Don Towsley

Don Towsley (May 11, 1912 – November 25, 1986) was an animator working at Walt Disney Animation Studios, and later at MGM and Filmation. Starting out at Disney, Towsley worked on three shorts in the Silly Symphony series, animating the band in The Cookie Carnival (1935), a scene of dancing hens ultimately cut from Cock o' the Walk (1935), and the introduction and opening scene of Donald's Better Self (1938). In 1938, Towsley became the main animator for the Donald Duck short films, following Fred Spencer's death. Towsley contributed to the 1940 film Pinocchio, as part of the team responsible for Jiminy Cricket and Monstro the Whale. He also animated the "Pastoral Symphony" segment of the 1940 film Fantasia. In 1943, Towsley, along with a team of animators, contributed to a wartime animated short film titled Der Fuehrer's Face produced by Walt Disney. In the 1960s, Towsley worked for MGM's Tom and Jerry series, including animation work on 1965's Haunted Mouse. Towsley joined the Filmation animation studio in 1968 as an associate director. He directed episodes of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972–74), My Favorite Martians (1973–75), The New Adventures of Gilligan (1974–77), The U.S. of Archie (1974–76), The New Adventures of Batman (1977), Sabrina, Super Witch (1977–78) and The New Adventures of Flash Gordon (1979–80), among others. He also directed a sequence in Filmation's 1972 film, Journey Back to Oz. [biography from Wikipedia]

Works

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Bitter and hateful, the Grinch is irritated at the thought of a nearby village having a happy time celebrating Christmas. Disguised as Santa Claus, with his dog made to look like a reindeer, he decides to raid the village to steal all the Christmas things.

Release Date1966-12-18

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count1093

Pinocchio

When the gentle woodcarver Geppetto builds a marionette to be his substitute son, a benevolent fairy brings the toy to life. The puppet, named Pinocchio, is not yet a human boy. He must earn the right to be real by proving that he is brave, truthful, and unselfish.

Release Date1940-02-23

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count6115

Donald's Snow Fight

It's snowed, and Donald Duck is going sledding. Meanwhile, his nephews have built a snowman at the bottom of the hill. Donald aims his sled at their snowman and demolishes it, so the boys get even by including a boulder in the bottom of their next snowman. This means war, so they retreat to opposing snow forts for battle.

Release Date1942-04-10

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count85

Donald's Tire Trouble

Donald, driving in the country, is frustrated in his attempts to fix a flat tire. The jack breaks, the radiator explodes, then the remaining three tires go flat. Donald gives up in disgust and drives on with the flats.

Release Date1943-01-29

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count62

Donald's Dilemma

Donald and Daisy are walking when he is hit by a flowerpot. He's convinced he's a famous singer, and he croons divinely, but does not recognize Daisy. He in fact does become famous. Daisy is devastated by her inability to get over him and sees a psychiatrist. He tells her she has to choose between the world having Donald, or her getting him back. She picks herself, and drops another flowerpot, which restores him.

Release Date1947-07-11

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count34

Sleepy Time Donald

Donald Duck would never believe it, but he suffers from sleepwalking. In this blessed innocent state he makes a nightly call at Daisy's, as if it were the time of their romantic appointment; knowing one should not wake or contradict a sleepwalker, she plays along, but finds it increasingly difficult to follow Donald and prevent him coming to harm when he ignorantly strolls the most dangerous places, such as the lion's cage in the zoo, including impossible ones, such as up a wall and even upside down. When she finally gets Donald safely in bed, he wakes up and thinks, seeing her sneak out, she's the sleepwalker.

Release Date1947-05-09

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count45

Tom-ic Energy

Essentially one long chase scene, in an urban setting; at the end, a dog joins in, to Jerry's annoyance.

Release Date1965-01-27

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count24

Donald's Cousin Gus

Donald Duck's gluttonous cousin, Gus Goose, comes for a visit and practically eats him out of house and home. When the direct approach to getting rid of his voracious houseguest fails, Donald resorts to desperate measures to dislodge him.

