 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Charles August Nichols" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(April 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Charles A. Nichols | |
|---|---|
| Born | Charles August Nichols (1910-09-15)September 15, 1910 Milford, Utah, U.S. |
| Died | August 23, 1992(1992-08-23) (aged 81) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | animator |
| Employers |
|
Charles August "Nick"Nichols (September 15, 1910 – August 23, 1992) was a Canadian-bornanimator and film director, who worked in animation for over 50 years atWalt Disney Animation Studios andHanna-Barbera. At Disney, he worked on various short subjects and films from the 1940s into the 1950s, including the Academy Award-winning shortToot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom (1953). Nichols co-directedCharlotte's Web (1973) while at Hanna-Barbera.
Nichols was born inMilford, Utah.
As an animator forDisney, his first credit was on the filmPinocchio,[1] where he was the lead animator for the villainousCoachman. DuringWorld War II, Nichols animated several short subjects, includingFirst Aiders (1944)[2] and numerous cartoons involving the characterPluto. The authors ofThe World Encyclopedia of Cartoons opined Nichols' animation style made Pluto an "even more likable character."[3] Nichols directedMickey and the Seal (1948)[4] andMorris the Midget Moose (1950). He then animated on the 1951 feature filmAlice in Wonderland.[5]
AlongsideWard Kimball,[6] Nichols co-directed two films in 1953:Melody, notable for being the first3D film at Disney,[7] andToot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom.[8] The latter earned anAcademy Award for Best Animated Short Film.[9] Nichols worked on the anthology seriesDisneyland during the mid-1950s, tasked with combining new footage made for the series with older productions, such as cartoons and live action segments.[10] Nichols later served as director on the live action seriesThe Mickey Mouse Club.[11]
He became a stalwart at theHanna-Barbera studio, directing much of their output made between the 1960s and 1980s.[12] Nichols directed the adventure-themedJonny Quest andSpace Ghost[13] in addition to the comedicQuick Draw McGraw,[14]The Jetsons andThe Flintstones.[15] In 1966, Nichols served as animation director forThe Man Called Flintstone.[16]
Nichols continued directing at Hanna-Barbera during the 1970s, working onSuper Friends,[17]Hong Kong Phooey,Goober and the Ghost Chasers,[18] andThe Scooby-Doo Show. WithIwao Takamoto, he co-directed the feature-length animated filmCharlotte's Web (1973).[19] In a mixed review,The New York Times felt the animation was "uninteresting" but noted the film stayed true to thebook on which it was based.[20] Takamoto opined Nichols was an "unsung legend" who rarely got recognition for his work in animation.[21] He was heavily involved in the production ofJosie and the Pussycats, alongside Takamoto andHoyt Curtin.[22]
He is also credited asNick Nichols onScooby's All-Stars on ABC (the second-season title ofScooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics). During the 1980s, Nichols worked forRuby-Spears, providing animation direction toABC Weekend Specials[23] andAlvin and the Chipmunks.[24] In addition, he directed the animated television filmsScooby-Doo and the Ghoul School andThe Good, the Bad, and Huckleberry Hound (both released in 1988). Near the end of his career, Nichols returned to Disney, working onThe New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh,Darkwing Duck, andGoof Troop, the latter of which aired posthumously.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Springtime for Pluto | director | ||
| First Aiders | director | |||
| 1945 | Dog Watch | director | ||
| Canine Casanova | director | |||
| The Legend of Coyote Rock | director | |||
| Canine Patrol | director | |||
| 1946 | Pluto's Kid Brother | director | ||
| In Dutch | director | |||
| The Purloined Pup | director | |||
| A Feather in His Collar | director | |||
| Bath Day | director | Charles Nichols' first theatrical cartoon withoutPluto in it. | ||
| 1947 | Pluto's Housewarming | director | ||
| Rescue Dog | director | |||
| Figaro and Frankie | director | |||
| Mickey's Delayed Date | director | |||
| Pluto's Blue Note | director | |||
| 1948 | Mickey Down Under | director | ||
| Bone Bandit | director | |||
| Pluto's Purchase | director | |||
| Cat Nap Pluto | director | |||
| Pluto's Fledgling | director | |||
| Mickey and the Seal | director | |||
| 1949 | Pueblo Pluto | director | ||
| Pluto's Surprise Package | director | |||
| Pluto's Sweater | director | |||
| Bubble Bee | director | |||
| Sheep Dog | director | |||
| 1950 | Pluto's Heart Throb | director | ||
| Pluto and the Gopher | director | |||
| Wonder Dog | director | |||
| Primitive Pluto | director | |||
| Puss Cafe | director | |||
| Pests of the West | director | |||
| Food for Feudin' | director | |||
| Camp Dog | director | |||
| Morris the Midget Moose | director | |||
| 1951 | Plutopia | director | ||
| R'coon Dawg | director | |||
| Cold Turkey | director | |||
| 1953 | The Simple Things | director | ||
| Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom | director | |||
| 1954 | Grand Canyonscope | director | Charles Nichols' first cartoon starringDonald Duck. First Donald Duck cartoon to be distributed byBuena Vista Distribution. | |
| 1956 | How to Have an Accident in the Home | director | LastDonald Duck cartoon inCinemaScope. Charles Nichols' last theatrical cartoon in CinemaScope. | |
| 1959 | How to Have an Accident at Work | director | LastDonald Duck cartoon to be directed by Charles Nichols. Charles Nichols' onlyDonald Duck cartoon not filmed in CinemaScope. | |
| 1961 | The Saga of Windwagon Smith | director | ||
| 1966 | The Man Called Flintstone | animation director | ||
| 1973 | Charlotte's Web | director |
