We are very sad to report (via USC’s Tom Sito) of the passing of animator Fred Crippen at age 90. Fred created the legendary TV cartoon series Roger Ramjet, and the very funny “Shorty and Cheap Chicken” commercials for National Lumber. He animated spots for Sesame Street, shorts for UPA and contributed to many classic films – including Saul Bass’ oscar winning film Why Man Creates.

Crippen began his animation career at Jam Handy in Detroit. He was hired as a designer by UPA New York in 1953, then moved out to join the Burbank crew in 1955, contributing humorous shorts to The Boing Boing Show (CBS). He formed Pantomime Pictures in 1959 (with Jack Heiter and John Marshall) where Ramjet and all his incredible animation was produced.

Below is just a small sampling of Crippen’s prolific career.

ROGER RAMJET

Excerpt from TREES AND JAMACIA DADDY (1957 Academy Award Nominee)

The Joey Jingle Show Pilot film

The Edifice (from Why Man Creates)

Crippen Commercials

Three Horned Flink

100 Years of the Telephone (sales film for AT&T)

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Jerry Beck

Writer, cartoon producer and author of more than 15 books on animation history. A former studio exec with Nickelodeon and Disney; currently on the faculty at both CalArts in Valencia and Woodbury University in Burbank, California.

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