This page uses content from the Seymour Kneitel biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Seymour Kneitel (March 16 1908 - July 30, 1964) was an American animator. He is best known for his work with Fleischer Studios and its successor, Famous Studios.

Kneitel was born in New York City. He joined Fleischer Studios in the late 1920's, where he provided animation for the Betty Boop and Popeye the Sailor series. When Fleischer obtained the rights to animate Superman, Kneitel was given the opportunity to direct several of the shorts

In 1942, the Fleischer brothers were forced to resign from the studio they had created. Paramount Pictures purchased the studio and renamed it Famous Studios. Kneitel was promoted to management, and become one of the most prolific directors of the Popeye shorts. He also directed many of the Casper the Friendly Ghost shorts.

In 1959, Paramount shut down their animation studios. King Features Syndicate, aware of the high ratings that the Popeye shorts had earned on television, commissioned a new series of Popeye shorts for syndication. Kneitel, head of the now-independent Famous Studios, was one of four animation units assigned to this project. Due to the lower budgets for these shorts, the animation is of a noticably lower quality.

Kneitel died of a heart attack on July 30, 1964.

Kneitel was married to Ruth Fleischer, making him Max Fleischer's son-in-law and director Richard Fleischer's brother-in-law. He was also the nephew of musician Sammy Timberg, who wrote many of the scores for Fleischer's cartoons.

External links

fr:Seymour Kneitel

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