DON GUNN
Alberto’s Funny Animal Artist Gallery No. 5
DON GUNN
Donald Macnichol Gunn nasce nel 1912 ad Acadia, Nova Scotia, Canada, da Thomas Johnston Gunn e Meda Claudine Delong. La famiglia ha chiare ascendenze scozzesi.
Trasferitosi in California, esordisce a 24 anni nel campo dell’animazione presso lo studio Disney, dove lavora come intercalatore e poi come animatore degli effetti. Qui conosce, tra gli altri, l’animatore Lynn Karp, del quale sposa la sorella Helen Mary, il 28 gennaio 1939 a Los Angeles.
Trasferitosi nel Connecticut, all’inizio del 1940 entra in forza alla Kay Kamen, Inc. di New York, e per due anni circa realizza illustrazioni per il merchandising disneyano.
Dal 1942 al 1945 è affiliato allo studio di Charles “Chad” Grothkopf, che produce storie a fumetti per l’editrice Fawcett, soprattutto con il super-coniglio Hoppy.
Dal 1945 al 1949 Gunn disegna comic books per le editrici Creston/ACG, Better/Standard, Dearfield/Laue e Dell/Western. Realizza il maggior numero di storie per quest’ultima, dimostrando la sua versatilità disegnando personaggi degli studi Disney (memorabili i suoi mini-adattamenti di cortometraggi) e Warner Bros. (particolarmente belle le sue storie di Sniffles e Mary Jane), oltre a interi albi dei Brownies, Francis il mulo parlante, Little Scouts, Frosty l’uomo di neve e Rhubarb il gatto miliardario.
Dal 1952 al 1957 è di nuovo attivo come disegnatore di comic books per Dell/Western e durante gli anni Sessanta illustra numerosi puzzle con i personaggi Disney e Warner per la Jaymar Co.
Muore improvvisamente per attacco cardiaco nel dicembre 1972 in una strada di Rochester, nello stato di New York.
Donald Macnichol Gunn was born in 1912 in Acadia, Nova Scotia, Canada, to Thomas Johnston Gunn and Meda Claudine Delong.
After moving to California, he made his debut in animation at 24 years old at Disney, working as an inbetweener and effects animator from 1936-39. There he met, among others, animator Lynn Karp, whose sister Helen Mary he married on January 28, 1939 in Los Angeles.
The couple then moved to Connecticut, and in early 1940 Gunn joined the staff of Kay Kamen, Inc. in New York, working on Disney merchandising for a couple of years.
From 1942-45 he worked for Charles “Chad” Grothkopf, producing comic-book stories for Fawcett Publication, mainly featuring Hoppy the Marvel Bunny.
From 1945-49 Gunn drew comic book stories for Creston/ACG, Better/Standard, Dearfield/Laue, and Dell/Western. He produced most stories for the latter publisher, showing his versatility drawing Disney characters (his short cartoons mini-adaptations were particularly remarkable) and Warner Bros. characters (he was one of the best Sniffles and Mary Jane artists), besides drawing entire issues starring The Brownies, Francis the Talking Mule, The Little Scouts, Frosty the Snowman, and Rhubarb the Billionaire Cat.
Gunn was again active as a comic book artist for Dell/Western from 1952-57 and during the 1960s he illustrated Disney and Warner characters on several puzzles for Jaymar Co.
Gunn died of a sudden heart attack in December 1972 while walking down a street in Rochester, New York.
FILMOGRAFIA / FILMOGRAPHY
[NOTE: Dates in this section are day/month/year]
Studio: DISNEY 03/08/1936-28/10/1939
Intercalatore e animatore degli effetti / Inbetweener and effects animator
1936-1940 Cortometraggi non identificati / Unidentified shorts
FUMETTOGRAFIA / COMICOGRAPHY
COMIC BOOKS
Editore/Publisher: AMERICAN COMICS GROUP (aka CRESTON)
Hunk O’Hoss – Giggle Comics #29, 30 (1946).
Editore/Publisher: BETTER (aka NEDOR, STANDARD)
Billy Bunny – Coo-Coo Comics #58 (1951).
Butch and Buttercup – Coo-Coo Comics #55, 58 (1951); Supermouse #15 (1951).
Coo Coo – Coo-Coo Comics #58 (1951).
Copertine / Cover art - Dizzy Duck #33, 34 (1951),
Dizzy Duck - Dizzy Duck #33, 34 (1951).
Goofy Gander – Goofy Comics #30 et al (1950-51).
Percy Pig - Dizzy Duck #34 (1951).
Peter Pig – Goofy Comics #30 (1950).
Supermouse – Coo-Coo Comics #58 (1951).
Timothy T. Wolf – Goofy Comics #16 (1946).
Editore/Publisher: DEARFIELD/LAUE
Pancakes – “Red” Rabbit #4 (1948).
Editore/Publisher: DELL (aka K.K. PUBLICATIONS, WESTERN PRINTING)
A Letter from Santa - Santa Claus Funnies #1 (1952).
The Badkins – Four Color #605 (1954).
The Bone Bandit – WDC&S #90 (1948).
Bootle Beetle – WDC&S #82 (1947).
The Brownies – Four Color #293, 337 (?), 365, 398, 436, 482, 522, 605 (1950-54).
Bucky Bug – WDC&S #67-70 (1946).
Bugs Bunny – Four Color #142, 217 [gag], 233 (1947/48); Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies #70, 71 (1947).
Buttons – Four Color #605 (1954).
Canine Patrol – WDC&S #64 (1946).
Cat-Nap Pluto – WDC&S #93 (1948).
