Biography
Bill Plympton (born April 30, 1946) is an American animator, director, graphic designer, cartoonist, screenwriter and producer best known for his 1987 Academy Award-nominated animated short Your Face and his series of shorts Guard Dog, Guide Dog, Hot Dog and Horn Dog. Plympton's illustrations and cartoons have been published in The New York Times and the weekly newspaper The Village Voice, as well as in the magazines Vogue, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Penthouse, and National Lampoon. His political cartoon strip Plympton, which began in 1975 in the SoHo Weekly News, eventually was syndicated and appeared in over 20 newspapers. In 1988, his animated short Your Face was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. He also became known for other animated short films, including 25 Ways to Quit Smoking (1989) and Enemies (1991), the latter of which was part of the Animania series on MTV, where many of his other shorts were shown. In 1992, his self-financed, first feature-length animated film, The Tune debuted at the Sundance Film Festival. His work also appeared on the 1992–1993 Fox comedy series The Edge. In 1993, he made his first live action film, J. Lyle. In 1995, he contributed animation and graphics to a computer game collection, Take Your Best Shot. He also published a comic book in 2003, The Sleazy Cartoons of Bill Plympton. Plympton's 2008 80-minute feature, Idiots and Angels presented by Terry Gilliam, had no dialogue. Plympton directed the segment "On Eating and Drinking" in the 2014 animated film The Prophet, adapted from Kahlil Gibran's book The Prophet. In 2020, Plympton released a Kickstarter for his new animated comedy western, Slide. The funding was successful and Plympton had planned on finishing the film by 2022.
Directed 98
2020s
- 2025
Slide
Director
Duckville
Director
- 2022
Lipstick of the Brave
Director
- 2021
Demi’s Panic
Director
- 2020
The One-Minute Memoir
Director
2010s
- 2019
Sex & Violence 3
Director
- 2018
No Snow for Christmas
Director
Trump Bites
Director
The Modern Lives
Director
- 2017
Good Advice
Director
Cop Dog
Director
- 2016
Revengeance
Director
Hitler's Folly
Director
- 2015
The Loneliest Stoplight
Director
The Gastronomic Shark
Director
- 2014
Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet
Director
Cheatin'
Director
Footprints
Director
- 2013
The Ornaments
Director
- 2012
Waiting for Her Sailor
Director
Summer Bummer
Director
- 2011
Guard Dog Global Jam
Director
The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2011: Animation
Director
- 2010
The Cow Who Wanted To Be a Hamburger
Director
2000s
- 2009
Mexican Standoff
Director
Horn Dog
Director
- 2008
Santa: The Fascist Years
Director
Tokyo OnlyPic 2008
Director
Idiots and Angels
Director
Hot Dog
Director
The Luv Race
Director
- 2007
Gary Guitar
Director
- 2006
Guide Dog
Director
- 2005
The Fan and the Flower
Director
Spiral
Director
- 2004
Guard Dog
Director
Hair High
Director
- 2003
The Plympton Diaries
Director
Spike & Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation: Full Frontal
Director
- 2002
Mutant Aliens
Director
Parking
Director
- 2001
12 Tiny Christmas Tales
Director
Eat
Director
- 2000
Can't Drag Race with Jesus
Director
How to Grab a Woman's Breast
Director
New Advances in Medicine
Director
Happiness Is... Licking the Frosting
Director
The Ultimate Blowjob
Director
The Death of Jackson Pollock
Director
How to Tell a Woman's Sexual Preference
Director
Pubic Hair Transplants
Director
Rudolfo the Gay Lion Tamer
Director
1990s
- 1999
Surprise Cinema
Director
More Sex & Violence
Director
The Exciting Life of a Tree
Director
- 1998
Cartoon Sushi
Director
Helter Shelter
Director
General Chaos: Uncensored Animation
Director
- 1997
Boney D
Director
Mondo Plympton
Director
Sex & Violence
Director
Walt Curtis: The Peckerneck Poet
Director
- 1996
How to Make Love to a Woman
Director
Smell the Flowers
Director
Plympmania
Director
- 1995
Guns on the Clackamas
Director
- 1994
Nosehair
Director
Faded Roads
Director
The World's Greatest Animation
Director
J. Lyle
Director
- 1993
Draw
Director
- 1992
Dancing All Day
Director
The Tune
Director
Lovesick Hotel
Director
Flooby Nooby
Director
- 1991
Push Comes to Shove
Director
No Nose Blues
Director
The Wiseman
Director
Isn't It Good Again
Director
- 1990
Plymptoons
Director
Tango Schmango
Director
Dig My Do
Director
1980s
- 1989
25 Ways to Quit Smoking
Director
Animated Self-Portraits
Director
