Terrytoons Titans: Paul Sommer

The Terrytoons animator with "Disney class"

• Sommer started working for Paul Terry in 1930 as an assistant animator.

• He went uncredited in his early years, and moved west in 1936.

• After spending time reigning in his skills at MGM and Columbia, he joined Terry again in 1948.

(Club Sandwich, dirs. Frank Moser and Paul Terry) [This is Moser’s scene, but Sommer assisted him]

• Sommer’s style possesses cuteness, akin to the sensibilities of West Coast studios.

• His scenes are soft and bouncy, yet well-posed.

• He tones down the wackiness of the cartoons, and serves as a great antithesis to James Tyer, Carlo Vinci, and Reuben Timmins.

• Some earmarks of his include close-set eyes, long eases, “twinning” (having both arms/legs perform the same action), an emphasis on building tension, and wisps of dry brush for motion that probably doesn’t need accentuation.

(The Lyin’ Lion, dir. Connie Rasinski)

(Anti-Cats, dir. Mannie Davis)

(Bulldozing the Bull, dir. Eddie Donnelly)

(Off to the Opera, dir. Connie Rasinski)

(House Busters, dir. Connie Rasinski) [Print Courtesy of Rockin Pins YT]

Next up: Robert “Bobe” Cannon (The loosey-goosey master of the West)