Phil Roman

Animator


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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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

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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

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Phil Roman on producing Howie Mandel's Bobby's World cartoon series
02:52

Bruno the Kid

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Phil Roman on producing Bruno the Kid
01:44

C-Bear and Jamal

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Phil Roman on producing C-Bear and Jamal
02:12

Calvin and the Colonel

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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

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Phil Roman on the anti-drug Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue
02:04

Charlie Brown Specials

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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

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Phil Roman on producing and animating The Critic starring Jon Lovitz
01:37

Cro

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Phil Roman on producing the PBS series Cro
03:02

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

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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)

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Phil Roman on winning multiple Emmys
00:57

Garfield Specials

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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

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Phil Roman on doing animation for King Leonardo and His Short Subjects and Calvin and the Colonel
04:01

King of the Hill

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Phil Roman on producing Mike Judge's King of the Hill
02:47

Mister Magoo

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Phil Roman on animating Mister Magoo at UTA
03:11

Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm

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Phil Roman on producing Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm and The Mask
01:39

Pink Panther, The

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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

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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

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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

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Phil Roman on producing The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat
02:37
Topics

Advice

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Phil Roman on advice to an aspiring animation producer
01:33

Characters & Catchphrases

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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

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Phil Roman on his mentors
01:05

Emmy Awards

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Phil Roman on winning multiple Emmys
00:57

Historic Events and Social Change

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Phil Roman on his experience in the Korean War
02:22

Korean War

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Phil Roman on his experience in the Korean War
02:22

Pivotal Career Moments

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Phil Roman on his mentors
01:05

Pop Culture

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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

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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

View Topic
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

View Topic
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

View Genre
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

View Genre
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

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Phil Roman on animating commercials after his time with Disney
00:52
People

Joseph Barbera

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Phil Roman on Joseph Barbera
02:35

Jim Davis

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Phil Roman on working with "Garfield" creator Jim Davis on the Garfield Specials
04:39

Walt Disney

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Phil Roman on meeting Walt Disney, and on being there for opening day of Disneyland
02:29

June Foray

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Phil Roman on June Foray and Boris Karloff doing the voice work for Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas
01:31

Theodor Seuss Geisel

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Phil Roman on Dr. Seuss' involvement in the animated Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas
01:10

Matt Groening

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Phil Roman on Matt Groening's involvement with the animation of The Simpsons
01:59

Chuck Jones

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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

Boris Karloff

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Phil Roman on June Foray and Boris Karloff doing the voice work for Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas
01:31

Don Knotts

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Phil Roman on animating the feature film "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" starring Don Knotts
02:38

Margaret Loesch

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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

Howie Mandel

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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

Bill Melendez

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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

Lorenzo Music

View Person Page
Phil Roman on the character of "Garfield" the cat on the Garfield Specials voiced by Lorenzo Music
04:18

Maurice Noble

View Person Page
Phil Roman on working with Maurice Noble on Tom and Jerry
02:36

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

Jay Ward

View Person Page
Phil Roman on animating Jay Ward's George of the Jungle
08:08

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