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Description
This is my Influence Map.

This map shows off a display of photos, portraits, posters, collages and even fan art of some of my best influences. These Eventually guided me down the career path of being a Graphic Artist/Animator. Digging deep in my memories was very time consuming. This was not an easy task. Some things either influenced me, or made a fan out of me. Please keep in mind that not every influence in my life can fit on one map. But I've thought long and hard on choosing the right ones that best define me.

Looking back in my childhood, I should definitely give props to my folks. When I was a toddler, I had a strong fascination towards cartoons. When my folks saw this, they tried exposing me to many different cartoons. Some of which were there own childhood favorites, and eventually became mine as well. It was quite a coincidence that my dad worked in a video store back then, and brought home many good cartoons and other great family features for me to watch. But he didn't stop there. My dad loved recording TV programs not just for himself, but also for me if any good cartoon programs happen to air on prime-time. They knew the cartoons had an influence on me when I began drawing things. They knew I had a gift. They tried to enroll me in many art classes as possible in and outside of school. A few years pass, and I eventually moved on to watching current programs that aired live on TV, read books of different subjects, went to the movie theater, visited theme parks and finally took an interest in learning more about animation and its history. So I hope y'all enjoy seeing some of the things that eventually helped create my imagination!

Meme idea created by

Original influence map template found here: fav.me/d2vx881

1. Mickey Mouse and Friends

Mickey Mouse and his fellow stars were among the first cartoon characters I saw. Through them were the essence of Walt Disney, the Nine Old Men and all who helped bring them to life. I grew up watching all of their cartoons along with recorded TV specials thanks to my dad. I watched them over and over until I memorized them by heart. I've always loved the classics, but kept an interest in any new specials or modern updated Mickey and friends cartoons, such as the Mickey Mouse Works and the House of Mouse. And I hope they'll always be loved by future generations.

2. The Golden Age of Disney Animation

I didn't know as a child. But some of Disney's most respected animated cartoons and features from 1937 to 1967, were to become a major influence on me. The best of Disney Animation was done during a period that would eventually be called “The Golden Age of Animation”. Walt Disney's top creative animators included Les Clark, Marc Davis, Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball, Eric Larson, Ward Kimball and Wolfgang Reitherman. Better known as "the Nine Old Men”. Eventually, I learned that these legendary animators would refine the “12 principles of animation”. While ushering an era of animated masterpieces, they influenced many creative young artists with fresh new ideas. All because of the their hard work and love of animation.

Even though Walt Disney died shortly near the completion of his last supervised film project "The Jungle Book", disney animation had to carry on the legacy that Walt and his friends would have wanted. As the years past, the Nine Old Men eventually passed the torch down to new generations of imaginative animators. Animators like Andreas Deja, Glen Keane, Mark Henn and Eric Goldberg. The cycle of new generations of animators remains endless for sure.

3. The Looney Tunes

The Looney Tunes were among the first cartoon characters I saw. And perhaps the funniest still. I've noticed that unlike the Disney cartoons, The Looney Tunes relied more on slap stick humor. Because of this, they exceeded Disney and other popular competitors. Through them were the essence of the Warner Bros. Studio's most legendary animators “The Boys of Termite Terrace”. The creators behind the Looney Tunes cartoons included animation directors Bob Clampett, Friz Freleng, Bob McKimson, Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, music composer Carl Stalling, and especially talented voice actors Mel Blanc and June Foray.

4. Don Bluth Productions

I owe a big thank you to Don Bluth, John Pomeroy, Gary Goldman and their fellow artists for making such memorable animated features. Starting out as talented disney animators, they eventually went out on their own to persue their own animation dreams and ideas. Many of there successful features include The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go to Heaven and even the classic 2D video games Dragon's Lair and Space Ace and Dragon's Lair 2: TimeWarp. How I loved watching there masterpieces. The three legends to this day proved to be great role models for new generations of animators.

