Owen Earl Duvall (/duːˈvɔːl/; June 7, 1898 – December 21, 1950)[1] was an American artist and animator best known for his work onDisney comic strips in the early 1930s and for a handful of animated short films he directed atWarner Bros. Cartoons.
Duvall started as a layout artist and later as a member of the story department atWalt Disney Productions. During this time, he also worked as a cartoonist on theMickey Mouse daily strip and theSilly Symphony Sundaycomic strip.[2]
According toJack Kinney, a director who worked at Disney for many decades, Duvall was a "charming story man" who dressed well and was "the spitting image of the Prince of Wales", but often "lived beyond his means". Duvall left Disney's in rather unusual circumstances - pressed by Disney for several weeks to show his storyboards, Duvall simply gathered his belongings one day and left the company, "leaving Walt holding the bag".[3]
He was invited toWarner Bros. Cartoons in 1933 along with fellow Disney animatorTom Palmer to head up the studio in the wake ofHugh Harman and Rudolf Ising's departure. He was responsible for the creation ofBuddy. In the event, Duvall was delayed working on other projects at Disney, and by the time he got to Warner Bros. Palmer, who directed the first Buddy cartoon, had already been fired and replaced byFriz Freleng.
Tom Palmer left the Schlesinger studio after completing only two animated short films. Duvall replaced him as the director of the next few films of the studio. Duvall had experience as a story man for both Disney and Harman and Ising.Norman McCabe, who worked as aninbeetweener for the studio, recalled Duvall's resemblance toPrince Edward, thePrince of Wales.[4] Animation historianMichael Barrier considers that Duvall's princely looks and "aura ofsophistication" helped him get ahead. Wherever Duvall worked, people were at least giving him the benefit of the doubt.[4]
During his time at the Schlesinger studio, Duvall directed a number of cartoons based around surprisingly adult themes, and was allowed to direct the studio's first color cartoon,Honeymoon Hotel in 1934. He only completed work on five animated short films. Three of them were part of theLooney Tunes, and two of them were part of theMerrie Melodies series.[4] However, after a drunken argument with producerLeon Schlesinger, Duvall left the studio.
The departures of Palmer and Duvall left Schlesinger in need of new directors. Even composerBernard B. Brown received credits for directing twoMerrie Melodies shorts. By early 1934, Schlesinger appointedFriz Freleng as the main director of theMerrie Melodies series andJack King as the main director of theLooney Tunes series.[4]
Duvall died in 1950.
As Director/Supervisor.[5]
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