) had a decades long career that spanned the entire history of both The Golden Age of Animation and The Dark Age of Animation, having worked at most of the major cartoon studios of the time.

Noteworthy work of Natwick includes the earliest incarnations of Betty Boop (up till Bimbo's Initiation) and Fleischer talkies in general, contributing heavily to the Ub Iwerks studio, animating a third of Snow White herself in Disney's feature length film, being a top animator at Walter Lantz's studio and UPA, and later down the road served as a mentor and animator for Richard Williams, as well as contributing animation to Richard's animated epic The Thief and the Cobbler, animating the Witch in that film while in his 90's.

He was also lifelong friends with fellow veteran animator James "Shamus" Culhane, as well as industry pioneer and animator Bill Nolan.

You can find the whole story of this underrated animation master in this Animation Resources article.


Works of his include:

  • Fire Bugs (Talkartoons)
  • Wise Flys
  • Dizzy Dishes
  • Swing You Sinners
  • Mariutch
  • Accordian Joe
  • Mysterious Mose
  • Please Go 'Way And Let Me Sleep (1931)
  • Teacher's Pest
  • Tree Saps
  • Bimbo's Initiation: One of The 50 Greatest Cartoons.
  • The New Car: First stint at the Ub Iwerks studio.
  • Jail Birds
  • Africa Squeaks
  • The Milk Man (1932)
  • The Office Boy
  • Room Runners
  • Stormy Seas
  • The Goal Rush
  • Phoney Express
  • The Music Lesson
  • Soda Squirt (1933)
  • Jack and the Beanstalk
  • Robin Hood Jr. (1934)
  • Insultin' the Sultan
  • Reducing Creme
  • Cave Man
  • Jungle Jitters
  • Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp
  • Viva Willie
  • The King's Tailor
  • Old Mother Hubbard (1935)
  • Summertime
  • Sinbad the Sailor
  • Mickey's Fire Brigade: First stint at Disney.
  • The Cookie Carnival
  • The Three Bears
  • Simple Simon
  • Broken Toys
  • Mickey's Polo Team (1936)
  • Ali Baba
  • Dick Whittington's Cat
  • Alpine Climbers
  • Little Boy Blue
  • Three Little Wolves
  • Snow White And the Seven Dwarfs: Animated a third of Snow White herself in the film.
  • Mother Goose Goes Hollywood (1938)
  • Gulliver's Travels (animation director)
  • The Fulla Bluff Man (1940)
  • Popeye Presents Eugene the Jeep (1940)
  • Take Heed Mr. Tojo (1943)
  • Abou Ben Boogie (1944)
  • Ski For Two
  • Enemy Bacteria (1945)
  • Pied Piper of Basin Street
  • Chew-Chew Baby
  • The Dippy Diplomat
  • Who's Cookin' Who? (1946)
  • Bathing Buddies
  • The Reckless Driver
  • Fair Weather Fiends
  • The Wacky Weed
  • Smoked Hams (1947)
  • The Coo-Coo Bird
  • Well Oiled
  • Solid Ivory
  • The Bandmaster
  • Trouble Indemnity (1950)
  • The Popcorn Story
  • Bungled Bungalow
  • Rooty Toot Toot (1951)
  • Georgie And The Dragon
  • Spare the Child (1954)
  • Terror Faces Magoo (1959)
  • Felix the Cat (Trans-Lux TV series)
  • The Mighty Hercules (TV series) (1963): directing animator - 3 episodes; Double Trouble, Guarding of the Olympic Torch, & Medusa's Sceptre)
  • Raggedy Ann And Andy: A Musical Adventure (1977)
  • The Thief and the Cobbler (1997): Grim, working alongside his apprentice Richard Williams, singlehandedly animated the Witch in the film--while he was in his 90's, no less!

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