5. The Transformers

The transformers were the very first animated robots I saw. When my dad saw how popular they were becoming, he decided to let me watch them. How I loved the original G1 series. And I really really loved their first animated movie. Even with the death of Optimus Prime. Sadly the director and producers didn't know that they were killing off a beloved american icon.

Eventually, I came to love the first computer animated series “BEAST WARS Transformers” and “BEAST MACHINES Transformers”. Both were created by Mainframe Studios. Sadly all the other incarnation series after them never really got to me. In 2007, another great series called “TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED” debuted on Cartoon Network. In 2010 a new action packed computer animated series "Transformers Prime" debuted on the new Hub station. This new series brought back original voice actors Peter Cullen and Frank Welker. And all the live Transformer movies were a huge hit too. To this day I don't think there's ever been a bigger love for robots, then the Transformers.

6. Dr. Seuss

The world of Theodor Seuss Geisel aka Dr. Seuss, was among the first childrens books I had. Even though I was too young to understand some of the whimsical rhyming, I really enjoyed the illustrations. Along with the books, I had the privilege of watching the animated adaptions of some of Geisel's work under the animated directions of Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng.

7. Charles Schulz

God bless Charles Schulz. If it weren't for the creative genius of this man, I probably wouldn't have picked up my first crayon. As a kid, I loved seeing the Peanuts comics in the newspaper. Even though I was too young to understand the text at the time. But I really loved the animated TV specials based on them. They were non-stop hillarious. Especially for the one and only Snoopy! The favorite TV special "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown", still gets to me, and was also perhaps Mr. Schulz's favorite too. So thanks Mr. Schulz. Where ever you are.

8. Jim Davis

God bless Jim Davis. As a kid, I loved seeing the Garfield's comics in the newspaper. Even though I was too young to understand the text at the time. But I really loved the animated TV specials based on him and the others. Garfield's hillarious sarcasm was unlike anything I've ever seen in a cartoon character. The TV specials and the first animated series were very memorable indeed. Lorenzo Music was the only one that could give voice to Jim Davis's creation.

9. Jim Henson and the Muppets

When I was little, I've never seen a puppet let alone a muppet. The first time I've ever seen the muppets was from there first feature film "The Muppet Movie". To be honest, I thought they looked like realistic cartoon characters. But I loved them to this day. I eventually learned about there creator Jim Henson, Frank Oz and his friends that helped create them along with some of the most imaginative characters of all time. From his studio in the UK called "the Creature Shop" came creatures for fantastic features and programs like "The Dark Crystal", "Labrinth", "The Muppet Show", "Fraggle Rock" and many other projects.

10. Chuck Jones

I thought Chuck Jones was one of the most influential of legendary animaton directors of Warner Bros. Studios. His style and directing created memorable characters like Wile E. Coyote & Roadrunner, Michigan J. Frog, Pepe Le Peu and others. He eventually refined the personality of Daffy Duck in one of my personal favorite shorts starring him called "Duck Amuck".

One classic short that got to me, was the beloved short "Feed the Kitty". The most aesthetic to me, was "The Dot and the Line". With the introduction of television, animation was starting to become a dying art for the movie screen. Animation started to become limited in order to meet strict dead lines for television. But Chuck Jones never gave up hope and continued his services by directing the popular duo "Tom and Jerry". Many fans to this day love his art direction more then any other Tom and Jerry directed shorts. But I was really inspired by the solo shorts he did Like "A Cricket In Time Square", "A Very Merry Cricket", "Yankee Doodle Cricket", "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi", "The White Seal" and "Mowgli's Brothers".

11. Who Framed Roger Rabbit

I've always loved seeing live people interacting with cartoon characters! And there has never been a more recognized and well respected live/animated feature than the 1988 movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”. Not only for having live actors well in sync with the cartoon characters and settings, but for also having all 2D animation done completely by hand without the aid of computers.

Truthfully the first live/animated cartoon I saw as a kid was the classic black and white 1940 Porky Pig and Daffy cartoon ”You Ought to Be in Pictures”. Soon after came the classic 1977 Disney feature “Pete's Dragon”.

