Phil Roman

Animator

View Full Interview

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About

About this interview

In his three-hour interview, Phil Roman reminisces about his early interest in art, and his studies in art school before and after World War II. He talks about his first professional job in animation, working for Walt Disney Studios. He speaks about his subsequent jobs as an animator, working on projects including Calvin and the Colonel and the feature film The Incredible Mr. Limpet. Next, he describes working for MGM's animation department under Chuck Jones, and his work on projects including Tom and Jerry cartoons, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Horton Hears a Who. Roman talks about later animating George of the Jungle for Jay Ward. He speaks at length about his years working as an animator and later, director for Bill Melendez Productions on dozens of Peanuts specials. Finally, he talks about opening his own company, Film Roman, to produce programs including the Garfield specials, The Simpsons, Bobby's World, and King of the Hill. B-roll contains photographs throughout his animation career, including characters he worked on and notable people he worked with and met. Jennifer Howard conducted the interview on June 26, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Every project has its own identity, its own look, its own feel. I never believed in doing things by formula. You design a project to look a certain way and characters move the way they're designed so every show has its own look. I never wanted a Hanna-Barbera or a Disney look, because all of the sudden, you're limited."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Phil Roman on animating Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas which has become a classic

03:09

Phil Roman on the character of "Garfield" the cat on the Garfield Specials voiced by Lorenzo Music

04:18

Phil Roman on producing Mike Judge's King of the Hill

02:47

Phil Roman on working with Charles Schulz on the Charlie Brown Specials

02:32

Phil Roman on June Foray and Boris Karloff doing the voice work for Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

01:31

Phil Roman on his responsibilities as an assistant animator at Disney

03:20

Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; Phil Roman on studying under Charles M. Schulz; on his experience in the Korean War

On his earliest experiences with television; on going to work as an animator for Disney

On his responsibilities as an assistant animator at Disney; on the rules for drawing Disney characters; on the animators he worked with at Disney

Chapter 2

On meeting Walt Disney, and on being there for opening day of Disneyland; on his decision to leave Disney; on animating commercials after his time with Disney

On doing animation for King Leonardo and His Short Subjects and Calvin and the Colonel; on animating the feature film "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" starring Don Knotts; on working with Chuck Jones who declared Roman not an assistant animator, but an animator

On working with Maurice Noble on Tom and Jerry; on working on Chuck Jones' version of Tom and Jerry; on working on the MGM short subject "The Dot and the Line"

On working on the MGM feature "The Phantom Tollbooth"; on how the animation production schedule differed from theatrical features to television and on dividing up labor; on what strengths he was most known for in his early days as an animator

Chapter 3

On animating Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas which has become a classic; on Chuck Jones' contribution to Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas;

On the scenes he animated in Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas and the challenges they presented; on June Foray and Boris Karloff doing the voice work for Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas; on the songs and success of Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

On animating Horton Hears a Who! and Mister Magoo; on animating Jay Ward's George of the Jungle; on joining producer Bill Melendez to animate Charlie Brown Specials

Chapter 4

On the process of animating and producing the Charlie Brown Specials with Bill Melendez; on Lee Mendelson's role in producing the Charlie Brown Specials ; on working with Charles Schulz on the Charlie Brown Specials

On the characters and themes of the Charlie Brown Specials ; on his favorite Charlie Brown Specials; on starting his production company Film Roman, and on producing Garfield Specials

On working with "Garfield" creator Jim Davis on the Garfield Specials ; on the character of "Garfield" the cat on the Garfield Specials voiced by Lorenzo Music; on the challenge of running his own production company Film Roman

Chapter 5

On Film Roman selling Howie Mandel's series Bobby's World to Margaret Loesch to FOX and on the process of selling shows to networks; on how Film Roman began to produce The Simpsons; on changes Film Roman made to the animation of The Simpsons when they took over animating the show

On Matt Groening's involvement with the animation of The Simpsons; on the premise and voice actors of The Simpsons; on his personal, day-to-day involvement with The Simpsons , the production process, and the impact the show has had on animation on television; on The Simpsons' popularity with children and adults and on the impact the show has had on animation on television

On the anti-drug Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue; on producing Howie Mandel's Bobby's World cartoon series; on Joseph Barbera

Chapter 6

On various Film Roman animated productions; on producing Mike Judge's King of the Hill

On his decision to resign from Film Roman; on directing Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer and on returning to Film Roman; on then-current projects and winning multiple Emmy Awards

On advice to an aspiring animation producer; on how the animation business has changed since he started, and on the impact of new technologies on animation

On career highlights; on his mentors; on how he'd like to be remembered

Chapter 7

On b-roll footage- pictures from his career- a caricature; Tom and Jerry; cell from The Grinch; animators with their characters; with former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan; with President Carter; Garfield; accepting an Emmy Award; with various animated characters and Friz Freleng; an algebra book that deals with animation;

