Eli L. Levitan
- Cinematographer
- Animation Department
- Camera and Electrical Department
Eli L. Levitan (1916-2003) Self-taught, innovator, animation artist,
chronicler of an industry he helped create. Child of immigrant from
Slutzk, White Russia. Born and grew up in NYC in the shadow and
influence of the Henry Street Settlement House and the Comet Club at
Madison House during the Great Depression.
Eli Levitan was a recognized authority and consultant on the subject of animation.
His career began after high school as an apprentice at Max Fleischer Studios. He stayed for 17 years drawing Popeye the Sailor, Betty Boop and other favorites of screen. When he left he was Director of Animated Cartoons. During WWII he worked for Paramount Studios and did extensive work in developing training films for the military. In 1949, when television emerged on the scene, he went to work for Transfilm, then the largest commercial television production company, as Director of Animation and Special Effect.
Ten years later, he started his own editing and special effects studio, Computer Opticals, Inc. and Cine-Metric, two of New York's leading production houses. There he perfected optical techniques for commercials (i.e., showed pats of margarine doing the "twist" and cars driving on water); techniques that are now easily accomplished with computers but required sophisticated optical equipment and techniques in those days. The original optical processes, far from being phased out or relegated to a minor role serve as the foundation for computerized systems. His skills were in demand for diverse clients ranging from hair coloring (Clairol) and car rental firms to political campaigns; during the Kennedy/Nixon election he had his teams working for both campaigns. He sold his company to the nationwide Berkey Video organization to become its vice-president. He retired at 55 as his sight began to fail. He then began another phase of his life as a chronicler of the industry he helped build. He also developed his interests as a magician and mentalist.
Over the years, he drew illustrations for Readers Digest, wrote numerous articles for technical, trade, and popular magazines such as Backstage and TV Guide. His work included theater reviews, sports cartoons and 6 books he authored on television production and animation techniques. His book, "Animation Art in the Commercial Film", published in 1960, became a standard work in the field and was found in the working libraries of art directors, artists, photographers, writers and account executives and has been used as a textbook.
Throughout his career he received many industry awards, including several Clios and the coveted Outstanding Achievement Award from the directors of the International Film Festival of New York in 1961. One of the many commercials he directed won the Grand Prize at the Venice International Advertising Film Festival. He was a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, and the Society of Photographic Scientists and Engineers. He was active in the National Visual Presentation Association, and a member of the Screen Cartoonists Guild.
His creativity was expressed in many areas as: Cartoonist, Commercial Film/ Television Director and Producer, Artist, Songwriter (E. L Ross) "Tally-Ho to Tokyo" published on VJ day, Author, Winner of the CLIO, Violinist, Author of a Chinese-American Dictionary (he taught himself Mandarin), Organist, Magician (Order of Merlin, International Brotherhood of Magicians, 2002), Sports Announcer.
Eli Levitan was a recognized authority and consultant on the subject of animation.
His career began after high school as an apprentice at Max Fleischer Studios. He stayed for 17 years drawing Popeye the Sailor, Betty Boop and other favorites of screen. When he left he was Director of Animated Cartoons. During WWII he worked for Paramount Studios and did extensive work in developing training films for the military. In 1949, when television emerged on the scene, he went to work for Transfilm, then the largest commercial television production company, as Director of Animation and Special Effect.
Ten years later, he started his own editing and special effects studio, Computer Opticals, Inc. and Cine-Metric, two of New York's leading production houses. There he perfected optical techniques for commercials (i.e., showed pats of margarine doing the "twist" and cars driving on water); techniques that are now easily accomplished with computers but required sophisticated optical equipment and techniques in those days. The original optical processes, far from being phased out or relegated to a minor role serve as the foundation for computerized systems. His skills were in demand for diverse clients ranging from hair coloring (Clairol) and car rental firms to political campaigns; during the Kennedy/Nixon election he had his teams working for both campaigns. He sold his company to the nationwide Berkey Video organization to become its vice-president. He retired at 55 as his sight began to fail. He then began another phase of his life as a chronicler of the industry he helped build. He also developed his interests as a magician and mentalist.
Over the years, he drew illustrations for Readers Digest, wrote numerous articles for technical, trade, and popular magazines such as Backstage and TV Guide. His work included theater reviews, sports cartoons and 6 books he authored on television production and animation techniques. His book, "Animation Art in the Commercial Film", published in 1960, became a standard work in the field and was found in the working libraries of art directors, artists, photographers, writers and account executives and has been used as a textbook.
Throughout his career he received many industry awards, including several Clios and the coveted Outstanding Achievement Award from the directors of the International Film Festival of New York in 1961. One of the many commercials he directed won the Grand Prize at the Venice International Advertising Film Festival. He was a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, and the Society of Photographic Scientists and Engineers. He was active in the National Visual Presentation Association, and a member of the Screen Cartoonists Guild.
His creativity was expressed in many areas as: Cartoonist, Commercial Film/ Television Director and Producer, Artist, Songwriter (E. L Ross) "Tally-Ho to Tokyo" published on VJ day, Author, Winner of the CLIO, Violinist, Author of a Chinese-American Dictionary (he taught himself Mandarin), Organist, Magician (Order of Merlin, International Brotherhood of Magicians, 2002), Sports Announcer.