Future live/animated projects and features would also gain my attention. Like the MTV music video “Opposites Attract” staring Paula Abdul and MC SKAT KAT, Warner Bros. “Space Jam” and “Looney Tunes Back in Action”. But Roger Rabbit still remains number one to this day.

12. The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera ride

This inspiring attraction was one of my absolute favorite rides. It was a simulator ride at Universal Studios Florida, and one of the park's original attractions. For me, it was the first time I ever felt absorbed in a cartoon. How it broke my heart when I found out the ride was torn down for a new ride.

For any one who wishes to see footage of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera ride(though it's no substitution for the real thing), please click here www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTBZNn… and check out the video on YouTube.

13. The Disney Afternoon

The Disney Afternoon was a fun filled program block that I loved watching after school. Some of the first animated Disney programs of the 90's got there start from this program block. How I loved the animated opening of the show with Mickey Mouse rolling out a giant sheet of animation paper while giant magical pencils started drawing the new disney afternoon characters while coming to life and leaping off the paper. Then getting painted on with magical paint brushes. Many of these spectacular characters came from such shows like "The Gummi Bears", "Duck Tales", "Tale Spin", "Chip "N" Dale Rescue Rangers" and "Darkwing Duck". Other shows were developed over time for the series. But the ones I just mentioned are by far my favorites. In a world where traditional 2D animation is now being replaced by flash animation, I feel rather sorry for today's viewers. And yet I'm glad at how viewers can easily see or obtain these classic cartoons through DVD, Blu-Ray and online on demand.

For any one who wishes to hear the The Disney Afternoon Theme (Full Version) soundtrack, please click here www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzIHLu… and listen to it on YouTube.

14. Ray Harryhausen

One of the most respected special effets animators in movie history. Through his skill and imagination came some of the most spectacular stop-motion animated creatures ever made for the big screen.

Truthfully, some of the first workings of stop-motion animation introduced to me were the holiday specials from RANKIN/BASS studios, Claymation specials and commercials from the Will Vinton Studio and the character Gumby created by Art Clokey. But I really liked Ray Harryhausen's creatures the most because of the fact that they interact with live actors. Even with the computer being the popular source of monster making these days, Ray Harryhausen remains a national treasure.

For any one who wishes to see the legendary documentary “The Ray Haryhausen Chronicles”, please click here www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4Dnut… and check out the video on YouTube.

15. Steven Spielberg

The earliest and most insperational live features for me, were by legendary director/producer Steven Spielberg.

Many features like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Back to the Future 1 2 & 3, the Indiana Jones movies, the Jurassic Park movies, Men in Black and many more. Teaming up with other legendary movie makers like Robert Zemeckis and George Lucas helped him on the way to fame and glory.

16. Tiny Toon Adventures

Tiny Toon Adventures was one of the first cartoons I saw from Warner Bros. new animation studio back in the 90's. In a way, they became the protege's of the looney tunes that would lead to many other successful cartoons from Warner Bros. Two episodes however were a big influence on me. The very first episode "The Looney Beginning" and one that showed how a cartoon was made called "Animaniacs".

17. SWAT KATS the Radical Squadron

When I was a kid I enjoyed watching hanna-barbera cartoons. But the 90's led to new directions for the studio. And one of them became "SWAT KATS the Radical Squadron"! This series delivered action while displaying a dark like quality. It featured many talented voice actors like Charlie Adler, Barry Gordon, Tress MacNeille, Gary Owens, Jim Cummings and Frank Welker.

18. Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM) series

Sonic the Hedgehog is still one of my favorite video game characters. As a kid, I couldn't put my controller down when playing the game on my sega genisis. When an animated series debuted on TV, I was thrilled. The show featured a more complex plot and a dark atmosphere that constitutes a departure from the tone of most Sonic games.

The show takes place on a planet called Mobius sometime in its 33rd century, which is largely populated with anthropomorphic animals. An infamous mad warlord and former scientist named Dr. Julian Ivo Robotnik (voiced by Jim Cummings) invaded and conquered a huge city named Mobotropolis with the help of his assistant and nephew Snively (voiced by Charlie Adler) and his army of robot soldiers called SWATbots.

