Good Grief

Or
Inanimated
Bill Melendez, who animated for Walt Disney, Charles Schulz, and Dr. Seuss in a lengthy career, has died at the age of 91. One of the few Hispanics in the animation game, Melendez worked on Pinocchio, Fantasia and Mickey Mouse shorts, then moved over to the Schlesinger Studio to animate Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig. He then animated the Peanuts gang in a commercial, and Peanuts creator Charles Schulz was so impressed, he decreed Melendez was the only man he would allow to bring Charlie Brown et al to the screen, producing more than 50 specials, including the Emmy-winning holiday staple “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” four movies, Saturday morning cartoons and a litany of commercials. Schulz was adamant that Snoopy’s active fantasy life not be sullied by having him speak in the specials, so Melendez recited gibberish into a tape recorder, sped up the audio and the resulting squeaks and squawks have been used ever since. Melendez also animated the TV special “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” “Garfield on the Town” and “Cathy,” both of which won Emmys, bringing his lifetime total to 6.