James & John Whitney

Fathers of computer animation

By

Duncan FowlerJesse Woodward

James Whitney

Younger brother, born Dec 27, 1921(Death April 8, 1982)

Born in Pasadena CA

Studied painting

John Whitney

Born April 8, 1917 (Died Sept 22, 1995)

Born in Pasadena as well

Attended Pomona College

Spent a year in Paris studying under Rene Leibowitz

Resident artist at IBM

As a Pair!

Five Film Exercises 1943-44 Film 1

Twenty-Four Variations on an Original Theme pre 1942

And not a whole lot else…

James

Pre analog – Variations on a Circle (1941-42) Yantra (1950-57) 5x7 index cards

Analog Computer Lapis (1963-66)

John

Developed an analog computer from a mechanical gun directing system he used during WWII Demo

Had a few solo works but took a different path than his brother. Used skills and techniques in television, engineering films and major motion

pictures

Catalog (1961) Made on his analog computer Arabesque (1975) Full digital animation

Film Works Vertigo (1958) Andromeda Strain (1971, uncredited)

Contributions

Developed analog computer for visual effects

Pioneers of digital visual effects and animation

Forerunners in geometric abstract animation with sound/music

QUESTIONS?!?!?!???