Robotnik, leader of the War Ministry, was to be appointed Minister of Science by the King of Mobius, Maximillian Acorn, who was about to close the War Ministry. However, Robotnik overthrew the King through a coup d'état, capturing the palace, and the King is never seen or heard from again. From there, he captured the rest of the citizens, including an intelligent old hedgehog named Sir Charles Hedgehog (voiced by William Windom) and his crowning invention, the Roboticizer. This device changes living creatures into robot likenesses while robbing them of their free will, a process called "roboticization". Robotnik turned the device against Charles, then to his other captives. Robotnik then turned his army loose on the world, roboticizing any who crossed his path. Those who managed to escape fled to Knothole Village in the Great Forest to hide from Robotnik, forming a group called the Freedom Fighters to (hopefully) restore Mobius and end Robotnik's rule.

19. The Magic of Disney Animation attraction (Back to Neverland tour film)

Way back in the 90's the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida had a real animation department where visitors could actually take a tour to see the magic being made. On the tour was a memorable film called "The magic of Disney Animation". It originally starred Walter Cronkite and the voice of fellow Disney Legend Robin Williams, guiding guests through the different stages in animating a feature-length film. It was both very funny and informative.

But it nearly killed me when I found out that the studio shut down. And with it, the tour film. In it's place however is new tour film showing how a disney character is created, staring Mushu the dragon from Disney's Mulan.

The film had all the people who helped create Mushu, including his creator Tom Bancroft who happens to be on DeviantArt right here.

20. Genndy Tartakovsky

Here we have one of the most legendary people in the history of Cartoon Network. Genndy Tartakovsky was a promising student of the California Institute of the Arts. Having met many friends at Hanna-Barbera studios and eventually directing and producing his own cartoon shows "Dexter's Laboratory" "Samurai Jack", the "Star Wars" Clone Wars micro series and "Sym-Bionic Titan".

21. Hayao Miyazaki

all character © the company that owns them.

Description
This is my Influence Map.

This map shows off a display of photos, portraits, posters, collages and even fan art of some of my best influences. These Eventually guided me down the career path of being a Graphic Artist/Animator. Digging deep in my memories was very time consuming. This was not an easy task. Some things either influenced me, or made a fan out of me. Please keep in mind that not every influence in my life can fit on one map. But I've thought long and hard on choosing the right ones that best define me.

Looking back in my childhood, I should definitely give props to my folks. When I was a toddler, I had a strong fascination towards cartoons. When my folks saw this, they tried exposing me to many different cartoons. Some of which were there own childhood favorites, and eventually became mine as well. It was quite a coincidence that my dad worked in a video store back then, and brought home many good cartoons and other great family features for me to watch. But he didn't stop there. My dad loved recording TV programs not just for himself, but also for me if any good cartoon programs happen to air on prime-time. They knew the cartoons had an influence on me when I began drawing things. They knew I had a gift. They tried to enroll me in many art classes as possible in and outside of school. A few years pass, and I eventually moved on to watching current programs that aired live on TV, read books of different subjects, went to the movie theater, visited theme parks and finally took an interest in learning more about animation and its history. So I hope y'all enjoy seeing some of the things that eventually helped create my imagination!

Meme idea created by

Original influence map template found here: fav.me/d2vx881

1. Mickey Mouse and Friends

Mickey Mouse and his fellow stars were among the first cartoon characters I saw. Through them were the essence of Walt Disney, the Nine Old Men and all who helped bring them to life. I grew up watching all of their cartoons along with recorded TV specials thanks to my dad. I watched them over and over until I memorized them by heart. I've always loved the classics, but kept an interest in any new specials or modern updated Mickey and friends cartoons, such as the Mickey Mouse Works and the House of Mouse. And I hope they'll always be loved by future generations.

