Wilfred Jackson
Born	(1906-01-24)January 24, 1906 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	August 7, 1988(1988-08-07) (aged 82) Newport Beach, California, U.S.
Other names	Jaxon
Occupations	Animator arranger composer film director
Years active	1928–1961
Employer	Walt Disney Productions

Wilfred Emmons Jackson (January 24, 1906 – August 7, 1988) was an Americananimator,musical arranger anddirector best known for his work withWalt Disney Productions.

Jackson joined Walt Disney Productions in 1928 as a volunteer washinganimation cels. He was soon promoted to an animator and was instrumental in developing theMickey Mousing technique, which synchronized the music and action forSteamboat Willie (1928). He was then made the director for theMickey Mouse andSilly Symphonies cartoon series, of which he directed theAcademy Award-winning short films:The Tortoise and the Hare (1935),The Country Cousin (1936), andThe Old Mill (1937). His feature film directorial debut wasSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).

Jackson next worked as a sequence director forPinocchio (1940) and theNight on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria segment ofFantasia (1940).^[1][2] He then co-directed several theatrical Disney animated features up toLady and the Tramp (1955). In 1953, Jackson suffered a heart attack while directingSleeping Beauty (1959). A year later, after recovering, Disney asked Jackson to produce and direct animated segments for theDisneyland series. After nearly 35 years with Disney, he retired in 1961.

Jackson was born inChicago,Illinois, but his family moved toGlendale,California. At a young age, he attended a screening ofJack and the Beanstalk (1917), starringFrancis Carpenter. In 1924, he graduated fromGlendale High School in 1924.^[3] After graduating, Jackson wanted to attend college, but his parents could not afford it. Wanting to pursue a career in animation, Jackson compromised with his father to attend an art school for two years. To pay for his tuition at Otis Art Institute (now calledOtis College of Art and Design), Jackson recalled he "spent a year working at odd jobs, mostly gardening, things like that, and got enough saved up."^[3]

Seeking an animation job, Jackson learned that most animation studios were on theEast Coast but he was unable to relocate. Through an acquaintance from a close friend, Jackson calledWalt Disney at his Hyperion studio, asking to speak with him. He soon arrived at the studio and showed Disney his portfolio. After examining his portfolio, Disney felt Jackson was not ready to be an animator, to which Jackson volunteered to work unpaid for him. Disney agreed, and Jackson was assigned to help John Lott, a studio janitor, wash paint off theanimation cels.^[3][4]

Several of theSilly Symphony shorts he directed, includingThe Old Mill (1937), wonAcademy Awards during the 1930s.^[5] In 1937, he made his directorial film debut withSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He then directed sequences in many of the major Disney animated features up toLady and the Tramp in 1955, including all of the animated sequences inSong of the South (1946). He later moved into television, producing and directing for Disney'sDisneyland series. After continuing health issues, he retired in 1961.

Jackson met his wife Jane Ames while studying at the Otis Art Institute. They married on February 23, 1929 and had two daughters, Barbara and Virginia.^[6]

Jackson died on August 7, 1988 at his home onBalboa Island, at the age of 82.^[7]

• Media related toWilfred Jackson at Wikimedia Commons
• Works by or aboutWilfred Jackson atWikisource
• Wilfred Jackson atIMDb

• 1906 births
• 1988 deaths
• American animated film directors
• Directors of Golden Bear winners
• American fantasy film directors
• Walt Disney Animation Studios people
• Artists from Chicago
• Directors of Best Animated Short Academy Award winners
• 20th-century American people

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