Paul J. Smith

Biography

Paul J. Smith (March 15, 1906 – November 17, 1980) was an American animator and director. Smith began as a cel painter for Walt Disney Animation in 1926, then moved up to an animator. In 1928, when all the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons for Charles Mintz were completed, Smith left the payroll. Smith worked for the Walter Lantz studio for much of his career, first as an animator, and then as a director. He also animated at Warner Bros. Cartoons. By 1955, Smith had taken over as primary director of the Woody Woodpecker cartoon shorts. With Smith in the director's chair, the Woody Woodpecker series maintained its trademark frenetic energy, while the animation itself was simplified, due to budget constraints. By the late 1960s, Smith became the sole director of the Lantz studio's output: the cartoon series Woody Woodpecker, Chilly Willy, and The Beary Family. Smith stayed with Lantz until the studio was closed in 1972. Smith died in Van Nuys, California on November 17, 1980. He was the brother of animators Frank Smith and Hank Smith and the uncle of actor and film director Charles Martin Smith. [biography (excerpted) from Wikipedia]

Directed

1. Bedtime Bedlam (1955) — Director
2. International Woodpecker (1957) — Director
3. Chilly Willy (1953) — Director
4. Niagara Fools (1956) — Director
5. Red Riding Hoodlum (1957) — Director
6. The Unbearable Salesman (1957) — Director
7. Bunco Busters (1955) — Director
8. Private Eye Pooch (1955) — Director
9. The King of Ads (1991) — Director
10. Jittery Jester (1958) — Director
11. Woodpecker from Mars (1956) — Director
12. Witch Crafty (1955) — Director
13. Fodder and Son (1957) — Director
14. Tree's a Crowd (1958) — Director
15. His Better Elf (1958) — Director
16. Box Car Bandit (1957) — Director
17. How to Stuff a Woodpecker (1960) — Director
18. Everglade Raid (1958) — Director
19. Half Empty Saddles (1958) — Director
20. Misguided Missile (1958) — Director
21. Dopey Dick, the Pink Whale (1957) — Director
22. Square Shootin' Square (1955) — Director
23. Helter Shelter (1955) — Director
24. Hot Rod Huckster (1954) — Director
25. Hot Noon or 12 O'Clock for Sure (1953) — Director
26. Real Gone Woody (1954) — Director
27. Lotsa Luck (1968) — Director
28. Arts and Flowers (1956) — Director
29. Calling All Cuckoos (1956) — Director
30. Calling Dr. Woodpecker (1962) — Director
31. Short in the Saddle (1962) — Director
32. Busman's Holiday (1961) — Director
33. Pistol Packin' Woodpecker (1960) — Director
34. Round Trip to Mars (1957) — Director
35. A Horse's Tale (1954) — Director
36. Salmon Yeggs (1958) — Director
37. Robin Hoody Woody (1962) — Director
38. The Beary Family (1962) — Director
39. Chief Charlie Horse (1956) — Director
40. Get Lost (1956) — Director