2. The Golden Age of Disney Animation

I didn't know as a child. But some of Disney's most respected animated cartoons and features from 1937 to 1967, were to become a major influence on me. The best of Disney Animation was done during a period that would eventually be called “The Golden Age of Animation”. Walt Disney's top creative animators included Les Clark, Marc Davis, Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball, Eric Larson, Ward Kimball and Wolfgang Reitherman. Better known as "the Nine Old Men”. Eventually, I learned that these legendary animators would refine the “12 principles of animation”. While ushering an era of animated masterpieces, they influenced many creative young artists with fresh new ideas. All because of the their hard work and love of animation.

Even though Walt Disney died shortly near the completion of his last supervised film project "The Jungle Book", disney animation had to carry on the legacy that Walt and his friends would have wanted. As the years past, the Nine Old Men eventually passed the torch down to new generations of imaginative animators. Animators like Andreas Deja, Glen Keane, Mark Henn and Eric Goldberg. The cycle of new generations of animators remains endless for sure.

3. The Looney Tunes

The Looney Tunes were among the first cartoon characters I saw. And perhaps the funniest still. I've noticed that unlike the Disney cartoons, The Looney Tunes relied more on slap stick humor. Because of this, they exceeded Disney and other popular competitors. Through them were the essence of the Warner Bros. Studio's most legendary animators “The Boys of Termite Terrace”. The creators behind the Looney Tunes cartoons included animation directors Bob Clampett, Friz Freleng, Bob McKimson, Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, music composer Carl Stalling, and especially talented voice actors Mel Blanc and June Foray.

4. Don Bluth Productions

I owe a big thank you to Don Bluth, John Pomeroy, Gary Goldman and their fellow artists for making such memorable animated features. Starting out as talented disney animators, they eventually went out on their own to persue their own animation dreams and ideas. Many of there successful features include The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go to Heaven and even the classic 2D video games Dragon's Lair and Space Ace and Dragon's Lair 2: TimeWarp. How I loved watching there masterpieces. The three legends to this day proved to be great role models for new generations of animators.

5. The Transformers

The transformers were the very first animated robots I saw. When my dad saw how popular they were becoming, he decided to let me watch them. How I loved the original G1 series. And I really really loved their first animated movie. Even with the death of Optimus Prime. Sadly the director and producers didn't know that they were killing off a beloved american icon.

Eventually, I came to love the first computer animated series “BEAST WARS Transformers” and “BEAST MACHINES Transformers”. Both were created by Mainframe Studios. Sadly all the other incarnation series after them never really got to me. In 2007, another great series called “TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED” debuted on Cartoon Network. In 2010 a new action packed computer animated series "Transformers Prime" debuted on the new Hub station. This new series brought back original voice actors Peter Cullen and Frank Welker. And all the live Transformer movies were a huge hit too. To this day I don't think there's ever been a bigger love for robots, then the Transformers.

6. Dr. Seuss

The world of Theodor Seuss Geisel aka Dr. Seuss, was among the first childrens books I had. Even though I was too young to understand some of the whimsical rhyming, I really enjoyed the illustrations. Along with the books, I had the privilege of watching the animated adaptions of some of Geisel's work under the animated directions of Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng.

7. Charles Schulz

God bless Charles Schulz. If it weren't for the creative genius of this man, I probably wouldn't have picked up my first crayon. As a kid, I loved seeing the Peanuts comics in the newspaper. Even though I was too young to understand the text at the time. But I really loved the animated TV specials based on them. They were non-stop hillarious. Especially for the one and only Snoopy! The favorite TV special "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown", still gets to me, and was also perhaps Mr. Schulz's favorite too. So thanks Mr. Schulz. Where ever you are.

8. Jim Davis

God bless Jim Davis. As a kid, I loved seeing the Garfield's comics in the newspaper. Even though I was too young to understand the text at the time. But I really loved the animated TV specials based on him and the others. Garfield's hillarious sarcasm was unlike anything I've ever seen in a cartoon character. The TV specials and the first animated series were very memorable indeed. Lorenzo Music was the only one that could give voice to Jim Davis's creation.