Release Date1939-05-19

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count70

Drip Dippy Donald

Donald gets off the bus and heads home hoping to get a good night's sleep. At first, his plans for rest are disturbed by an open window shade which lets light from a flashing sign in. After that problem is dealt with, Donald is kept awake by a persistently dripping faucet. Donald tries to ignore it but after a while, it becomes aggravating to put it mildly. Donald makes several attempts to stop the dripping and finally at least is able to keep it under control via a Rube Goldberg contraption. At this point, Donald receives a call from his water company telling him he hasn't paid his water bill so they're cutting off his water!

Release Date1948-03-05

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count40

Jerry, Jerry, Quite Contrary

Jerry keeps sleepwalking and doing things unknowingly to Tom. He becomes aware of this and tries to stay awake.

Release Date1966-02-17

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count22

Moving Day

Donald and Mickey are overdue on their rent, so the sheriff is preparing to evict them and sell their belongings. Goofy the ice-man comes by and helps them move out before the sale, but their piano doesn't want to stay on his truck. Meanwhile, Donald has a fight with a plunger and a fishbowl after removing a heater from the gas line.

Release Date1936-06-20

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count45

Donald's Double Trouble

Daisy tells Donald he has to improve his English and manners before she'll see him again. Fortunately, an exact double with an English accent, clear speech, and impeccable manners happens by. Donald talks him into posing as Donald, but grows increasingly jealous as Daisy hugs and kisses the stranger.

Release Date1946-06-28

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count32

The Cookie Carnival

Cookies, pastries, and other desserts have a parade.

Release Date1935-05-25

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count43

The Hockey Champ

Donald shows his nephews the moves that won him his hockey trophy. But the boys have a few moves of their own.

Release Date1939-04-28

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count72

Mickey's Service Station

Mickey, Goofy & Donald have 10 minutes to fix Pete's car. Or else!

Release Date1935-02-23

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count39

Uncle Sam Magoo

Join Mr. Magoo as Uncle Sam, on an all-American animated adventure through our nation's history. Pull up a chair at the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving, march in line with Davy Crockett and dig for gold in California. After all...in Magoo we trust!

Release Date1970-02-15

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Donald's Lucky Day

Donald Duck, delivery boy, is hired to deliver a mysterious package on Friday the Thirteenth. He is hindered by a bothersome black cat -- and by the fact that the package contains a live bomb.

Release Date1939-01-13

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count43

Wide Open Spaces

Donald is travelling the countryside and decides to rest for the night. He refuses to stay at the motel because of its $16 fee so he sets up camp in a woodland area. First he has problems blowing up the air mattress, then by a troublesome boulder, and finally after the air mattress is blown up, it deflates sending Don riding through the air back to the motel where it is presumed he changed his mind and slept there for the night and must pay the $16.

Release Date1947-09-12

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count33

The Plastics Inventor

Donald is listening to a radio program that tells how to build an airplane from plastic, in a process much like baking a cake, cookies, and making toast. He takes it out for a test flight, still guided by the radio, and it works wonderfully. Until the radio interviewer asks if there's any problems: yes, it melts when it gets wet. Of course, Donald instantly flies into a rain cloud, and has to battle his plane as it disintegrates.

Release Date1944-09-01

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count24

Haunted Mouse

Jerry is paid a visit by a look-alike magician.

Release Date1965-03-24

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count20

Pink on the Cob

The Pink Panther operates a farm and battles two crows trying to eat his corn field.

Release Date1969-05-29

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count4

Much Ado About Mousing

When a bulldog tells Jerry to "just whistle" any time that he needs him, Tom's in for big trouble until he puts earmuffs on the mutt.

Release Date1964-04-14

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count22

The Cat Above and the Mouse Below

Tom, famous baritone Signor Thomasino Catti-Cazzaza, enthralls a concert audience with his rendition of "Largo al factotum", from Rossini's "Il Barbiere di Siviglia", while Jerry strives for sleep under the stage.

Release Date1964-02-25

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count27

Wet Paint

Donald re-paints his car, and a bird lands on it. In the mayhem that ensues, the car ends up covered with handprints, spotted a dozen different colors, stripped of paint, and covered with the stuffing from the seats so that it resembles a sheepdog.

Release Date1946-08-09

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count31

Of Feline Bondage

Tom chases Jerry around a pool hall. Jerry's fairy godmouse arrives, and Jerry tells the story; she gives him an invisibility potion. Jerry uses this to do some creative barbering on Tom, but when the potion wears off, Tom gets his revenge, and they both have a good laugh.