Shows

Bobby's World

Phil Roman on producing Howie Mandel's Bobby's World cartoon series

02:52

Bruno the Kid

Phil Roman on producing Bruno the Kid

01:44

C-Bear and Jamal

Phil Roman on producing C-Bear and Jamal

02:12

Calvin and the Colonel

Phil Roman on doing animation for King Leonardo and His Short Subjects and Calvin and the Colonel

04:01

Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue

Phil Roman on the anti-drug Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue

02:04

Charlie Brown Specials

Phil Roman on joining producer Bill Melendez to animate Charlie Brown Specials

05:49

Phil Roman on the process of animating and producing the Charlie Brown Specials with Bill Melendez

06:10

Phil Roman on Lee Mendelson's role in producing the Charlie Brown Specials

00:51

Phil Roman on working with Charles Schulz on the Charlie Brown Specials

02:32

Phil Roman on the characters and themes of the Charlie Brown Specials

01:31

Phil Roman on his favorite Charlie Brown Specials

01:15

Critic, The

Phil Roman on producing and animating The Critic starring Jon Lovitz

01:37

Cro

Phil Roman on producing the PBS series Cro

03:02

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Phil Roman on animating Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas which has become a classic

03:09

Phil Roman on Chuck Jones' contribution to Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

01:13

Phil Roman on Dr. Seuss' involvement in the animated Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

01:10

Phil Roman on the scenes he animated in Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas and the challenges they presented

02:50

Phil Roman on June Foray and Boris Karloff doing the voice work for Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

01:31

Phil Roman on the songs and success of Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

01:06

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

Phil Roman on winning multiple Emmys

00:57

Garfield Specials

Phil Roman on starting his production company Film Roman, and on producing Garfield Specials

05:03

Phil Roman on working with "Garfield" creator Jim Davis on the Garfield Specials

04:39

Phil Roman on the character of "Garfield" the cat on the Garfield Specials voiced by Lorenzo Music

04:18

King Leonardo and His Short Subjects

Phil Roman on doing animation for King Leonardo and His Short Subjects and Calvin and the Colonel

04:01

King of the Hill

Phil Roman on producing Mike Judge's King of the Hill

02:47

Mister Magoo

Phil Roman on animating Mister Magoo at UTA

03:11

Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm

Phil Roman on producing Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm and The Mask

01:39

Pink Panther, The

Phil Roman on animating for Friz Freleng's DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, and working on shows like The Pink Panther and Cat in the Hat

05:03

Simpsons, The

Phil Roman on how Film Roman began to produce The Simpsons

02:53

Phil Roman on changes Film Roman made to the animation of The Simpsons when they took over animating the show

00:59

Phil Roman on Matt Groening's involvement with the animation of The Simpsons

01:59

Phil Roman on the premise and voice actors of The Simpsons

02:07

Phil Roman on his personal, day-to-day involvement with The Simpsons and on the production process

06:50

Phil Roman on The Simpsons' popularity with children and adults and on the impact the show has had on animation on television

03:03

Tom and Jerry

Phil Roman on working with Maurice Noble on Tom and Jerry

02:36

Phil Roman on working on Chuck Jones' version of Tom and Jerry

01:44

Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat, The

Phil Roman on producing The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat

02:37

Topics

Advice

Phil Roman on advice to an aspiring animation producer

01:33

Characters & Catchphrases

Phil Roman on the characters and themes of the Charlie Brown Specials

01:31

Phil Roman on the character of "Garfield" the cat on the Garfield Specials voiced by Lorenzo Music

04:18

Creative Influences and Inspiration

Phil Roman on his mentors

01:05

Emmy Awards

Phil Roman on winning multiple Emmys

00:57

Historic Events and Social Change

Phil Roman on his experience in the Korean War

02:22

Korean War

Phil Roman on his experience in the Korean War

02:22

Pivotal Career Moments

Phil Roman on his mentors

01:05

Pop Culture

Phil Roman on the characters and themes of the Charlie Brown Specials

01:31

Phil Roman on the character of "Garfield" the cat on the Garfield Specials voiced by Lorenzo Music

04:18

Technological Innovation

Phil Roman on how the animation business has changed since he started, and on the impact of new technologies on animation

03:10

Television Industry

Phil Roman on his decision to resign from Film Roman

01:47

Phil Roman on advice to an aspiring animation producer

01:33

Phil Roman on how the animation business has changed since he started, and on the impact of new technologies on animation

03:10

War

Phil Roman on his experience in the Korean War

02:22

Professions

Animation Executive

View Profession

Phil Roman on the challenge of running his own production company Film Roman

02:26

Phil Roman on Film Roman selling Howie Mandel's series Bobby's World to Margaret Loesch to FOX and on the process of selling shows to networks

