Mike Jittlov | |
|---|---|
 Jittlov in 1996 | |
| Born | (1948-06-08)June 8, 1948 (age 77) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | UCLA |
| Known for | Special effects animation |
| Notable work | Wizard of Speed and Time |
| Website | www |
Mike Jittlov (born June 8, 1948) is an American animator and the creator of short films and one feature-length film using forms ofspecial effects animation, includingstop-motion animation,rotoscoping, andpixilation. He is best known for the 1988 feature-length filmThe Wizard of Speed and Time, based on his 1979 short film of the same name.[1]
Born inLos Angeles, Jittlov became a math major atUCLA.[2] Jittlov took an animation course to satisfy his art requirement. He made asuper-8 film,The Leap, enlarged to16mm to participate in film festivals in the early 1970s. Jittlov entered a 16mm film made for his UCLA class,[3]Good Grief,[4] intoAcademy Awards competition. That short made it to the professional finals for nomination, the first of several of his short films to do so.[5] Afterwards, Jittlov bought his own 16mm camera, designed his ownmultiplane animation system for $200, and began his career.
Some of his other original film shorts, includingThe Interview,Swing Shift,Animato, andTime Tripper (released separately and as a collection calledAnimato)[6] won many top awards and repeat film festival screenings, bringing him to the attention of TheWalt Disney Studio. In 1978, Jittlov co-starred on Disney's two-hour TV extravaganza, "Mickey's 50", with the short film "Mouse Mania",[7] creating and animating the first stop-motionMickey Mouse, along with 1,000 other Disney toys marching around a psychiatrist's office.[8] The short is now featured on the Disney DVDMickey Mouse in Living Color, Volume Two. Since Disney did not usually allow individual creators to receive credit on their television productions (preferring a generic thanks to "the many Disney animators who made this possible") Mike put his and partner Deven Cheregino's name on the toys in the final production number, where they could not be easily edited out.
In late 1979, he co-starred again on Disney'sMajor Effects television special – this time introducing the world to the 500 miles per hour (800 km/h) green-robed "Wizard of Speed and Time" via the short film version.[9] With an improved soundtrack, the short was released to 16mm film collectors in 1980, along with four of his other short films.
Jittlov also created the inaugural short film played on thecable TVDisney Channel. It featured an animated satellite shaped like Mickey Mouse's head, which was later reproduced for the special features of the DVD version of Disney's 1937 filmSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The Mickey Satellite film played to park-goers waiting in line atSpace Mountain for years, and is still shown toWalt Disney Parks and Resorts employees during orientation. The prop was also used in a scene inThe Wizard of Speed and Time.
Jittlov is best known for his feature filmThe Wizard of Speed and Time, which he directed and starred in. The film did poorly in theaters, but has established acult following since its release on videotape and laserdisc. It can often be found online. It is known for being self-referential.
He later worked as a special effects technician on the filmGhost, and in fan films includingDarth Vader's Psychic Hotline.[citation needed]
Jittlov maintains a distinctive appearance atscience fiction conventions by wearing his traditional green jacket and green shoes, similar to the ones seen inThe Wizard of Speed and Time. He was an early Internet user, with his own website, and frequent poster to his ownUsenet group, alt.fan.mike-jittlov.[10] He created a Jittlov Font for the Macintosh,[11] and is a prolific practitioner oforigami.[12]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