Release Date1965-05-19

DepartmentWriting

JobStory

Vote Count25

Talking of Tomorrow

Short animated film produced by Bell Labs.

Release Date1960-01-01

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Donald's Crime

On the night he promised to take Daisy out, Donald Duck discovers he's broke. Desperate for spending money, he gets it in the last place he knows: his three nephews' piggy bank. After their night out, Daisy thanks the 'rich' big spender, which only makes Donald remember how penniless and remorseful he is. What ensues is Donald's guilt (and imagination) taking him on a nerve-wracking ride in the role of a wanted man.

Release Date1945-06-29

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count39

Dumb Bell of the Yukon

A snowy scene; Daisy would like a fur coat, so Donald filches a baby bear from its sleeping mother. But the mother awakens and tracks Donald (and her baby) down. Donald uses his own fur coat to disguise himself as a bear cub. The real cub returns, and Donald looks like he might be in trouble, but a jar of honey turns him into the bear's best friend instead.

Release Date1946-08-30

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count23

Cat and Dupli-cat

Tom is on the canals of Venice, singing opera. He ends up on a cruise ship, where another cat tricks him out of Jerry (who Tom has just caught), then mirrors his every move. Eventually the cats start chasing each other.

Release Date1967-01-20

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count21

Crazy with the Heat

Donald and Goofy are driving across the desert, apparently the Sahara. The car breaks down (out of gas), and they start walking. Before long, they are out of water, and are seeing mirages of soda fountains and icebergs. Fortunately, they find a camel.

Release Date1947-08-01

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count26

The Clock Watcher

Donald takes a job as a gift wrapper in a department store.

Release Date1945-01-26

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count24

Sky Trooper

Donald is stuck on KP at an air training base. Sergeant Pete gives him a huge pile of potatoes to peel first, then gives him some tests: close your eyes and touch fingers, pin the tail on the airplane. He finally gets sent aloft, only to discover it's a parachute jump. Eventually, both Donald and Pete end up falling with no chutes and a bomb.

Release Date1942-11-06

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count26

Tom and Jerry's Winter Wackiness

Tom and Jerry's Winter Wackiness movie was released Oct 01, 2013 by the Turner Home Entertainment (T.H.E.) studio. Come in from the cold with Tom and Jerry! The holidays are here! Celebrate the season with Tom and Jerry in these seven cartoon adventures that will battle away your winter blues. Tom and Jerry's Winter Wackiness movie One good chase deserves another, and lots of friends join the fun, whether it's Spike on a sled, a giant abominable snow mouse or a St. Tom and Jerry's Winter Wackiness video Bernard to the rescue with some hearty spirits. Tom and Jerry's Winter Wackiness film No matter how many new friends they make, Tom and Jerry will always be best buddies... but even better enemies. Tom and Jerry's Winter Wackiness review Snuggle up for a snowstorm of fun for the entire family!

Release Date2013-10-01

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count1

Donald's Better Self

Schoolboy Donald is torn between his angel and devil sides, though in Donald's case, the devil side isn't hard to resist. But the smoking he's encouraged to do turns him green and gives him regrets, and when the good side shows up and kicks evil's butt, Donald cheers.

Release Date1938-03-11

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count43

The Unshrinkable Jerry Mouse

Tom enjoys the role of top cat until an adorable red-and-white-haired kitten is brought into the house of a young blonde woman.

Release Date1964-12-08

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count23

It's a Grand Old Nag

A slick movie director tricks a hayseed horse into becoming a stunt double.

Release Date1947-12-20

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count2

Two-Gun Mickey

Minnie rides into town and takes a large sack of money out of the bank. Pegleg Pete gathers his gang to take it from her, and they chase her out of town. Lonesome cowboy Mickey, who met Minnie earlier and was told she could take care of herself, sees this chase unfolding from his high perch, and rides down to save the day.

Release Date1934-12-15

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count33

On Ice

Mickey shows off his ice-skating skills to Minnie; Goofy does some unconventional ice fishing; Donald straps skates to Pluto and laughs at his attempts to skate. Donald gets strapped to a kite and is about to be swept over a waterfall when Mickey pulls off an heroic rescue.

