Paul J. Smith

Biography

Paul J. Smith (March 15, 1906 – November 17, 1980) was an American animator and director.

Smith began as a cel painter for Walt Disney Animation in 1926, then moved up to an animator. In 1928, when all the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons for Charles Mintz were completed, Smith left the payroll.

Smith worked for the Walter Lantz studio for much of his career, first as an animator, and then as a director. He also animated at Warner Bros. Cartoons.

By 1955, Smith had taken over as primary director of the Woody Woodpecker cartoon shorts. With Smith in the director's chair, the Woody Woodpecker series maintained its trademark frenetic energy, while the animation itself was simplified, due to...