W. Watts Biggers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
W. Watts Biggers
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William Watts Biggers
June 2, 1927 Avondale Estates, Georgia, U.S.
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| Died | February 10, 2013 (aged 85) Manomet, Massachusetts, U.S.
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William Watts "Buck" Biggers (born June 2, 1927 – died February 10, 2013) was an American writer and composer. He is best known as the co-creator of the popular animated TV show Underdog. He also helped create many other cartoon characters.
Early Life and Early Career
William Watts Biggers was born in Avondale Estates, Georgia. He was a very bright student. He even skipped his last year of high school! He went on to study law at Emory University.
When he was 20, Biggers moved to New York City. He tried to become a singer and pianist, performing his own songs. It was tough, and he didn't find success as a musician.
Later, he started working at an advertising company called Dancer Fitzgerald Sample. He began in the mailroom and worked his way up. He became a supervisor for big brands like General Mills. This job helped him learn about TV and how to create shows.
Creating Cartoons
In 1960, while at the advertising company, Biggers teamed up with Chester Stover, Treadwell D. Covington, and artist Joseph Harris. They started making animated TV shows. Their goal was to help sell breakfast cereals for General Mills.
Biggers later moved to Cape Cod and started his own company, Total Television (TTV). The cartoons were made in Mexico. TTV created many popular animated TV series. These included The King and Odie, Tennessee Tuxedo, and Go Go Gophers.
The Underdog Story
One of their most famous creations was Underdog. This cartoon was about a superhero dog who always spoke in rhymes. For these shows, Biggers helped write over 500 scripts. He also wrote all the catchy theme songs and music.
Underdog was a huge success! It first aired on NBC in 1964. It then moved to CBS and later returned to NBC. The show was very popular with kids for many years.
Total Television stopped making shows in 1969 when General Mills stopped being the main sponsor. Biggers then went back to New York. He worked for NBC, leading a large department for five years. After that, he became a freelance writer. He wrote for magazines like TV Guide and Reader's Digest.
In 1995, Biggers and his partners sold the rights to their cartoon characters. This meant new books and projects could be made about them. Biggers also co-wrote a book called How Underdog Was Born in 2005.
Writing Novels
Besides cartoons, Biggers also wrote novels. In 1968, his book The Man Inside was published. It was a unique story about a journey to find deeper meaning in life. Some people thought it was written by a famous philosopher because of its ideas.
The book was described as a strange and original story. It was about a character's search for wisdom. It was even compared to books by famous authors like Hermann Hesse.
Another novel he wrote was Hold Back the Tide. This book was about a police chief who wanted to use hypnotism to help him solve crimes. It was published in 2001.
Death
W. Watts Biggers passed away from a heart attack on February 10, 2013. He was at his home in Manomet, Massachusetts. He left behind a legacy of beloved cartoon characters and stories that continue to entertain people.