Release Date1935-09-28

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count94

Love Me, Love My Mouse

Tom is wooing Toots; he presents her with a present - Jerry. But Toots would rather play mother to Jerry than eat him, much to Tom's annoyance.

Release Date1966-04-28

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count26

Donald's Nephews

Donald's sister Dumbella sends her three sons Huey, Dewey, and Louie to visit their uncle Donald. They prove to be quite a handful for Donald, even with help from his book on child rearing.

Release Date1938-04-15

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count68

Mr. Duck Steps Out

Donald visits the house of his new love interest for their first known date. At first Daisy acts shy and has her back turned to her visitor. But Donald soon notices her tailfeathers taking the form of a hand and signaling for him to come closer. But their time alone is soon interrupted by Huey, Dewey and Louie who have followed their uncle and clearly compete with him for the attention of Daisy. Uncle and nephews take turns dancing the jitterbug with her while trying to get rid of each other. In their final effort the three younger Ducks feed their uncle maize in the process of becoming popcorn. The process is completed within Donald himself who continues to move wildly around the house while maintaining the appearance of dancing. The short ends with an impressed Daisy showering her new lover with kisses

Release Date1940-06-07

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count81

The Bear That Wasn't

A bear settles down for his long winter nap, and while he sleeps the progress of man continues. He wakes up to find himself in the middle of an industrial complex where nobody believes he's a bear.

Release Date1967-12-31

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count16

Old Sequoia

Donald is a park ranger, assigned to protect the giant tree Old Sequoia from a pair of beavers that bear a striking resemblance in their tactics and speech to Chip 'n' Dale.

Release Date1945-12-21

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count22

Is There a Doctor in the Mouse?

Jerry mixes and drinks a high-acceleration potion which renders him so fast that he eats all of Tom's food before the bewildered cat can even see him.

Release Date1964-03-24

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count22

Advance and Be Mechanized

Jerry uses a robot mouse to snatch a sample from a lunar cheese mine being mined by robots; Tom gives chase with a robot cat.

Release Date1967-08-25

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count16

Fraidy Cat

Fraidy Cat is an unlucky and miserable cat who like all cats has nine lives, but has used up eight of them and is on his ninth and last life. Every time Fraidy inadvertently or accidentally says any single-digit number (from one to eight) or any word that sounds like the number, a ghost from one of his former lives will appear and tend to make things even worse for the hopeless cat.

Release Date1975-09-06

DepartmentDirecting

JobDirector

Episode Count12

Vote Count1

Donald's Golf Game

Donald Duck tries to exhibit his golfing ability to his nephews only to have them tease him with sneezes, noises and "trick" clubs. Finally, they put a grasshopper in a ball and it "jumps" all over.

Release Date1938-11-04

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count65

The Night Before Christmas

Fictionalized account of how Clement C. Moore came to write "A Visit from St. Nicholas." His young daughter, stricken with pneumonia, asks for a Santa Claus story for Christmas. No such story had been written, so Moore writes his famous poem, set to Ken Darby's music and sung by The Norman Luboff Choir.

Release Date1968-12-01

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count5

The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics

Animated work detailing the unrequited love that a line has for a dot, and the heartbreak that results due to the dot's feelings for a lively squiggle.

Release Date1965-12-15

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation Supervisor

Vote Count45

Duel Personality

Each having submitted his challenge card to the other, Tom and Jerry meet in a field to duel, using as weapons swords, pistols, bows and arrows, cannons and slingshots.

Release Date1966-01-20

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count22

Cured Duck

Donald visits Daisy. When he can't open a window, he flies into a rage and practically destroys her house. She won't see him again until he takes care of that temper. He orders a mail-order insult machine, which promises that if Donald can endure 10 minutes of abuse without losing his temper, he'll be cured. It proceeds to deliver physical and verbal abuse, and Donald is cured. He goes back and Daisy tests him on the balky window.

Release Date1945-10-26

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count27

Ah, Sweet Mouse-Story Of Life

Tom chases Jerry around a high-rise apartment, and then around the ledge surrounding the building. They torment each other with a compressed air horn. Jerry goes down a drainpipe and Tom follows, stretching himself the length of the pipe (and getting unstuck with help from the air horn).

Release Date1965-01-20

DepartmentVisual Effects

JobAnimation

Vote Count23