Fred Wolf | |
---|---|
Born | Fredrick Wolf September 13, 1932 |
Occupation(s) | Animator, designer, artist, Director |
Known for | Founder of Fred Wolf Films Dublin |
Children | Bill Wolf, Elizabeth Wolf, Patricia Wolf |
Fred Wolf (born September 13, 1932) is an American animator. His works include the 1967 short subject The Box , for which he won an Academy Award; television specials such as The Point! and Free to Be...You and Me , and television series such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , James Bond Jr. , and Sarah Ferguson’s Budgie the Little Helicopter . Wolf was also responsible for the famous Tootsie Pops “How Many Licks” commercial.
In the 1960s, Wolf set up a studio in Hollywood, California with Japanese-American animator Jimmy T. Murakami (later of The Snowman ). The studio was called Murakami-Wolf Films. In 1978, animator Charles Swenson became a partner, and the company became known as Murakami-Wolf-Swenson. Both Murakami and Swenson eventually left the company, and in 1992, it became Fred Wolf Films. [1]
In 1989, MWS established a satellite studio in Dublin, Ireland, known as Murakami-Wolf Dublin before eventually adopting its current name (Fred Wolf Films Dublin). In this studio, each project is produced by a dedicated Irish crew.
Among the various series produced by or involving Fred Wolf:
Movies produced/directed/animated by Fred Wolf:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, commonly abbreviated as TMNT, is a media franchise created by the comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo, four anthropomorphic turtle brothers trained in ninjutsu who fight evil in New York City. Supporting characters include the turtles' rat sensei, Splinter, their human friends April O'Neil and Casey Jones, and enemies such as Baxter Stockman, Krang, and their archenemy, the Shredder.
Game Boy Advance Video is a format for putting full color, full-motion videos onto Game Boy Advance ROM cartridges. These videos are playable using the Game Boy Advance system's screen and sound hardware. They were all published by Majesco Entertainment, except for the Pokémon Game Boy Advance Video cartridges, which were published by Nintendo. Most cartridges were developed by DC Studios, Inc., except for the few labelled "Movie Pak" which were developed by 4Kids Entertainment's subsidiary 4Kids Technology, Inc. The video cartridges are colored white for easy identification and are sold as Game Boy Advance Video Paks; these offer the same 240×160 resolution as standard Game Boy Advance games, except for the Shrek and Shark Tale pack, which is at 112p.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American animated television series produced by Fred Wolf Films, and based on the comic book characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Set in New York City, the series follows the adventures of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and their allies as they battle the Shredder, Krang, and numerous other villains and criminals. The property was changed considerably from the darker-toned comics, to make it more suitable for children and families.
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated television series featuring the Chipmunks, which was produced by Bagdasarian Productions in association with Ruby-Spears Enterprises from 1983 to 1987, Murakami-Wolf-Swenson in 1988 and DIC Enterprises from 1988 to 1990.
Action figures based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise have been produced by Playmates Toys since 1988. Staff artists at the Northampton, Massachusetts based Mirage Studios have provided conceptual designs for many of the figures, vehicles, and playsets and are credited on the packaging of the products they created.
The World of Strawberry Shortcake is a 1980 animated television special written by Romeo Muller, directed by Charles Swenson, and produced by Swenson, Muller, and Fred Wolf. Starring the voices of Romeo Muller, Russi Taylor, Julie McWhirter, and Joan Gerber, it was made by Murakami-Wolf-Swenson in the United States in partnership with Toei Animation in Japan. The soundtrack was written and performed by Flo & Eddie of the rock group, The Turtles, for the opening theme of the series.
Teruaki "Jimmy" Murakami was an American animator and film director with a long career working in numerous countries. Among his best-known works are the animated adaptations of the Raymond Briggs books When the Wind Blows and The Snowman. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for The Magic Pear Tree (1968).
Renae Jacobs is an American voice actress, who is perhaps best known for voicing journalist and reporter April O'Neil in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series.
Andrew A. Luckey is an American animator, artist, author, designer, director, illustrator and television producer, primarily of animated works. He also writes and illustrates children's books and Bible studies.
Fred Wolf Films is an American animation studio founded in 1967 by Fred Wolf and Jimmy T. Murakami. It was founded as MW (Murakami-Wolf). It later became known as Murakami-Wolf-Swenson (MWS) when Charles Swenson became a full partner in 1978. From 1989 to 2000, they also operated a subsidiary, Fred Wolf Films Dublin, located in Dublin, Ireland. It adopted its current name in 2013 following a reorganization.
Events in 1984 in animation.
Jim Duffy was an American animator whose credits included more than twenty years at Klasky Csupo creating productions for Nickelodeon, as well as earlier stints as an animator for Hanna Barbera, TVC Animation in London, Murakami-Wolf-Swenson, and others. Duffy received two Primetime Emmy Awards for the 2000s animated show, As Told by Ginger, as well as several other nominations for his work on Rugrats. Duffy also won three Daytime Emmy Awards during his tenure at Klasky Csupo, and received additional nominations for his work on Aaahh!!! Real Monsters and Captain Planet and the Planeteers. Duffy was also a director, writer, designer and storyboard artist for live action television commercials, PSAs, and corporate productions, including a series of safety videos for the National Coal Board. He divided his professional time between Los Angeles and London. His shortform animated films were screened at film festivals worldwide.
Events in 1977 in animation.
The first season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the first season of the series aired in syndication. At this point in the series, the Technodrome is located underneath New York City. Chronologically, this is the 5-part pilot episode, "Heroes in a Half Shell".
The second season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles aired in syndication. For most of this season, the Technodrome is located in Dimension X and Shredder is without Krang's help.
The fourth season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is split into two main sub-sections that aired concurrently: thirteen episodes which aired daily in syndication, and twenty-six episodes that premiered in hour-long double-bills on Saturday Mornings on CBS. Additionally, a two-part "Easter special" aired in syndication the following Spring.
The tenth season of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1987 TV series was also its final season. Shredder and Krang return for a three part episode, and the Technodrome is still in Dimension X.
Charles Gregory Swenson is an American animator, writer, storyboard artist, sound designer, producer and director who worked with animated film for many years. He wrote, directed, and animated the 1974 unrated adult-themed feature Dirty Duck. In 1978, he joined Fred Wolf Films, working on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He is also the creator of Cartoon Network's Mike, Lu & Og in which he also wrote the scripts for several episodes as well serving as executive producer and voice director. He left the entertainment industry in the early 2000s to become a painter.
Events in 1974 in animation.