Yellow Submarine Animator Ron Campbell at Art Rock Show

Animator Ron Campbell, who directed episodes of The Beatles TV series and directed about 12 minutes of the 1968 psychedelic film classic Yellow Submarine, will be the guest for a “Rock n Roll Art Show” Friday through Sunday at The Shops at Pyramid Mall. Campbell, who also worked for decades for Hanna-Barbera, will be on hand to sign copies of his original art based on the Beatles and shoot the breeze with any and all animation buffs in the area.

Campbell had spent years in his native Australia directing TV animation when in 1965 producer Al Brodax hired him to direct episodes of The Beatles – the first animated series based on real people. A few years later in 1968, Brodax brought him in helm some scenes in Yellow Submarine, largely the Blue Meanie attack before the opening credits. In one scene, the boys creep past ‘toon characters owned by Brodax and King Features, like The Phantom. Campbell told me that Brodax himself can be seen in the “Eleanor Rigby” sequence.

From there, Campbell subcontracted work from Hanna-Barbera through the 1970s and ‘80s. (His favorite HB character? Scooby Doo.)

“I gave up ten years of my life doing Smurfs”, laughed Campbell. “Can you imagine giving up ten years for the Smurfs? Fortunately, I gave up ten years of my life doing Rugrats, which I absolutely loved.

Campbell will be at the Shops at Ithaca Mall on Friday and Saturday between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. His post-animation work is Pop art, which he sells largely through these “rock art” shows.

By Bryan VanCampen

Source: http://www.ithaca.com