First Animation Art
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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The Art of "Peanuts!"
Our special show of original Animation Art  from the Studio of Bill Melendez
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A note from our friend Sandy Thome,
head of the Bill Melendez art
program here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa:

With profound sadness, we said
goodbye to our very much loved boss,
Bill Melendez, as he peacefully died in
the early morning hours of September
2nd with his wife and son at his side.  

I personally feel very fortunate and
blessed to have been able to share
many good times with him over the past
16 years, let alone the opportunity I was
given to work with such a generous
man.  Bill made it is so easy to admire
him:  his "bon vivant" outlook on life, his
storytelling, his passion for his work and
his ability to treat everyone with respect
and dignity; and this is only the
beginning of his wonderful traits that he
shared over the years.

Bill would want us to celebrate his life
today.  Enjoy the day with the same
"love of life" passion he had: smile and
laugh, tell some great stories, go out
and enjoy a delicious lunch; perhaps tip
a very dry vodka martini with a lemon
twist as you toast Bill's life.
OSCAR® NOMINATED and EMMY® AWARD WINNING
ANIMATOR and DIRECTOR BILL MELENDEZ DIES


Spending more than 70 Years in the Entertainment Industry, Bill Melendez is
Best Known for Giving the PeanutsTM Characters Life Including Classics: “A
Charlie Brown Christmas,” and “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”

LOS ANGELES – September 3, 2008 – Bill Melendez, considered a pioneer in
animation and best known for bringing the PEANUTSTM characters to life, died
early Tuesday morning September 2nd at St. John’s hospital in Santa Monica.
Doctors say Melendez died “peacefully.” He was 91 years old preparing to
celebrate his 92nd birthday in November.  

With his trade mark handle bar mustache, Melendez was a phenomenal talent
whose unique style and distinct sense of humor inspired a generation. Melendez
began his career at Walt Disney Studios.  As a talented young animator he
worked on Pinocchio, Fantasia, Bambi, Dumbo and classic Mickey Mouse and
Donald Duck cartoons.
Years later, Melendez expanded his resume when he moved to Warner Bros. to
animate other famous cartoons such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig.

In 1948 Melendez left Warner Bros. and over the next decade and a half he
served as a director and producer on more than 1,000 commercials and films
for United Productions of America (UPA), Playhouse Pictures and John
Sutherland Productions.  It was at UPA that Melendez started doing work for
New York-based J. Walter Thompson ad agency, whose client included Ford
Motor Co.  The car maker expressed interest in using PEANUTS characters to
sell its cars on television. In 1959 Melendez prepared his animation work and
showed it to PEANUTS creator Charles M. Schulz.  

A partnership and friendship followed and as a result, Melendez gave the
PEANUTS kids life in more than 63 half-hour specials, five one-hour specials,
four feature films and more than 372 commercials.  Favorites include “A Charlie
Brown Christmas,” “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” “She’s a Good Skate,
Charlie Brown,” and “You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown.” In addition to
creating the cartoons, Melendez also provided the voices for Snoopy and
Woodstock.

Over the years, Melendez also animated “Garfield on the Town,” “Cathy,”  “Babar
Comes to America,” and “The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe,” among others.

Melendez, who was the only animator allowed to work with the PEANUTS
characters won numerous awards and accolades including: 17 Emmy Award
nominations and eight (8) Emmy® Award wins, one (1) Oscar® Award
nomination, two (2) Peabody Awards, one (1) Clio, three (3) National Cartoonist
Society Awards, and more than 150 Advertising Awards.

Under the leadership of his son and other trusted executives, Bill Melendez
Productions, Inc., its sister studio Melendez Films in London and Sopwith
Productions (Melendez’s art distribution unit) will continue to animate, direct and
produce features and commercials.  

Born Jose Cuautemoc in 1916 in Sonora, Mexico, his family moved to Arizona
in 1928 and then to Los Angeles in the early 1930s. Melendez trained at the
Chouinard Art Studio (now CalArts) and is a former faculty member of the
Cinema Arts Department at USC.

Melendez is survived by his wife of 68 years Helen, two sons: Steven Melendez
and (Ret.) Navy Rear Admiral Rodrigo Melendez, six grandchildren and 11 great
grandchildren.  A memorial service will take place for family only.

Donations can be made in Bill Melendez's name to Children’s Hospital Los
Angeles.
A farewell to the nicest guy in the world of animation art:
Bill Melendez
Our Tribute
Show of Bill
Melendez
PEANUTS Art
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