George Pal
George Pal (1908 – 1980)
George Pal was an American animator, although he was a American animator but he was born in Cegled, Austria-Hungary, he became an American citizen after emigrating from Europe. He was also a film producer, principally associated with science fiction genre.
The reason I write about George Pal because of his talents and efforts. He was nominated for Academy Awards (in the category Best short subjects, Cartoon) no less than seven consecutive years (1942 – 1948) and received an honorary award in 1944. This makes him the second most nominated Hungarian exile after Miklos Rozsa. After he died of a heart attack on 2nd of May 1980, those who worked with him describe him as “a rare individual who had a vision and was able to follow it through; and did so without disrupting everyone’s life” (Gae Griffith). People enjoyed working for him, and he enjoyed employing them. The good feelings come out quite clearly onscreen, and his films are some of the most purely optimistic ever made.
George Pal had a lot of great films, e.g. The War of the Worlds -1953 (Oscar: Best Special Effects); The Time Machine – 1960 (Oscar: Best Special Effects); The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm – 1962(Oscar: Best costume Design); and etc.
Pal graduated from the Budapest academy of Arts with a degree in Architecture and highly developed drawing skills. There were no opportunities for an Architect when he left the University, so he put his other talent to work, he found employment at Hunnia Films in Budapest. At Hunnia, Pal drew lobby poster and created embellished titles for silent movies. He also quickly learned the craft of motion picture cartooning.
Pal was seeking work with better pay, he moved with his wife Elisabeth Josepha Grandjean to Berlin, a center for film innovation. Pal’s talents were soon noticed.
From 1931 – 1932, Pal worked at UFA Studio in Berlin where he became head of the cartoon department. Then, he set up his own film studio
George Pal was an American animator, although he was a American animator but he was born in Cegled, Austria-Hungary, he became an American citizen after emigrating from Europe. He was also a film producer, principally associated with science fiction genre.
The reason I write about George Pal because of his talents and efforts. He was nominated for Academy Awards (in the category Best short subjects, Cartoon) no less than seven consecutive years (1942 – 1948) and received an honorary award in 1944. This makes him the second most nominated Hungarian exile after Miklos Rozsa. After he died of a heart attack on 2nd of May 1980, those who worked with him describe him as “a rare individual who had a vision and was able to follow it through; and did so without disrupting everyone’s life” (Gae Griffith). People enjoyed working for him, and he enjoyed employing them. The good feelings come out quite clearly onscreen, and his films are some of the most purely optimistic ever made.
George Pal had a lot of great films, e.g. The War of the Worlds -1953 (Oscar: Best Special Effects); The Time Machine – 1960 (Oscar: Best Special Effects); The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm – 1962(Oscar: Best costume Design); and etc.
Pal graduated from the Budapest academy of Arts with a degree in Architecture and highly developed drawing skills. There were no opportunities for an Architect when he left the University, so he put his other talent to work, he found employment at Hunnia Films in Budapest. At Hunnia, Pal drew lobby poster and created embellished titles for silent movies. He also quickly learned the craft of motion picture cartooning.
Pal was seeking work with better pay, he moved with his wife Elisabeth Josepha Grandjean to Berlin, a center for film innovation. Pal’s talents were soon noticed.
From 1931 – 1932, Pal worked at UFA Studio in Berlin where he became head of the cartoon department. Then, he set up his own film studio