Walter Lantz was a renowned American cartoonist, animator, film producer, and film director from New Rochelle, New York. He founded the eponymous animation studio Walter Lantz Productions in 1928, which initially gained fame for continuing the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film series from 1928 to 1938.
Born in 1899 to Italian immigrant parents, Francesco Paolo Lanza and Maria Gervasi, Lantz's family name was originally "Lanza" before being changed to "Lantz". He completed a mail-order drawing class in 1911 and worked as an auto mechanic while continuing to draw as a hobby. Lantz's passion for drawing led him to find a wealthy patron, Fred Kafka, who financed his studies at the Art Students League of New York.
In 1915, Lantz was hired as an animator by the International Film Service studio, where he worked under the direction of Gregory La Cava and the ownership of William Randolph Hearst. He later left the studio and joined Bray Productions, where he created his own film series, "Dinky Doodle", in 1924. The same year, Lantz became the new head of production at Bray, replacing Vernon Stallings.
In 1927/1928, Lantz moved to Hollywood, California, seeking to establish his own studio. Initially short of funds, he supported himself through odd jobs, including working as a production team member for director Frank Capra and a gag writer for Mack Sennett. He was then hired by producer Charles Mintz to help continue the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film series.
Lantz's initial production team included animator Tom Palmer, musician Bert Fiske, and innovative animator Bill Nolan, who was known for perfecting the rubber hose style of animation. Lantz continued producing animated short films for theatrical release until 1972, when he shut down his studio due to rising production costs and diminishing profits.
Throughout his career, Lantz created beloved characters such as Andy Panda, Woody Woodpecker, and Chilly Willy. He served on the advisory board of the National Student Film Institute in the 1980s and early 1990s and passed away in March 1994 at the age of 94 due to heart failure.