02:33

Animation Professionals

View Profession

Phil Roman on how the animation production schedule differed from theatrical features to television and on dividing up labor

01:59

Phil Roman on what strengths he was most known for in his early days as an animator

00:45

Phil Roman on the challenge of running his own production company Film Roman

02:26

Phil Roman on Film Roman selling Howie Mandel's series Bobby's World to Margaret Loesch to FOX and on the process of selling shows to networks

02:33

Animator

View Profession

Phil Roman on the animation style at Walt Disney Studios

08:43

Phil Roman on how the animation production schedule differed from theatrical features to television and on dividing up labor

01:59

Phil Roman on what strengths he was most known for in his early days as an animator

00:45

Genres

Animation

Phil Roman on the animation style at Walt Disney Studios

08:43

Phil Roman on animating Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

10:59

Phil Roman on animating Horton Hears a Who!

00:52

Phil Roman on animating Mister Magoo at UTA

03:11

Phil Roman on animating Jay Ward's George of the Jungle

08:08

Phil Roman on joining producer Bill Melendez to animate Charlie Brown Specials

05:49

Phil Roman on animating and producing the Charlie Brown Specials with Bill Melendez

12:19

Phil Roman on producing Garfield Specials

14:00

Phil Roman on how Film Roman producing The Simpsons

17:51

Phil Roman on producing Howie Mandel's Bobby's World cartoon series

02:52

Phil Roman on producing the PBS series Cro

03:02

Phil Roman on producing and animating The Critic starring Jon Lovitz

01:37

Phil Roman on producing Mortal Kombat and The Mask

01:39

Phil Roman on producing The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat

02:37

Phil Roman on producing C-Bear and Jamal

02:12

Phil Roman on producing Bruno the Kid

01:44

Phil Roman on producing Mike Judge's King of the Hill

02:47

Children's Programming

Phil Roman on animating Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

10:59

Phil Roman on animating Horton Hears a Who!

00:52

Phil Roman on animating Mister Magoo at UTA

03:11

Phil Roman on animating Jay Ward's George of the Jungle

08:08

Phil Roman on joining producer Bill Melendez to animate Charlie Brown Specials

05:49

Phil Roman on animating and producing the Charlie Brown Specials with Bill Melendez

12:19

Phil Roman on producing Garfield Specials

14:00

Phil Roman on producing Howie Mandel's Bobby's World cartoon series

02:52

Commercials

Phil Roman on animating commercials after his time with Disney

00:52

People

Bill Melendez

View Interview Page

Phil Roman on joining producer Bill Melendez to animate Charlie Brown Specials

05:49

Phil Roman on the process of animating and producing the Charlie Brown Specials with Bill Melendez

06:10

Boris Karloff

View Person Page

Phil Roman on June Foray and Boris Karloff doing the voice work for Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

01:31

Charles M. Schulz

View Person Page

Phil Roman on studying under Charles M. Schulz

01:23

Phil Roman on working with Charles Schulz on the Charlie Brown Specials

02:32

Chuck Jones

View Interview Page

Phil Roman on working with Chuck Jones who declared Roman not an assistant animator, but an animator

05:10

Phil Roman on Chuck Jones' contribution to Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

01:13

Don Knotts

View Interview Page

Phil Roman on animating the feature film "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" starring Don Knotts

02:38

Howie Mandel

View Person Page

Phil Roman on Film Roman selling Howie Mandel's series Bobby's World to Margaret Loesch to FOX and on the process of selling shows to networks

02:33

Phil Roman on producing Howie Mandel's Bobby's World cartoon series

02:52

Jay Ward

View Person Page

Phil Roman on animating Jay Ward's George of the Jungle

08:08

Jim Davis

View Person Page

Phil Roman on working with "Garfield" creator Jim Davis on the Garfield Specials

04:39

Joseph Barbera

View Interview Page

Phil Roman on Joseph Barbera

02:35

June Foray

View Interview Page

Phil Roman on June Foray and Boris Karloff doing the voice work for Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

01:31

Lorenzo Music

View Person Page

Phil Roman on the character of "Garfield" the cat on the Garfield Specials voiced by Lorenzo Music

04:18

Margaret Loesch

View Interview Page

Phil Roman on Film Roman selling Howie Mandel's series Bobby's World to Margaret Loesch to FOX and on the process of selling shows to networks

02:33

Matt Groening

View Person Page

Phil Roman on Matt Groening's involvement with the animation of The Simpsons

01:59

Maurice Noble

View Person Page

Phil Roman on working with Maurice Noble on Tom and Jerry

02:36

Theodor Seuss Geisel

View Person Page

Phil Roman on Dr. Seuss' involvement in the animated Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

01:10

Walt Disney

View Person Page

Phil Roman on meeting Walt Disney, and on being there for opening day of Disneyland

02:29