Wilfred Jackson

Wilfred Emmons Jackson, born on January 24, 1906, was an American animator, musical arranger, and director well-known for his work with Walt Disney Productions. He began his career at Disney in 1928 as a volunteer washing animation cels. Through his dedication and talent, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming an animator and significant contributor to the Mickey Mousing technique, a method that synchronized music and action, notably used in 'Steamboat Willie' (1928).

He directed the Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies cartoon series and was at the helm of Academy Award-winning short films, including 'The Tortoise and the Hare' (1935), 'The Country Cousin' (1936), and 'The Old Mill' (1937). Moreover, he made his feature film directorial debut with 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' (1937). Not one to rest on his laurels, Jackson worked as a sequence director for 'Pinocchio' (1940) and co-directed several Disney animated features up to 'Lady and the Tramp' (1955). After a heart attack in 1953, during the direction of 'Sleeping Beauty' (1959), Disney asked Jackson to produce and direct animated segments for the Disneyland series. However, due to continual health issues, he retired in 1961.