Clive A. Smith
Encyclopedia
Clive A. Smith is a British expatriate director and animator who, with Michael Hirsh
and Patrick Loubert
, founded Canadian animation studio Nelvana
in 1971. Smith worked on some of his studio's first TV specials, including A Cosmic Christmas
(1977), which was broadcast on CBC Television
in Canada and syndicated in the United States
proving to be Nelvana's breakthrough production. He also helmed the studio's next special, The Devil and Daniel Mouse
, in 1978. He worked as director of Nelvana's first feature film, 1983's Rock and Rule, and its 1997 animated version of the Pippi Longstocking
saga. He also directed A Wookie's Christmas (also known as The Faithful Wookie) for George Lucas
and Family Dog for Tim Burton
and Steven Spielberg
. Smith retired from Nelvana in 2001, the year after he and his co-founders sold the studio to Corus Entertainment
.
Smith was born in England and educated at the Ealing School of Art in London, England graduating with a degree in Design and Kinetic Art. In 1964, he joined the Halas and Batchelor
animation studio in West London where he worked on animated series such as The Beatles and The Lone Ranger
. He moved to Canada in 1967 and worked as a senior animator and designer on commercials and short films with Al Guest
and Vladimir Goetzleman before meeting Hirsh and Loubert and later founding Nelvana.
Since leaving Nelvana, Smith founded Musta Costa Fortune with Melleny Melody
.
Michael Hirsh
Michael Hirsh may refer to:*Michael Hirsh , founder of the animation studio Nelvana*Michael Hirsh , political reporter for Newsweek magazine...
and Patrick Loubert
Patrick Loubert
Patrick Loubert was one of the founders of the Canadian animation studio, Nelvana Limited, along with Clive A. Smith and Michael Hirsh. He has produced, and executive-produced, much of the company's most memorable fare....
, founded Canadian animation studio Nelvana
Nelvana
Nelvana Limited is a Canadian entertainment company founded in 1971 known for its work in children's animation. It was named by founders Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith after a Canadian comic book superheroine created by Adrian Dingle in the 1940s...
in 1971. Smith worked on some of his studio's first TV specials, including A Cosmic Christmas
A Cosmic Christmas
A Cosmic Christmas is the first television special produced by the Canadian animation company, Nelvana. It premiered on December 4, 1977 in Canada on CBC Television.-Plot:...
(1977), which was broadcast on CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
in Canada and syndicated in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
proving to be Nelvana's breakthrough production. He also helmed the studio's next special, The Devil and Daniel Mouse
The Devil and Daniel Mouse
The Devil and Daniel Mouse is a 1978 animated Halloween television special, from Canada's Nelvana animation studio. It is based on the story of The Devil and Daniel Webster.The Nelvana logo made its first appearance at the end of the film.-Story:...
, in 1978. He worked as director of Nelvana's first feature film, 1983's Rock and Rule, and its 1997 animated version of the Pippi Longstocking
Pippi Longstocking
Pippi Longstocking is a fictional character in a series of children's books by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, and adapted into multiple films and television series...
saga. He also directed A Wookie's Christmas (also known as The Faithful Wookie) for George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
and Family Dog for Tim Burton
Tim Burton
Timothy William "Tim" Burton is an American film director, film producer, writer and artist. He is famous for dark, quirky-themed movies such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet...
and Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
. Smith retired from Nelvana in 2001, the year after he and his co-founders sold the studio to Corus Entertainment
Corus Entertainment
Corus Entertainment Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian media and entertainment conglomerate.Corus is a leading Canadian specialty television and radio producer, with additional assets in pay television, advertising services, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's...
.
Smith was born in England and educated at the Ealing School of Art in London, England graduating with a degree in Design and Kinetic Art. In 1964, he joined the Halas and Batchelor
Halas and Batchelor
Halas and Batchelor was an animation company founded by John Halas and his wife, Joy Batchelor. The company started as a small animation unit that created commercials for theatrical distribution...
animation studio in West London where he worked on animated series such as The Beatles and The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger (animated TV series)
The Lone Ranger is the central character of an American animated television series that ran 26 episodes on CBS from September 10, 1966, to September 6, 1969...
. He moved to Canada in 1967 and worked as a senior animator and designer on commercials and short films with Al Guest
Al Guest
Al Guest is a Canadian animation producer.He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and started his career there when he dropped out of the University of Manitoba to pursue a career in films. A writer and fine artist, he has exhibited his paintings at many galleries in Winnipeg and Toronto...
and Vladimir Goetzleman before meeting Hirsh and Loubert and later founding Nelvana.
Since leaving Nelvana, Smith founded Musta Costa Fortune with Melleny Melody
Melleny Brown
Born in Toronto, Canada, Melleny Brown is a singer, songwriter, artist, music producer, video producer and voice actress....
.