Judge Whitaker was an animator that went on to become a pioneering producer & director of educational and religious films at Brigham Young University, where he is credited with establishing a motion picture studio. In many ways his life would parallel that of Walt Disney, who would become his long-term employer. Judge moved with his family to ...
When at the age 8 or 9 an older brother started using the name "Judge" to tease him, comparing him with the local Justice of the Peace, apparently a homely little man. After repeated use, the kids in the neighborhood started using it and the nickname stuck. Although originally hating it, Wetzel became so used to this name that he used it in screen credits throughout his career at Walt Disney Productions, only reverting to "Wetzel O. Whitaker" in the credits of Brigham Young University productions. He was known throughout his life as "Judge" by family, friends and fellow film folk.
Animation Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Mickey Mouse Disco
1980
Short animator
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
1961-1979
TV Series animator - 2 episodes
Bongo
1970
Short character animation
Peter Pan
1953
character animator
Lambert the Sheepish Lion
1952
Short animator
Alice in Wonderland
1951
character animator
Corn Chips
1951
Short animator
Chicken in the Rough
1951
Short animator
Bee at the Beach
1950
Short animation
Food for Feudin'
1950
Short animator
Crazy Over Daisy
1950
Short animator - uncredited
Cinderella
1950
character animator
Slide Donald Slide
1949
Short animator
The Greener Yard
1949
Short animator
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
1949
animator - uncredited
All in a Nutshell
1949
Short animator
Honey Harvester
1949
Short animator
Lion Around
1949
Short animator
Tea for Two Hundred
1948
Short animation
Melody Time
1948
character animator
Fun & Fancy Free
1947
character animator
Bootle Beetle
1947
Short animator
Straight Shooters
1947
Short animator
Lighthouse Keeping
1946
Short animator
Make Mine Music
1946
animator
A Knight for a Day
1946
Short animator
No Sail
1945
Short animator
The Clock Watcher
1945
Short animator
Donald's Off Day
1944
Short animator
Donald Duck and the Gorilla
1944
Short animator - uncredited
Fall Out-Fall in
1943
Short animator
Sky Trooper
1942
Short animator
The Vanishing Private
1942
Short animator
Donald Gets Drafted
1942
Short animator - uncredited
Donald's Snow Fight
1942
Short animator - uncredited
Chef Donald
1941
Short animator - uncredited
The Reluctant Dragon
1941/I
animator - uncredited
Donald's Vacation
1940
Short animator
Put-Put Troubles
1940
Short animator - uncredited
Mr. Duck Steps Out
1940
Short animator - uncredited
Donald's Dog Laundry
1940
Short animator - uncredited
Officer Duck
1939
Short animator - uncredited
The Autograph Hound
1939
Short animator - uncredited
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Lost Manuscript
1974
producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
Cipher in the Snow
1974
Short producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
Ancient America Speaks
1974
Documentary short executive producer
Are You Listening?
1971
Documentary short producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
Johnny Lingo
1969
Short producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
Never a Bride
1969
Short producer - as W. O. Whitaker
Pioneers in Petticoats
1969
Short producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
Worthy to Stand
1969
Short producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
The Three Witnesses
1968
Short producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
Are You the One?: Choosing a Mate
1967
Short producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
Marriage: What Kind for You?
1967
Short producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
And Should We Die
1966
producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
How Do I Love Thee
1965
Short producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
Man's Search for Happiness
1964
Short producer
Bitter Wind
1963
Short producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
Windows of Heaven
1963
producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
Of Heaven and Home
1963
Short producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
Measure of a Man
1962
Short producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
Worth Waiting For
1962
Short producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker
The Search for Truth
1962
Documentary short producer - as Wetzel O. Whitaker