Grant Simmons

Grant Simmons (November 11, 1912 in Arizona, U.S. - October 31, 1970 (aged 57) in Los Angeles, California, U.S.) was an American animator, director, and writer. Simmons’ list of big-name companies he has animated for included Walt Disney Studios (where he worked on Dumbo and Fantasia), Columbia, MGM, and eventually co-founded his own company Grantray-Lawrence in 1954.

Simmons’ earliest work was an uncredited Walt Disney Studios short that was released in 1940, Put-Put Troubles, which featured Donald Duck. He also worked on Dumbo before the famous strike. A year later in 1941, Simmons left Disney after the strike and began working for Columbia at Screen Gems productions. Simmons eventually switched to MGM studios in 1948 where he was reunited with Ray Patterson whom he worked with at Walt Disney Studios.

After viewing some of his work. Simmons’ animation style seems to be a bit similar to Ray Patterson. They are not copies of each other, but both of these animators seem to be very good at timing and fluidity in their characters. Both of these animators worked on the Clown Fire Scene on Dumbo and it is difficult to tell who animated what part.

Animation credits

• Officer Duck (1939) (animator - uncredited)
• Donald's Dog Laundry (1940) (animator - uncredited)
• Tugboat Mickey (1940) (animator - uncredited)
• Billposters (1940) (animator - uncredited)
• Put-Put Troubles (1940) (animator - uncredited)
• Fantasia (1940) (animation - segment "Dance of the Hours")
• Pluto's Playmate (1941) (animator - uncredited)
• Dumbo (1941) (animator)

v - e - d

1920s—1970s Disney's Nine Old Men: Milt Kahl • Frank Thomas • Ollie Johnston • Les Clark • John Lounsbery • Marc Davis • Ward Kimball • Eric Larson • Wolfgang Reitherman Animators: Bill Tytla • Art Babbitt • Lee Blair • Preston Blair • Fred Moore • Shamus Culhane • Cy Young • Don Lusk • Norman Ferguson • Hal King • Jack Hannah • Dick Kinney • Hal Ambro • Ken O'Brien • Judge Whitaker • Bill Justice • Don Bluth • Gary Goldman • Charles A. Nichols • Blaine Gibson • John Ewing • Walt Stanchfield • Rolly Crump • Fred Hellmich • Amby Paliwoda • Wilfred Jackson • Xavier Atencio • Ben Sharpsteen • Earl Hurd • Dale Oliver • Eric Cleworth • David Hand • Fred Spencer • Julius Svendsen • Jack Bradbury • Kenneth Muse • Rudolf Ising • Hugh Harman • Friz Freleng • Walt Kelly • Leo Salkin • John Dehner • Retta Scott • David Swift • Mel Shaw • Jack Cutting • Grant Simmons • Art Stevens • Frank Tashlin • Wathel Rogers • Tyrus Wong • Johnny Cannon • Bernard Wolf Visual Development, Layout, Background Artists and Character Designers: Gustaf Tenggren • Mary Blair • Marjorie Ralston • Lillian Bounds • Joe Grant • Mel Shaw • Claude Coats • Don DaGradi • John Hench • Eyvind Earle • Ken O'Connor • Thor Putnam • Albert Hurter • John Hubley • Herbert Ryman • Don Griffith • Basil Davidovich • Jack Boyd • Peter Ellenshaw • Ruthie Tompson • Earl Duvall • Retta Davidson • Ub Iwerks • Vance Gerry • Hazel Sewell • James Bodrero • Lance Nolley • Grace Bailey • Maurice Noble • Dale Barnhart • Andy Engman • Eustace Lycett • John Emerson • Joe Hale • Leota Toombs Storyboard Artists and Writers: Bill Peet • Ralph Wright • Dick Huemer • Floyd Norman • Yale Gracey • Ted Sears • Erdman Penner • Joe Rinaldi • Winston Hibler • Otto Englander • William Cottrell • Bill Berg • Al Bertino • T. Hee • Homer Brightman • Ted Osbourne • Larry Clemmons • Harry Reeves • Jesse Marsh • Chuck Couch • Webb Smith • Dick Sebast Directors: Clyde Geronimi • Hamilton Luske • Jack Kinney • Ted Berman • Richard Rich • George Scribner • Riley Thomson • Dick Lundy • Jack King • Burt Gillett • James Algar • Bill Roberts • Larry Lansburgh • Richard Irvine Producers: Walt Disney • Ron Miller • Ken Anderson • Don Duckwall • Perce Pearce • Margaret J. Winkler 1980s—present Renaissance Directors: Rob Minkoff • Roger Allers • Gary Trousdale • Kirk Wise • Chris Sanders • Mark Dindal • John Musker Story Trust Directors: Ron Clements • Chris Buck • Byron Howard • Don Hall • Chris Williams • Rich Moore • Stephen J. Anderson • Nathan Greno • Fawn Veerasunthorn Producers: Peter Del Vecho • Clark Spencer • Roy Conli • Dorothy McKim • Don Hahn • Shane Morris Chief Creative Officer: Jennifer Lee Associated Figures: Bob Iger • Roy Edward Disney • Michael Eisner • John Lasseter • Ed Catmull • Jeffrey Katzenberg • Bob Chapek Signature Voice Actors: Jim Cummings • Alan Tudyk • Katie Lowes • John DiMaggio • Maurice LaMarche • Jodi Benson • David Ogden Stiers • Jesse Corti • Paul Briggs • Raymond S. Persi • Phil Johnston • Frank Welker • Bill Farmer • Brian Cummings Signature Musicians: Robert B. Sherman • Richard M. Sherman • Alan Menken • Kristen Anderson-Lopez • Robert Lopez • Lin-Manuel Miranda • Howard Ashman • Tim Rice • Phil Collins • Stephen Schwartz • Marc Shaiman • Danny Troob Supervising Animators: Glen Keane • Andreas Deja • Eric Goldberg • Mark Henn • John Pomeroy • Randy Haycock • Dale Baer • Tony Bancroft • Tom Bancroft • Tony Fucile • Anthony DeRosa • Russ Edmonds • Randy Haycock • Bruce W. Smith • Duncan Marjoribanks • Ruben Aquino • Nik Ranieri • Ron Husband • Rick Farmiloe • Tom Sito • Tony Anselmo • Will Finn • Kathy Zielinski Visual Development & Storyboard Artists: Dean DeBlois • Claire Keane • Brittney Lee • Jin Kim • Shiyoon Kim • Ryan Green