9. Jim Henson and the Muppets

When I was little, I've never seen a puppet let alone a muppet. The first time I've ever seen the muppets was from there first feature film "The Muppet Movie". To be honest, I thought they looked like realistic cartoon characters. But I loved them to this day. I eventually learned about there creator Jim Henson, Frank Oz and his friends that helped create them along with some of the most imaginative characters of all time. From his studio in the UK called "the Creature Shop" came creatures for fantastic features and programs like "The Dark Crystal", "Labrinth", "The Muppet Show", "Fraggle Rock" and many other projects.

10. Chuck Jones

I thought Chuck Jones was one of the most influential of legendary animaton directors of Warner Bros. Studios. His style and directing created memorable characters like Wile E. Coyote & Roadrunner, Michigan J. Frog, Pepe Le Peu and others. He eventually refined the personality of Daffy Duck in one of my personal favorite shorts starring him called "Duck Amuck".

One classic short that got to me, was the beloved short "Feed the Kitty". The most aesthetic to me, was "The Dot and the Line". With the introduction of television, animation was starting to become a dying art for the movie screen. Animation started to become limited in order to meet strict dead lines for television. But Chuck Jones never gave up hope and continued his services by directing the popular duo "Tom and Jerry". Many fans to this day love his art direction more then any other Tom and Jerry directed shorts. But I was really inspired by the solo shorts he did Like "A Cricket In Time Square", "A Very Merry Cricket", "Yankee Doodle Cricket", "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi", "The White Seal" and "Mowgli's Brothers".

11. Who Framed Roger Rabbit

I've always loved seeing live people interacting with cartoon characters! And there has never been a more recognized and well respected live/animated feature than the 1988 movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”. Not only for having live actors well in sync with the cartoon characters and settings, but for also having all 2D animation done completely by hand without the aid of computers.

Truthfully the first live/animated cartoon I saw as a kid was the classic black and white 1940 Porky Pig and Daffy cartoon ”You Ought to Be in Pictures”. Soon after came the classic 1977 Disney feature “Pete's Dragon”.

Future live/animated projects and features would also gain my attention. Like the MTV music video “Opposites Attract” staring Paula Abdul and MC SKAT KAT, Warner Bros. “Space Jam” and “Looney Tunes Back in Action”. But Roger Rabbit still remains number one to this day.

12. The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera ride

This inspiring attraction was one of my absolute favorite rides. It was a simulator ride at Universal Studios Florida, and one of the park's original attractions. For me, it was the first time I ever felt absorbed in a cartoon. How it broke my heart when I found out the ride was torn down for a new ride.

For any one who wishes to see footage of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera ride(though it's no substitution for the real thing), please click here www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTBZNn… and check out the video on YouTube.

13. The Disney Afternoon

The Disney Afternoon was a fun filled program block that I loved watching after school. Some of the first animated Disney programs of the 90's got there start from this program block. How I loved the animated opening of the show with Mickey Mouse rolling out a giant sheet of animation paper while giant magical pencils started drawing the new disney afternoon characters while coming to life and leaping off the paper. Then getting painted on with magical paint brushes. Many of these spectacular characters came from such shows like "The Gummi Bears", "Duck Tales", "Tale Spin", "Chip "N" Dale Rescue Rangers" and "Darkwing Duck". Other shows were developed over time for the series. But the ones I just mentioned are by far my favorites. In a world where traditional 2D animation is now being replaced by flash animation, I feel rather sorry for today's viewers. And yet I'm glad at how viewers can easily see or obtain these classic cartoons through DVD, Blu-Ray and online on demand.

For any one who wishes to hear the The Disney Afternoon Theme (Full Version) soundtrack, please click here www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzIHLu… and listen to it on YouTube.

14. Ray Harryhausen

One of the most respected special effets animators in movie history. Through his skill and imagination came some of the most spectacular stop-motion animated creatures ever made for the big screen.

Truthfully, some of the first workings of stop-motion animation introduced to me were the holiday specials from RANKIN/BASS studios, Claymation specials and commercials from the Will Vinton Studio and the character Gumby created by Art Clokey. But I really liked Ray Harryhausen's creatures the most because of the fact that they interact with live actors. Even with the computer being the popular source of monster making these days, Ray Harryhausen remains a national treasure.

