Tex Avery facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tex Avery
Avery c. 1940s
Born	Frederick Bean Avery (1908-02-26)February 26, 1908 Taylor, Texas, U.S.
Died	August 26, 1980(1980-08-26) (aged 72) Burbank, California, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills
Other names	Fred Avery Texas Avery
Occupation	Animator, director
Years active	1928–1980
Employer	Winkler Pictures (1928–1929) Universal Cartoon Studios (1929–1935) Leon Schlesinger Productions (1935–1941) Paramount Pictures (1941) MGM (1942–1953) Walter Lantz Productions (1953–1955) Cascade Studios (1955–1978) Hanna-Barbera (1978–1980)
Spouse(s)	Patricia Johnson ​ ​ (m. 1935; div. 1972)​
Children	2

Frederick Bean "Tex" Avery (February 26, 1908 – August 26, 1980) was an American animator, cartoonist, and director. He is famous for making some of the funniest and wildest cartoons during the golden age of American animation. His most important work was for the Warner Bros. and MGM studios. He was a key person in creating and developing famous characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Droopy.

Avery's style was very different from the cartoons of Walt Disney. His cartoons were known for being fast, silly, and full of surprises. They used clever jokes, speedy action, and characters who knew they were in a cartoon and would often talk to the audience.

Early Life and School

Avery's yearbook photo from 1926.

Avery was born in Taylor, Texas. He graduated from North Dallas High School in 1926. A popular saying at his school was "What's up, doc?" He later made this the famous catchphrase for Bugs Bunny. He wanted to be a newspaper cartoonist and took a summer course at the Chicago Art Institute, but he left after only a month.

A Career in Cartoons

Avery arrived in Los Angeles in 1928 and started his animation career at the Winkler studio. He began as an inker, tracing drawings onto clear sheets called cels. He worked on the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons. Soon, he moved to Universal Cartoon Studios, which was later known as Walter Lantz Productions. By 1930, he was promoted to an animator.

A Career-Changing Accident

While playing around in the office at the Lantz studio, a paper clip flew into Avery's left eye. This accident caused him to lose sight in that eye. Some people think that not having depth perception (the ability to see in 3D) is what gave him his unique and wild style of animation. The accident was serious, but it did not stop his creative career.

Joining Warner Bros.

In 1935, Avery got a job at Leon Schlesinger Productions, which later became Warner Bros. Cartoons. He convinced the producer, Leon Schlesinger, that he was an experienced director, even though he wasn't.

The studio gave Avery his own team of animators, including future famous directors Bob Clampett and Chuck Jones. Their office was a small building they nicknamed "Termite Terrace" because it had a lot of termites. Soon, the entire Warner Bros. animation studio became known by this nickname. Avery and his team created a new, funnier style of cartoon that made the studio famous.

Creating Cartoon Superstars

Avery and his team created a style of animation that was as popular as Disney's. He was deeply involved in making the cartoons, coming up with jokes and even doing voices.

Daffy Duck and Porky Pig

In Porky's Duck Hunt (1937), Avery introduced Daffy Duck. Daffy was a new kind of cartoon character. He was zany, bounced all over the screen, and had a silly, high-pitched voice. Avery also redesigned Porky Pig to be a cuter, rounder character who looked less like a real pig and more like a cartoon star.

The Birth of Bugs Bunny

Other directors had worked on a smart-aleck rabbit character, but Avery perfected him. In the cartoon A Wild Hare (1940), Avery gave the rabbit a cool, clever personality. He was always in control, especially when dealing with the hunter, Elmer Fudd.

Avery had Bugs Bunny casually ask Elmer, "What's up, doc?" This line, combined with Bugs's calm attitude in a dangerous situation, made audiences laugh out loud. "What's up, doc?" became the rabbit's instant catchphrase. Schlesinger decided to name the character Bugs Bunny, and a superstar was born.

Leaving Warner Bros.

Avery's time at Warner Bros. ended in 1941 after a disagreement with producer Leon Schlesinger. They argued over the ending of the Bugs Bunny cartoon The Heckling Hare. Avery wanted Bugs and a dog to fall off a cliff three times for a big laugh. Schlesinger disagreed and cut the scene. After the argument, Avery left the studio.

The Famous MGM Cartoons

In 1942, Avery joined the MGM cartoon studio. With bigger budgets and more creative freedom, his cartoons became even wilder and funnier. His work at MGM is considered the peak of his creativity.

His most famous MGM character was Droopy, who first appeared in Dumb-Hounded (1943). Droopy was a small, slow-talking dog who always managed to win in the end. Avery also created a series of funny cartoons starring a glamorous female singer, known as "Red," who always outsmarted a silly wolf.

Other classic MGM cartoons by Avery include Bad Luck Blackie, Magical Maestro, and King-Size Canary. Over time, his style became less realistic and more stylized, focusing on fast-paced action and impossible gags that could only happen in a cartoon.

Later Work and Legacy

In 1950, Avery took a year off from MGM. He returned in 1951 but left the studio for good in 1953.

Return to Lantz and TV Commercials

Avery briefly returned to Walter Lantz Productions, where he directed four cartoons. He helped create the character of Chilly Willy the penguin. After leaving Lantz, Avery started directing animated television commercials. He created famous ads for Raid bug spray, where cartoon bugs would scream "RAID!" before disappearing.

Final Years and Unique Style

In his final years, Avery worked at Hanna-Barbera on Saturday morning cartoons.

Avery's directing style was all about speed, surprise, and breaking the rules. He encouraged animators to do things in cartoons that couldn't happen in real life. A common saying about his work was, "In a cartoon, you can do anything." His characters would run out of the film, talk to the audience, and do other wild things that no one had ever seen before.

Personal Life and Death

In 1935, Avery married Patricia Johnson. They had two children.

Avery passed away on August 26, 1980, from cancer in Burbank, California, at the age of 72. He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.

Lasting Impact on Animation

Avery's influence is still seen in many modern cartoons, like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Ren & Stimpy Show, and Animaniacs. His work showed that cartoons could be smart, ironic, and funny for both kids and adults. He turned "cute and cuddly" characters into clever heroes like Bugs Bunny and hilarious goofballs like Daffy Duck.

Many of his classic cartoons have been released on DVD and Blu-ray, allowing new generations to enjoy his work. An award for animators, The Tex Avery Award, is named in his honor. He is remembered as one of the most important and influential directors in the history of animation.

Filmography

Many of Avery's cartoons have been released on home video over the years:

See also

In Spanish: Frederick Bean Avery para niños