| Don Figlozzi | |
|---|---|
 Don Figlozzi | |
| Born | Donald Figlozzi January 17, 1909 (1909-01-17) Brooklyn,New York City, United States |
| Died | June 21, 1981 (1981-06-22) |
| Nationality | Italian American |
| Area(s) | Animator,Cartoonist,Illustrator |
Notable works | Popeye,FIGure This,Scramblegrams, Thumper, Jiminy Cricket |
| Awards | Time magazineAs Seen By |
| Signature | |
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Don Figlozzi (January 17, 1909 – June 21, 1981)[1] was an Americananimator andcartoonist. A veteran ofFleischer Studios and member of theNational Cartoonists Society, he spent the first half of his career in animation and the second half at the New YorkDaily News, where his cartoons, signed "Fig," became a fixture. Historian Harvey Deneroff of theSavannah College of Art and Design suggests that Figlozzi may have created the first animations to be used on television.[2]
Born inBrooklyn,New York City to Italian immigrant parents Frank and Constantina, Figlozzi began his artistic education with the Landon cartoon course and attendedPratt Institute,Cooper Union andArt Students League of New York. He married Anne Giannatasio (January 13, 1908 - March 16, 2005) and had two children, Constance (November 25, 1940 - ) and Donald Jr. (August 8, 1944 - ). He has five living grandchildren, Thomas and Donald Shelford & Peter, Lindsey, and Brett Figliozzi. It's been suggested that "Figlozzi" was Don's surname used exclusively for his professional animation career.
Figlozzi joinedFleischer Studios in May, 1931 where he worked as an animator onPopeye films.
During theSecond World War, Figlozzi worked on training films for theArmy Signal Corps.
As Graphic Art Director forWPIX TV, Figlozzi was one of the first television animators.[2]
While employed atThe Walt Disney Company, Figlozzi worked as an animator. Some of the most notable animations he worked on were Thumper (Bambi) and Jiminy Cricket (Pinocchio).
Figlozzi participated in the 1947Terrytoons strike.[3]
For the New YorkDaily News, Figlozzi illustrated columns for writers Bob Sylvester and Charles McHarry. Figlozzi also worked as an editorial cartoonist and created an ongoing cartoon gag strip entitled,FIGure This.
Figlozzi was a two-time prize winner (second and third place) inTime magazine'sAs Seen By cartoon contest.Member,National Cartoonists Society.[4]
