Biography
Jack Hannah (January 5, 1913 - June 11, 1994) was an animator, writer and director of animated shorts.He began his career at the Walt Disney Studios as an animator in the short Modern Inventions (released on May 29, 1937). After thirteen films in that capacity, he was assigned to the story department writing cartoon short continuities, beginning withDonald's Nephews (released on April 15, 1938). He received writing credit on 21 Disney cartoon shorts.In 1942 he collaborated with Carl Barks on the first two comic books Barks worked on, Pluto Saves the Ship and Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold. Hannah in subsequent years did a handful of other Donald Duck comic book stories but unlike Barks he stayed at the studio and eventually was given a chance to be a director. The short Donald's Off Day (released on December 8, 1944) was the first of 94 films he would direct. These include most of the shorts featuring Donald Duck in the post-war era along with all starring Chip 'n Dale and Humphrey the Bear; he also directed some shorts starring Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Pluto and some minor Walt Disney characters. After Disney stopped producing animated shorts Hannah did 14 episodes of the Walt Disney anthology television series (composed of footage from the classic cartoons along with new linking material) and fulfilled his ambition to direct live-action by handling Walt Disney's introductions for the episodes. Hannah hoped to segue into a career in live-action but "Walt had me pegged as an animation director so he balked at the suggestion. We had a few heated discussions and I became aware that I had come to an impasse." He then went to the Walter Lantz Studio and directed a number of films featuring Woody Woodpecker and some minor characters. Besides directing shorts Hannah also was Assistant Director for the TV series The Woody Woodpecker Show, which started airing on October 3, 1957. "I did more or less the same thing that I did with Walt Disney in directing live action except Lantz was better at taking direction." His last directing effort was the short Charlie's Mother-In-Law (released on April 16, 1963). He retired shortly thereafter.Hannah was one of the co-founders, along with T. Hee, of the Character Animation program at the California Institute of the Arts.Hannah was honored as a "Disney Legend" in 1992. As Carl Barks is credited with creating the personality of Donald Duck's comic book version, Jack Hannah is credited with developing, if not creating, the personality of the animated version. It is for this reason Disney historian Jim Korkis has dubbed him "Donald Duck's Other Daddy".Hannah died in 1994, aged 81.
Directed 99
2020s
- 2023
100 Years of Disney Animation: A Shorts Celebration
Director
2000s
- 2005
Disney's Christmas Favorites
Director
- 2003
Everybody Loves Donald
Director
- 2002
Walt Disney Treasures - The Complete Goofy
Director
Mickey's House of Villains
Director
- 2001
1980s
- 1987
Here's Goofy!
Director
- 1984
DTV: Rock, Rhythm & Blues
Director
Donald Duck's First 50 Years
Director
1960s
- 1962
Corny Concerto
Director
Punchy Pooch
Director
Rocket Racket
Director
The Beary Family
Director
Pest of Show
Director
Rock-a-Bye Gator
Director
- 1961
Doc's Last Stand
Director
Kids Is Kids
Director
Tin Can Concert
Director
Woody's Kook-Out
Director
Voo-Doo Boo-Boo
Director
Franken-Stymied
Director
Clash and Carry
Director
Gabby's Diner
Director
Poop Deck Pirate
Director
- 1960
Southern Fried Hospitality
Director
Freeloading Feline
Director
This Is Your Life Donald Duck
Director
1950s
- 1959
The Adventures of Chip 'N' Dale
Director
Duck Flies Coop
Director
- 1958
From All of Us, To All of You
Director
- 1956
The Great Cat Family
Director
In the Bag
Director
Hooked Bear
Director
Walt Disney's Where Do the Stories Come From?
Director
On Vacation with Mickey Mouse and Friends
Director
- 1955
Up a Tree
Director
No Hunting
Director
- 1954
The Donald Duck Story
Director
The Flying Squirrel
Director
Grin and Bear It
Director
Spare the Rod
Director
- 1953
Canvas Back Duck
Director
Working for Peanuts
Director
Walt Disney's Halloween Hilarities
Director
Rugged Bear
Director
- 1952
Uncle Donald's Ants
Director
Two Chips and a Miss
Director
Donald Applecore
Director
- 1951
Bee On Guard
Director
Lucky Number
Director
Test Pilot Donald
Director
Chicken in the Rough
Director
- 1950
Bee at the Beach
Director
Hook, Lion and Sinker
Director
Lion Around
Director
1940s
- 1949
Toy Tinkers
Director
Slide Donald Slide
Director
The Greener Yard
Director
Honey Harvester
Director
Sea Salts
Director
Donald's Happy Birthday
Director
- 1948
Tea for Two Hundred
Director
Three for Breakfast
Director
Soup's On
Director
Daddy Duck
Director
They're Off
Director
- 1947
Bootle Beetle
Director
Clown of the Jungle
Director
Straight Shooters
Director
- 1946
Frank Duck Brings 'em Back Alive
Director
Lighthouse Keeping
Director
Squatter's Rights
Director
- 1945
No Sail
Director
The Eyes Have It
Director
- 1944
Donald's Off Day
Director
Wrote 28
1960s
- 1961
Tin Can Concert
Writer
- 1960
Freeloading Feline
Story
1950s
- 1959
Bric’s Stew
Story
- 1954
The Donald Duck Story
Writer
1940s
- 1944
The Plastics Inventor
Story
Donald Duck and the Gorilla
Story
Trombone Trouble
Story
- 1943
Home Defense
Story
The Old Army Game
Story
- 1942
Bellboy Donald
Story
Sky Trooper
Story
The Army Mascot
Story
Donald Gets Drafted
Story
- 1941
Truant Officer Donald
Story
Timber
Writer
- 1940
Fire Chief
Writer
Window Cleaners
Story
Donald's Vacation
Story
1930s
- 1939
Donald's Lucky Day
Story
- 1938
Visual effects 19
1970s
- 1977
Halloween Hall o' Fame
Animation Director
1940s
- 1942
Donald's Garden
Animation
Donald's Snow Fight
Animation
- 1940
Donald's Vacation
Animation
1930s
- 1939
Donald's Penguin
Animation
Donald's Lucky Day
Animation
- 1938
Good Scouts
Animation
Donald's Better Self
Animation
Self Control
Animation
- 1937
Donald's Ostrich
Animation
Woodland Café
Animation
Don Donald
Animation
- 1936
The Country Cousin
Animation
Donald and Pluto
Animation
Acted in 3
1970s
- 1979
Lady and the Lamp
Lamp Shop Owner (voice)
1950s
- 1955
No Hunting
Moose (voice) (uncredited)