Homer H. Brightman was an American screenwriter and story artist, who worked for Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he prominently worked on films related to what is collectively known as the Package Film Era (1942-1949).
Brightman was born on June 1, 1901 in Seattle Washington and began working for Disney in 1935 to 1950. His time at the studio is detailed in his memoir, Life in the Mouse House: Memoir of a Disney Story Artist, where he acknowledged Walt as a great pitchman and perfectionist but also often difficult to work with because of this as well as details that led to the 1941 animation strike. Despite the turmoil, he continued to work with on projects, like The Three Caballeros, Make Mine Music, Fun and Fancy Free, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, and Cinderella. He also worked as the original gag writer for Al Taliaferro's Donald Duck newspaper comic strip from 1938–1940, before Bob Karp took his place.
After leaving Disney, Brightman continued to work on story concepts for various studios, like Walter Lantz Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon studio, UPA, Larry Harmon Pictures, Cambria Productions, and DePatie-Freleng Enterprises. During this time period, he worked on various Woody Woodpecker shorts, The Dick Tracy Show, and Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown.
Brightman died on January 30, 1988. He was buried in Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, but some sources claim he died in Kirkland, Washington. Brightman's memoir would be published years later.
Filmography[]
Year | Film | Position |
---|---|---|
1936 | Alpine Climbers | story - uncredited |
1937 | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | story artist |
1940 | The Fire Chief | writer - uncredited |
1940 | Pinocchio | concept art |
1942 | Saludos Amigos | story: "Lake Titicaca" |
1944 | The Three Caballeros | story |
1945 | Old Sequoia | story |
1946 | Make Mine Music | story: "Casey at the Bat" |
1946 | Dumbell of the Yukon | story |
1947 | Fun and Fancy Free | story: "Mickey and the Beanstalk" |
1948 | Melody Time | story |
1949 | The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad | story: "The Wind in the Willows" |
1950 | Cinderella | story |
1968 | Pablo and the Dancing Chihuahua | story |
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