Hugh Harman

Hugh Harman (31 August 1903 - 25 November 1982) was an American animator. He and Rudolf Ising collaborated on five Tom and Jerry cartoons for MGM.
== Biography ==
Hugh Harman was one of the pioneers of animation. While not a great animator, compared to partner Rudolf Ising, he was present during the early days. Harman began his work with Walt Disney in 1922, working on Disney's early Laugh-o-Gram cartoons. When that company went bankrupt, Harman and Ising tried to start a new series based on the Arabian Nights, but were unable to obtain funding. Disney called them back when he began work for Charles Mintz, producing Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
After a dispute over pricing, Mintz forced Disney out and kept Harman and Ising on for another year, when they in turn were forced out and replaced by a young Walter Lantz. Harman, Ising, and a few other former Disney animators put together a pilot short, "Bosko the Talkink Kid", which was used by producer Leon Schlesinger to obtain a contract with Warner Bros.' studios to produce animated cartoons. Harman and Ising started the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons, and produced them for several years.
After another argument over money (this time with Schlesinger), Harman and Ising left Warner Bros. for MGM in 1933. They produced quite a few "Happy Harmonies" for MGM until yet again they left over another financial arrangement. After MGM, Harman and Ising formed their own studio, but were not successful. MGM hired them back, but by this time their faux-Disney style of animation was out of fashion, and they found themselves eclipsed by the works of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, whom they had hired, as well as Tex Avery. In the 1940s and 1950s, Harman and Ising did some work for Walter Lantz Studios.
== External Links ==
* Hugh Harman at the Internet Movie Database
Category:Animators
Category:Real People
Category:The Funtastic Index