With the end of the semester nearing, finals approaching and summer vacation beginning, some Gannon University students who live in and around Erie are wondering what to do with their free time to come.
One option is to visit the V Gallery in the Village West Shopping Center, which is holding a special three-day pop-up art event in honor of Ron Campbell, illustrator and animator, based on his 50-year career.
The event will take place Friday, May 13, through Sunday, May 15, at 3330 W. 26th St. in Erie. Friday’s hours will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday’s hours will be from noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.
The event will showcase some of Campbell’s pieces, including his animation paintings. Among the items available for purchase are his works from the Beatles in their Saturday morning animated series “The Beatles” and the film “Yellow Submarine.”
Campbell was born in Seymour, Australia, in 1939 and attended Swinburne Art Institute in Melbourne. An animator, director and producer, Campbell died in 2021 at the age of 81.
Campbell is best known for his animation for the film “Yellow Submarine.” He was also involved in the animation of “Scooby Doo,” “Winnie the Pooh,” “George of the Jungle” and “Yogi Bear,” to name a few others.
While in Australia in 1964, Campbell was contacted by producer Al Brodax, who inquired whether Campbell would be interested in directing a new show they had sold. That show was “The Beatles.”
Campbell had remarked, “That’s great, but insects make terrible characters for kids cartoons.” After learning more about the “Fab Four,” he ended up directing more than half of the episodes of the series, which debuted in September 1965 on ABC-TV.
This show helped move the music to children, which resulted in the Saturday morning Beatles cartoon, “The Beatles,” maintaining No. 1 ratings during its four-year run time.
When Campbell moved to America, he was approached by Brodax again, this time to help out with a new Beatles animated film, “Yellow Submarine.”
His studio, Ron Campbell Inc., was involved with some of the most beloved shows spanning over three generations. Some more of his works included: “Krazy Kat,” “The Jetsons,” “The Flintstones,” “The Smurfs,” “Goof Troop,” “Sesame Street,” “Captain Caveman,” “Rugrats,” “Ed, Edd n’Eddy” and dozens more.”
Campbell’s show, “The Big Blue Marble,” had won many awards, some of which include Peabody for Excellence in Broadcasting and an Emmy for Best Children’s Show of the Year.
Campbell retired after a 50-year career, and his cartoon pop art has been showcased all over the world.
For more information regarding the upcoming event in Erie, please check out the V Gallery’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Vgalleryerie
To learn more about Ron Campbell, visit http://www.beatlescartoonartshow.com/