Charles August Nichols

Charles August "Nick" Nichols (September 15, 1910August 23, 1992) was a Canadian-born animator and film director, who worked in animation for over 50 years at Walt Disney Animation Studios and Hanna-Barbera. At Disney, he worked on various short subjects and films from the 1940s into the 1950s, including the Academy Award-winning short '' Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom'' (1953). Nichols co-directed '' Charlotte's Web'' (1973) while at Hanna-Barbera.

Biography

Nichols was born in Milford, Utah.

As an animator for Disney, his first credit was on the film ''Pinocchio'', where he was the lead animator for the villainous Coachman. During World War II, Nichols animated several short subjects, including ''First Aiders'' (1944) and numerous cartoons involving the character Pluto. The authors of ''The World Encyclopedia of Cartoons'' opined Nichols' animation style made Pluto an "even more likable character." Nichols directed '' Mickey and the Seal'' (1948) and '' Morris the Midget Moose'' (1950). He then animated on the 1951 feature film '' Alice in Wonderland''.

Alongside Ward Kimball, Nichols co-directed two films in 1953: ''Melody'', notable for being the first 3D film at Disney, and '' Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom''. The latter earned an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Nichols worked on the anthology series ''Disneyland'' during the mid-1950s, tasked with combining new footage made for the series with older productions, such as cartoons and live action segments. Nichols later served as director on the live action series '' The Mickey Mouse Club''.

He became a stalwart at the Hanna-Barbera studio, directing much of their output made between the 1960s and 1980s. Nichols directed the adventure-themed '' Jonny Quest'' and '' Space Ghost'' in addition to the comedic '' Quick Draw McGraw'', '' The Jetsons'' and ''The Flintstones''. In 1966, Nichols served as animation director for '' The Man Called Flintstone''.

Nichols continued directing at Hanna-Barbera during the 1970s, working on '' Super Friends'', '' Hong Kong Phooey'', '' Goober and the Ghost Chasers'', and '' The Scooby-Doo Show''. With Iwao Takamoto, he co-directed the feature-length animated film '' Charlotte's Web'' (1973). In a mixed review, ''The New York Times'' felt the animation was "uninteresting" but noted the film stayed true to the book on which it was based. Takamoto opined Nichols was an "unsung legend" who rarely got recognition for his work in animation. He was heavily involved in the production of '' Josie and the Pussycats'', alongside Takamoto and Hoyt Curtin.

He is also credited as Nick Nichols on ''Scooby's All-Stars'' on ABC (the second-season title of '' Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics''). During the 1980s, Nichols worked for Ruby-Spears, providing animation direction to '' ABC Weekend Specials'' and ''Alvin and the Chipmunks''. In addition, he directed the animated television films '' Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School'' and '' The Good, the Bad, and Huckleberry Hound'' (both released in 1988). Near the end of his career, Nichols returned to Disney, working on '' The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh'', '' Darkwing Duck'', and '' Goof Troop'', the latter of which aired posthumously.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nichols, Charles August
1910 births
1992 deaths
American animated film directors
Animators from Utah
Film directors from Utah
People from Beaver County, Utah
Walt Disney Animation Studios people
Hanna-Barbera people
Directors of Best Animated Short Academy Award winners