Milt Neil (May 30, 1914 – October 18, 1997), sometimes known as "the Duck Man", was an American animator, toy designer and comics artist.[1]
He was born in New Jersey in 1914. He worked for Disney Studios from 1935 to 1944.[1] He worked on Fantasia, Dumbo, Saludos Amigos, and The Three Caballeros. After leaving Disney he briefly worked for Walter Lantz Productions.[1] He was also active in advertising and redesigned the two mascots of Pea Soup Andersen's. They received their permanent names Hap-Pea and Pea-Wee through a contest.[2]
Neil became involved with the children's show Howdy Doody, for whom he designed puppets and various other merchandising objects. Together with Chad Grothkopf [3] he adapted the TV show into a newspaper comic between 1950 and 1953, though he only worked on it for the first three months, after which Grothkopf took over.[4][1]
Neil ran the character animation program at the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Design.[1] He died in 1997.