Wilson D. "Pete" Burness (June 16, 1904 – July 21, 1969) was an American animator and animation director. He won two Academy Awards during his career and was perhaps best known for his work on the Mr. Magoo series. He also contributed to the Tom and Jerry series, Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, and Rocky and His Friends.Burness was born in Los Angeles. His animation career began in 1931, working for Romer Grey and Ted Eshbaugh on Goofy Goat Antics and the unreleased Binko the Cub. In 1933 he transferred to Van Beuren Studios, where he animated the film adaption of The Little King. Burness transferred to Harman-Ising in 1936 and to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1938. He animated Tom and Jerry at MGM until 1945.Burness worked briefly for Warner Brothers in 1948 and 1949, animating a number of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts. He left Warner to become a director for United Productions of America, animating the popular Mr. Magoo series. Two of his Mr. Magoo shorts, When Magoo Flew (1954) and Mr. Magoo's Puddle Jumper (1956), won Academy Awards for Best Short Subject.In 1958 Burness left UPA to join Jay Ward Productions as director of Rocky and his Friends and Hoppity Hooper. While working for Jay Ward he co-wrote and was hired to direct 1001 Arabian Nights, a feature film featuring Mr. Magoo. Following disputes with producer Stephen Bosustow, he left the project and was replaced by Jack Kinney.Burness died of cancer in 1969.
June 16, 1904, Los Angeles, California, United States
Died
July 21, 1969
Place Of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA
Profession
Director, Animation Department, Producer
Star Sign
Gemini
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Fact
1
Notoriously short-tempered Pete Burness was an American animator/director, variously employed with animation units from 1931: at Harman-Ising (1936), MGM (1938), Warner Brothers (1948-49), UPA (1949) and Jay Ward Productions. He worked on anything from Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, to Mr. Magoo and Rocky and Bullwhinkle.
Animation Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Sufferin' Cats!
1943
Short animator
Fine Feathered Friend
1942
Short animator - as Peter Burness
The Bear and the Beavers
1942
Short animator - uncredited
The Hungry Wolf
1942
Short animator - uncredited
The Night Before Christmas
1941
Short animator - uncredited
The Flying Bear
1941
Short animator - uncredited
Officer Pooch
1941
Short animator - uncredited
The Midnight Snack
1941
Short animator - uncredited
The Goose Goes South
1941
Short animator - uncredited
The Milky Way
1940
Short animator - uncredited
Puss Gets the Boot
1940
Short animator - uncredited
Merbabies
1938
Short animator - uncredited
Little Buck Cheeser
1937
Short animator - uncredited
Little Cheeser
1936
Short animator - uncredited
The Pups' Picnic
1936
Short animator - uncredited
Alias St. Nick
1935
Short animator - uncredited
The Office Boy
1932
Short animator - uncredited
Goofy Goat
1931
Short animator
That's Warner Bros.!
1995
TV Series animator
Merrie Melodies: Starring Bugs Bunny and Friends
1990
TV Series animator
The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show
1986
TV Series animator
The Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes Comedy Hour
1985
TV Series animator
Daffy Duck's Movie: Fantastic Island
1983
animator: classic cartoons
Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales
1982
animator: classic cartoons
Bugs Bunny's Mad World of Television
1982
TV Movie animator: classic cartoons - as Wilson Burness