Plymptoons: The Complete Early Works of Bill Plympton
Director
Acid Rain
Director
- 1988
How to Kiss
Director
One of Those Days
Director
- 1987
Your Face
Director
- 1985
Boomtown
Director
- 1984
Al TV
Director
1970s
- 1977
Lucas, the Ear of Corn
Director
1960s
- 1968
The Great Turn On
Director
Wrote 62
2020s
- 2025
Slide
Screenplay
- 2020
The One-Minute Memoir
Writer
2010s
- 2019
Sex & Violence 3
Writer
- 2018
No Snow for Christmas
Writer
- 2017
Good Advice
Screenplay
- 2016
Revengeance
Writer
Hitler's Folly
Writer
- 2015
The Loneliest Stoplight
Writer
The Gastronomic Shark
Writer
- 2014
Cheatin'
Writer
Footprints
Writer
- 2013
The Ornaments
Writer
- 2012
Summer Bummer
Writer
- 2011
Guard Dog Global Jam
Writer
- 2010
The Cow Who Wanted To Be a Hamburger
Writer
2000s
- 2009
Mexican Standoff
Writer
- 2008
Santa: The Fascist Years
Writer
Idiots and Angels
Writer
Hot Dog
Writer
The Luv Race
Screenstory, Writer
- 2007
Gary Guitar
Writer
- 2006
Guide Dog
Writer
- 2005
Spiral
Writer
- 2004
Guard Dog
Writer
Hair High
Screenplay
- 2003
Spike & Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation: Full Frontal
Writer
- 2002
Mutant Aliens
Screenplay
Parking
Writer
- 2001
12 Tiny Christmas Tales
Writer
Eat
Writer
- 2000
Can't Drag Race with Jesus
Writer
1990s
- 1999
Surprise Cinema
Writer
More Sex & Violence
Writer
- 1998
Helter Shelter
Writer
- 1997
Boney D
Writer
Mondo Plympton
Writer
Sex & Violence
Writer
- 1996
How to Make Love to a Woman
Writer
Plympmania
Writer
Smell the Flowers
Writer
- 1995
Guns on the Clackamas
Writer
- 1994
Nosehair
Writer
Faded Roads
Writer
J. Lyle
Writer
- 1993
Draw
Writer
- 1992
Dancing All Day
Writer
The Tune
Story
- 1991
Push Comes to Shove
Writer
The Wiseman
Writer
- 1990
Tango Schmango
Writer
Dig My Do
Writer
Plymptoons
Writer
1980s
- 1989
Animated Self-Portraits
Writer
25 Ways to Quit Smoking
Writer
Plymptoons: The Complete Early Works of Bill Plympton
Writer
- 1988
How to Kiss
Writer
One of Those Days
Writer
- 1987
Your Face
Writer
1970s
- 1977
Lucas, the Ear of Corn
Writer
Visual effects 23
2020s
- 2025
Slide
Animation
2010s
- 2015
The Brainwashing of My Dad
Animation Director
- 2013
The Ornaments
Animation
2000s
- 2009
Mexican Standoff
Animation
Horn Dog
Animation
- 2006
Fuck
Animation
- 2005
Spiral
Animation
- 2004
Guard Dog
Animation
Hair High
Animation
- 2003
Spike & Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation: Full Frontal
Animation
- 2002
1990s
- 1999
More Sex & Violence
Animation
- 1998
- 1996
How to Make Love to a Woman
Animation
Plympmania
Animation
- 1991
Push Comes to Shove
Animation
No Nose Blues
Animation
Isn't It Good Again
Animation
- 1990
Dig My Do
Animation
Plymptoons
Animation
1980s
- 1989
Plymptoons: The Complete Early Works of Bill Plympton
Animation Director, Animation
- 1988
One of Those Days
Animation
Produced 21
2010s
- 2016
Revengeance
Producer
Hitler's Folly
Producer
- 2014
- 2011
Guard Dog Global Jam
Producer
2000s
- 2008
Idiots and Angels
Producer
- 2005
Spiral
Producer
- 2004
Guard Dog
Producer
Hair High
Producer
- 2003
The Plympton Diaries
Producer
- 2002
Mutant Aliens
Producer
1990s
- 1999
More Sex & Violence
Producer
- 1997
Sex & Violence
Producer
- 1996
How to Make Love to a Woman
Producer
Plympmania
Producer
- 1995
Guns on the Clackamas
Producer
- 1994
Faded Roads
Producer
J. Lyle
Producer
- 1990
Tango Schmango
Producer
1980s
- 1989
25 Ways to Quit Smoking
Producer
Plymptoons: The Complete Early Works of Bill Plympton
Producer
- 1987
Your Face
Producer
Acted in 9
2010s
- 2016
Hitler's Folly
Nazi Soldier
- 2013
The Ornaments
Ornament #1
2000s
- 2002
Mutant Aliens
Guard (voice)
- 2001
12 Tiny Christmas Tales
Movie
1990s
- 1997
Mondo Plympton
Movie
- 1995
Guns on the Clackamas
Movie
1980s
- 1989
25 Ways to Quit Smoking
Narrateur / Homme (voix) (Non crédité)
Plymptoons: The Complete Early Works of Bill Plympton
Young Man, (voice), Narrator (voice), Lucas (voice) · 1 episode
1970s
- 1977
Lucas, the Ear of Corn
Lucas
Other crew 4
2020s
- 2025
2000s
- 2008
1990s
- 1998
- 1992
The Tune
Creator
Art department 2
2020s
- 2023
Downwind
Title Illustration
1980s
- 1989
Plymptoons: The Complete Early Works of Bill Plympton
Art Direction, Art Designer
Created 1
1980s
- 1989
Plymptoons: The Complete Early Works of Bill Plympton
Creator
Appearances6
2020s
- 2022
Claydream
Self
2010s
- 2019
- 2011
Adventures in Plymptoons!
Self
2000s
- 2008
Forging the Frame: The Roots of Animation, 1921-1930
Self
- 2003
The Plympton Diaries
Himself
- 2000
Godass
Self