Thank You Bill Meléndez

Shown above is an interview with animator José Cuauhtemoc “Bill” Meléndez who just passed away. Most people will remember Meléndez for his work on Peanuts but he was much more than that in terms of animation history: For example he helped animate Gerald McBoing-Boing for UPA in 1951 which made limited TV animation possible. We’ll miss you Bill:

Bill Melendez,”Peanuts” Animator, Dies At 91

“Bill Melendez, the animator who gave life to Snoopy, Charlie Brown and other “Peanuts” characters in scores of movies and TV specials, has died. He was 91. Melendez’s nearly seven decades as a professional animator began in 1938 when he was hired by Walt Disney Studios and worked on Mickey Mouse cartoons and classic animated features such as “Pinocchio” and “Fantasia.” He went on to animate TV specials such as “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and was the voice of Snoopy, who never spoke intelligible words but issued expressive howls, sighs and sobs.”

Below: Now that I look back at it A Charlie Brown Christmas might just be one of the best Christmas movies ever made (or top five at the very least!):