Chip ’n’ Dale – WDC&S #89 (1948).
A Christmas Present for Betsy Mouse – Four Color #867 (1957).
Copertine / Cover art – Donald and Mickey Merry Christmas #nn (1947); Four Color #157, 293, 337, 365, 398, 436, 441, 462, 465, 482, 485, 501, 514, 522, 547, 550, 573, 579, 601, 605, 621, 655, 710 (1947-56).
Crazy with the Heat – WDC&S #81 (1947).
Daddy Duck – WDC&S #90 (1948).
Donald’s Double Trouble– WDC&S #66 (1946).
Donald’s Dream Voice – WDC&S #93 (1948).
Donald’s Happy Birthday – WDC&S #96 (1948).
Double Dribble – WDC&S #70 (1946).
Down Under – WDC&S #91 (1948).
Drip-Dippy Donald – WDC&S #87 (1947).
Dumbbell of the Yukon – WDC&S #72 (1946).
Dumbo – Four Color #234 (1949).
Elmer Fudd – Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies #78, 86-91, 94, 95, 103 (1948-50).
Fearless Fagan – Four Color #441 (1952).
Figaro and Frankie – WDC&S #79 (1947).
Foul Hunting – WDC&S #86 (1947).
Francis the Famous Talking Mule – Four Color #465, 501, 547, 579, 621, 655, 698, 710 (1953-56).
Frosty the Snowman – Four Color #514, 601, 661 (1953-55).
Inferior Decorator – WDC&S #92 (1948).
A Knight for a Day – WDC&S #63 (1945).
The Li’l Bad Wolf – WDC&S #88-91, 98 (1948).
The Little People – Four Color #485, 573 (1953/54).
The Little Scouts – Four Color #506, 550, 587 (1953-54).
Mail Dog – WDC&S #85 (1947).
Mickey Mouse – Boys’ and Girls’ March of Comics #8 (1947); Donald and Mickey Merry Christmas #nn (1945/46/47); Four Color #79, 116, 170, 181 [gag] (1945-47).
Mickey’s Delayed Date – WDC&S #84 (1947).
Old Sequoia – WDC&S #62 (1945).
Peter Piper's Christmas Lantern - Santa Claus Funnies #1 (1952).
Pluto in “Dutch”– WDC&S #65 (1946).
Pluto’s Blue Note – WDC&S #92 (1948).
Pluto’s Kid Brother – WDC&S #63 (1945).
Pluto’s House-Warming – WDC&S #68 (1946).
Pluto’s Purchase – WDC&S #91 (1948).
Pluto’s Surprise Package – WDC&S #97 (1948).
Porky Pig – Four Color #156, 182 [gag] (1945-46); Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies #49, 50, 53-55, 69, 73, 74, 81 (1945-48).
Pueblo Pluto – WDC&S #96 (1948).
The Purloined Pup – WDC&S #67 (1946).
Rhubarb, the Millionaire Cat – Four Color #423, 466, 563 (1952/53/54).
Santa Claus Land – Four Color #178 (1947).
Sea Salts – WDC&S #97 (1948).
A Sled from Santa – Four Color #205 (1948)
Snackbar – Four Color #587 (1954).
Sniffles and Mary Jane – Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies #49-56, 84-87, 93, 95 (1945-46/48-49).
Squatter’s Rights – WDC&S #69 (1946).
Tavole con testo e illustrazioni / Text Illustration Pages – Four Color #452 (1953); Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies #76, 78, 86-90, 94 (1948-49); Santa Claus Funnies #1 (1952); WDC&S #97, 98, 100 (1948-49).
They’re Off – WDC&S #88 (1948).
The Three Little Pigs – Four Color #218 (1949).
Wet Paint – WDC&S #71 (1946).
Wide Open Spaces – WDC&S #83 (1947).
Editore/Publisher: FAWCETT PUBLICATIONS
Billy the Kid and Oscar – Funny Animals #5, 6 (1943).
Hoppy the Marvel Bunny – Funny Animals #4-6, 9, 13, 24, 35, 36 et al (1943-46); Hoppy the Marvel Bunny V1#1, V1#3 (1945-46).
Sherlock the Monk and Chuck – Funny Animals #3, 5, 6, 8, 11 (1943).
Editore/Publisher: K.K. PUBLICATIONS/DIAMOND D-X GAS STATIONS
Dumbo Weekly #1-16 (1942).
FUMETTI PER QUOTIDIANI / NEWSPAPER COMIC STRIPS
Editore/Publisher: WARNER BROS./NEA, INC.
Bugs Bunny - Tavole settimanali / Sunday page - assistente alle chine / assistant inker Apr 1947-Sept 1947.
MERCHANDISING
Editore/Publisher: JAYMAR CO.
Bantam Pocket Walt Disney Characters Picture Puzzle [Enchanted Castle].
Bugs Bunny Tray Puzzle [3 different].
Donald Duck Tray Puzzle [Disney Gang in Mexico].
Jack and Jill Puzzle.
Mickey Mouse Birthday Party Puzzle.
Walt Disney Characters Picture Puzzle [Dumbo with Huey, Dewey and Louie].
Walt Disney Characters Picture Puzzle [Frontierland].
Walt Disney’s Donald Duck Puzzle [with Mickey and Goofy out West].
Walt Disney’s Inlaid Puzzle [Donald Duck, Ludwig Von Drake and Goofy in London].
Walt Disney’s Inlaid Puzzle [Ludwig Von Drake, Mickey, Goofy and Pluto in the Jungle].
Walt Disney’s Inlaid Puzzle [Pirates].
World-Color Inlaid Puzzle [Goofy’s Circus].