For any one who wishes to see the legendary documentary “The Ray Haryhausen Chronicles”, please click here www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4Dnut… and check out the video on YouTube.

15. Steven Spielberg

The earliest and most insperational live features for me, were by legendary director/producer Steven Spielberg.

Many features like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Back to the Future 1 2 & 3, the Indiana Jones movies, the Jurassic Park movies, Men in Black and many more. Teaming up with other legendary movie makers like Robert Zemeckis and George Lucas helped him on the way to fame and glory.

16. Tiny Toon Adventures

Tiny Toon Adventures was one of the first cartoons I saw from Warner Bros. new animation studio back in the 90's. In a way, they became the protege's of the looney tunes that would lead to many other successful cartoons from Warner Bros. Two episodes however were a big influence on me. The very first episode "The Looney Beginning" and one that showed how a cartoon was made called "Animaniacs".

17. SWAT KATS the Radical Squadron

When I was a kid I enjoyed watching hanna-barbera cartoons. But the 90's led to new directions for the studio. And one of them became "SWAT KATS the Radical Squadron"! This series delivered action while displaying a dark like quality. It featured many talented voice actors like Charlie Adler, Barry Gordon, Tress MacNeille, Gary Owens, Jim Cummings and Frank Welker.

18. Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM) series

Sonic the Hedgehog is still one of my favorite video game characters. As a kid, I couldn't put my controller down when playing the game on my sega genisis. When an animated series debuted on TV, I was thrilled. The show featured a more complex plot and a dark atmosphere that constitutes a departure from the tone of most Sonic games.

The show takes place on a planet called Mobius sometime in its 33rd century, which is largely populated with anthropomorphic animals. An infamous mad warlord and former scientist named Dr. Julian Ivo Robotnik (voiced by Jim Cummings) invaded and conquered a huge city named Mobotropolis with the help of his assistant and nephew Snively (voiced by Charlie Adler) and his army of robot soldiers called SWATbots.

Robotnik, leader of the War Ministry, was to be appointed Minister of Science by the King of Mobius, Maximillian Acorn, who was about to close the War Ministry. However, Robotnik overthrew the King through a coup d'état, capturing the palace, and the King is never seen or heard from again. From there, he captured the rest of the citizens, including an intelligent old hedgehog named Sir Charles Hedgehog (voiced by William Windom) and his crowning invention, the Roboticizer. This device changes living creatures into robot likenesses while robbing them of their free will, a process called "roboticization". Robotnik turned the device against Charles, then to his other captives. Robotnik then turned his army loose on the world, roboticizing any who crossed his path. Those who managed to escape fled to Knothole Village in the Great Forest to hide from Robotnik, forming a group called the Freedom Fighters to (hopefully) restore Mobius and end Robotnik's rule.

19. The Magic of Disney Animation attraction (Back to Neverland tour film)

Way back in the 90's the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando, Florida had a real animation department where visitors could actually take a tour to see the magic being made. On the tour was a memorable film called "The magic of Disney Animation". It originally starred Walter Cronkite and the voice of fellow Disney Legend Robin Williams, guiding guests through the different stages in animating a feature-length film. It was both very funny and informative.

But it nearly killed me when I found out that the studio shut down. And with it, the tour film. In it's place however is new tour film showing how a disney character is created, staring Mushu the dragon from Disney's Mulan.

The film had all the people who helped create Mushu, including his creator Tom Bancroft who happens to be on DeviantArt right here.

20. Genndy Tartakovsky

Here we have one of the most legendary people in the history of Cartoon Network. Genndy Tartakovsky was a promising student of the California Institute of the Arts. Having met many friends at Hanna-Barbera studios and eventually directing and producing his own cartoon shows "Dexter's Laboratory" "Samurai Jack", the "Star Wars" Clone Wars micro series and "Sym-Bionic Titan".

21. Hayao Miyazaki

all character © the company that owns them.