John Morin Bradbury (December 27, 1914 – May 15, 2004) was an American animator and comic book artist. Bradbury began working for Disney at age 20 and was responsible for key scenes in films like Pinocchio, Fantasia and Bambi. After working briefly for Friz Freleng at Warner Bros., he began working for Western Publishing in 1947, illustrating Little Golden Books, other children's books, and comic books for the Dell Comics and Gold Key Comics imprints along with the Disney Studio Program. Reportedly, Walt Disney told Western that they didn't need his approval for any of Bradbury's work. Also, Bob Clampett specifically requested Bradbury to illustrate the comic book adaptation of his show Time for Beany.
Career According to the book Walt's People - Volume 3: Talking Disney with the Artists who Knew Him by Didier Ghez, which presents a full reprint of an interview with Jack conducted by Klaus Strzyz in 1978, he never considered himself a "very good duck man", preferring to draw stories with Mickey Mouse and Goofy. When Mr. Strzyz asked him about the quality of 1940s, 1950s and 1960s Disney comic stories in comparison with the 1970s ones, he answered that the then later ones were far better in terms of quality, the only exception being Barks' old ones. He also affirmed that he felt embarrassed when he saw some of his own early works.
Despite having insecurities about his art, Bradbury continued to hone his craft through the creation of other Disney characters. Bradbury illustrated "Family Tree"Inducks - Page to the comic story Family Tree with Donald Duck and his feathered relatives. He created characters such as Blarney O'Duck (a cunning and obstinate sea captain),Inducks - Page to the comic story Redbeard's Pirate Plunder Cousin Daniel Duck (an old sheriff with rheumatism),Inducks - Page to the comic story Daredevil Deputy Dick Duck (a self-important and terribly frank private detective),Inducks - Page to the comic story On-the-job-jitters Myron O'Duck (a scoundrel who almost married Grandma Duck),Inducks - Page to the comic story Too Much Mush and Aunt Myrtle (an absurdly strong but nice aunt of Daisy).Inducks - Page to the comic story A Relative Problem
Eye problems forced Bradbury to cut back on his output after 1970, though he still continued to work on a few projects for Disney.
He died in 2004 from kidney failure.
Filmography Year Title Credits Characters Notes 1940 Pinocchio Animator Credited and Known as John BradburyFantasia Animator - Segment "The Pastoral Symphony" 1942 Bambi Animator Credited and Known as John Bradbury 1943 Jack-Wabbit and the Beanstalk (Short) Animator 1944 Meatless Flyday (Short) Animator Stage Door Cartoon (Short) Animator
References
External links
Jack Bradbury at the Lambiek Comiclopedia
Comic Art of Jack Bradbury Forgotten Disney Legends: Jack Bradbury Excerpts from Jack Bradbury's Autobiography