Martin Taras
Born: 1914-08-09 in New York, New York, U.S
Died: 1994-11-02
Known For: Visual Effects
Biography
Martin Taras started his animation career at Van Beuren Studios in 1934 until its closing in 1936. He was involved in the 1937 Fleischer Studios strike, but abandoned it shortly after to take a job for Jam Handy. Following a stint at Terrytoons in the early 1940s, Taras became an animator at Fleischer Studios' successor Famous Studios, where he is known for the creation of Baby Huey. Huey debuted in the first "Casper" comic issue in September 1949, six months before his animated debut in the short, "Quack-A-Doodle-Doo". Taras animated for theatrical shorts and drew comic books featuring characters such as Casper the Friendly Ghost, Spooky the Tuff Little Ghost, Rags Rabbit, Wendy the Good Little Witch, Herman and Katnip, and Buzzy the Funny Crow. Taras departed Famous in 1956 to return to Terrytoons, then under the supervision of Gene Deitch. Taras also served as animator and/or designer for television programs such as "Batfink", "Spider-Man" (the 1967 series), "Josie and the Pussycats", "Super Friends"; and for theatrical motion pictures such as 'Fritz The Cat', 'Lord of the Rings', and 'Wizards'.
Filmography
1983
- The Berenstain Bears Play Ball ... (Animation)
1982
- Heidi's Song ... (Animation)
- The Berenstain Bears' Comic Valentine ... (Animation)
1981
- Strawberry Shortcake in Big Apple City ... (Animation)
- The Berenstain Bears' Easter Surprise ... (Animation)
1979
- A Family Circus Christmas ... (Animation)
1978
- The Lord of the Rings ... (Animation)
1977
- Wizards ... (Animation)
1975
- Really Rosie ... (Animation)
1974
- The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat ... (Animation)
1973
- Teeth Are Good Things to Have ... (Animation)
1972
- Fritz the Cat ... (Animation)
1966
- The Defiant Giant ... (Animation)
- Op, Pop, Wham, and Bop ... (Animation)
1962
- Take Me To Your Gen'rul ... (Animation Director)
- Popcorn and Politics ... (Animation)
1961
- Hound About That ... (Animation Director)
- The Lion's Busy ... (Animation Director)
- Goodie The Gremlin ... (Animation Director)
1960
- Thousand Smile Check-Up ... (Director)
- Stunt Men ... (Director)
- Hearts and Glowers ... (Director)
- The Littlest Bully ... (Director)
- Tusk, Tusk ... (Director)
1959
- Wild Life ... (Director)
1956
- Swab the Duck ... (Animation)
1955
- Robin Rodenthood ... (Animation)
- Git Along Lil' Duckie ... (Animation)
1953
- Better Bait Than Never ... (Animation)
1952
- Clown on the Farm ... (Animation)
- Cat Carson Rides Again ... (Animation)
1951
- Slip Us Some Redskin ... (Animation)
- Cat-Choo ... (Animation)
1950
- Quack-a Doodle-Doo ... (Story)
- Mice Meeting You ... (Animation)
1949
- The Big Flame Up ... (Animation)
- Hep Cat Symphony ... (Animation)
1948
- Snow Place Like Home ... (Animation)
1947
- Popeye and the Pirates ... (Animation)
- Naughty But Mice ... (Animation)
- All's Fair at the Fair ... (Animation)
- A Scout with the Gout ... (Animation)
- The Baby Sitter ... (Animation)
1946
- Rodeo Romeo ... (Animation)
- House Tricks? ... (Animation)
1945
- Man's Pest Friend ... (Animation)
1942
- Ickle Meets Pickle ... (Animation)