The career of animation giant Friz Freleng encompassed much of the history of his chosen medium. He entered the industry in 1927 during the silent era as an animator on the popular Oswald the Rabbit series produced by the young visionary Walt Disney. Freleng also helped usher in the sound era in cartoons--notably with the three-minute pilot film "Bosko the Talk Ink Kid" (1929)--as the chief animator during the early days of the Harman-Ising studio (which soon evolved into producer Leon Schlesinger's animation unit at Warner Brothers). After a brief but transformative stint as a director at
Joined United Film Ad Service in Kansas City, MO (colleagues included future luminaries Ub Iwerks and Hugh Harman)
1927
Joined Walt Disney's studio in California to work on the Oswald the Rabbit series; left after disagreements and returned to United Film Ad Service
1928
Joined other Disney deserters including Harman and Rudolf Ising to make a cheaper version of Oswald the Rabbit for the Charles Mintz animation unit in NYC under producer George Winkler
1928
Formed cartoon production company with Harman and Ising; became their chief animator
1929
Worked as an animator on "Bosko the Talk Ink Kid", a three-minute "pilot" cartoon that was one of the first "talkies"; attracted the interest of Leon Schlesinger, head of Pacific Art and Title
