Alexander Hume Anderson Jr.

Alexander Hume Anderson, Jr. Alexander Anderson, a pioneer in early television animation and the creator of such cartoon characters as Rocky and Bullwinkle, Crusader Rabbit, and Dudley Do-Right, died on October 22, 2010. He passed away peacefully at Flanders Court of Carmel. He was 90. Anderson is survived by his wife Patricia Anderson of Pebble Beach; his son Terry Anderson (Naomi) of Napa, Ca.; his son Scott Anderson (Rosemary) of Apache Junction, Az.; his stepson Matt Kennedy of Monterey, Ca.; his stepdaughter Carolyn Kennedy of Pacific Grove, Ca.; his stepson Daniel Kennedy (Michele) of Tucson, Az.; 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Anderson was born in Berkeley, Ca. in 1920. He grew up in a cartooning family, the nephew of Paul Terry of Terrytoons. During summer vacations he would travel to New York to work for his uncle, learning the cartoon trade on such animated favorites as "Mighty Mouse" and "Heckle and Jeckle." Anderson attended UC Berkeley and the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco before serving in Naval Intelligence during World War II. After the war he went to work for Terrytoons full time. He was excited about the fledgling medium of television, trying to interest his uncle in the idea of developing cartoons for TV. His uncle liked the idea but told him that, since television was perceived as a threat to the movie industry, Terrytoons could not afford to be involved with such an endeavor. So Anderson struck out on his own. In 1949 he returned to Berkeley and formed a partnership with his longtime friend Jay Ward. Their animation studio, set up over a garage behind Anderson's house, produced 195 episodes of "Crusader Rabbit," recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first cartoon created for television. When Ward wanted to move their enterprise to Hollywood, taking with him the portfolio of cartoon characters Anderson had developed, Anderson chose instead to remain in San Francisco and pursue what became a successful career in advertising. In 1968 he moved to Pebble Beach, Ca. It was only after Ward's death in 1989 that Anderson learned his rights to his characters were no longer acknowledged. In 1996 he reached an out-of-court settlement with Ward's estate, reestablishing his claim as the creator of Rocky, Bullwinkle and Dudley. In 2006 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and subsequently the quality of his life deteriorated significantly. However, he received wonderful care at Flanders, and he seemed genuinely at peace within himself right up until the end. Those of us who knew and loved him consider his passing as an overdue blessing, an opportunity to now grieve for the creative and gentle spirit we have lost. A memorial service will be held Friday, November 19th, at 11:00 am at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church, 9th and Lighthouse, in Pacific Grove, Ca. A reception at the church will immediately follow.