Tex Avery

Tex Avery
Tex Avery (circa 1930s)
Years active at MGM	1941-1953
Years active at Hanna-Barbera	1980

Frederick Bean "Tex" Avery was an American animator, voice actor, director, and cartoonist known for his works during the golden age of Hollywood. His most major work was for the studio units of Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where he became crucial in the creation of famous animated characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Droopy, The Wolf, and Red Hot Riding Hood.

His influence came in part to his own innovation, directorial style, and brand of humor. Whereas conventional cartoons of the time (like those of Walt Disney) played things safe, Avery's was more sarcastic, ironic, absurdist, and sometimes sexual in nature. Avery's cartoon focused on sight gags, surrealist humor, rapid pacing, and violent humor, with characters that often broke the fourth wall. As a result of his involvement, Avery had an effect on almost all of the animation studios during the 1940s and 1950s, and still has influence in many cartoons to this day.

Avery died of lung cancer on August 26, 1980, at the age of 72.