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Will Vinton(1947-2018)

  • Producer
  • Director
  • Animation Department
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Will Vinton
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:15
Claydream (2021)
2 Videos
11 Photos
Will Vinton was born on 17 November 1947 in McMinnville, Oregon, USA. He was a producer and director, known for Closed Mondays (1974), Moonwalker (1988) and Return to Oz (1985). He was married to Susan Shadburne, Gillian Allred and Bevan Vinton. He died on 4 October 2018 in Portland, Oregon, USA.
BornNovember 17, 1947
DiedOctober 4, 2018(70)
BornNovember 17, 1947
DiedOctober 4, 2018(70)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Won 1 Oscar
    • 6 wins & 8 nominations total

Photos11

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Known for

Closed Mondays (1974)
Closed Mondays
6.6
Short
  • Producer
  • 1974
Michael Jackson, Sean Lennon, Brandon Quintin Adams, and Kelley Parker in Moonwalker (1988)
Moonwalker
6.1
  • Producer(segment "Speed Demon")
  • 1988
Fairuza Balk, Brian Henson, John Alexander, Sean Barrett, Denise Bryer, Justin Case, Lyle Conway, Stewart Harvey-Wilson, Jean Marsh, Stephen Norrington, Tim Rose, Deep Roy, Michael Sundin, and Mak Wilson in Return to Oz (1985)
Return to Oz
6.7
  • Animation Department
  • 1985
Martin the Cobbler (1977)
Martin the Cobbler
7.9
Short
  • Producer
  • 1977

Credits

IMDbPro

Producer

  • The Martial Artist (2008)
    The Martial Artist
    Short
    • producer
    • 2008
  • Janeane Garofalo, William Shatner, Kiefer Sutherland, Jim Belushi, David Cowgill, Eddie Izzard, and Christian Argueta in The Wild (2006)
    The Wild
    5.2
    • executive producer
    • 2006
  • Ina Strauss in The Morning After (2005)
    The Morning After
    Short
    • producer
    • 2005
  • Día de los muertos (2002)
    Día de los muertos
    6.7
    Short
    • executive producer
    • 2002
  • Gary & Mike (2001)
    Gary & Mike
    7.4
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 2001
  • Slacker Cats (2001)
    Slacker Cats
    6.0
    TV Short
    • executive producer
    • 2001
  • Eddie Murphy, James Black, Michael Paul Chan, Cassi Davis, Loretta Devine, Ja'net DuBois, Cheryl Francis Harrington, Jenifer Lewis, Kevin Michael Richardson, Crystal Scales, and Pepe Serna in The PJs (1999)
    The PJs
    6.8
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 1999–2001
  • Boyer Brothers (2000)
    Boyer Brothers
    TV Movie
    • executive producer
    • 2000
  • I Lost My M in Vegas (1999)
    I Lost My M in Vegas
    5.9
    Short
    • executive producer
    • 1999
  • Mr. Resistor (1994)
    Mr. Resistor
    7.3
    Short
    • executive producer
    • 1994
  • Hammer Time (1994)
    Hammer Time
    7.9
    Video
    • executive producer
    • 1994
  • Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987)
    Claymation Easter
    6.7
    TV Special
    • executive producer
    • producer
    • 1992
  • Claymation Comedy of Horrors (1991)
    Claymation Comedy of Horrors
    6.6
    TV Short
    • executive producer
    • 1991
  • Raisins Sold Out: The California Raisins II (1990)
    Raisins Sold Out: The California Raisins II
    7.4
    TV Short
    • producer (uncredited)
    • 1990
  • The California Raisin Show (1989)
    The California Raisin Show
    6.2
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • 1989

Director

  • Michael Jackson's Vision (2010)
    Michael Jackson's Vision
    9.6
    Video
    • directed by
    • 2010
  • The Martial Artist (2008)
    The Martial Artist
    Short
    • Director
    • 2008
  • Ina Strauss in The Morning After (2005)
    The Morning After
    Short
    • Director
    • 2005
  • Raisins Sold Out: The California Raisins II (1990)
    Raisins Sold Out: The California Raisins II
    7.4
    TV Short
    • Director
    • 1990
  • Michael Jackson, Sean Lennon, Brandon Quintin Adams, and Kelley Parker in Moonwalker (1988)
    Moonwalker
    6.1
    • Director (segment "Speed Demon")
    • 1988
  • Michael Jackson in Moonwalker (1988)
    Michael Jackson: Speed Demon
    7.6
    Music Video
    • directed by
    • 1988
  • The California Raisins: I Heard It Through the Grapevine (1987)
    The California Raisins: I Heard It Through the Grapevine
    8.8
    Music Video
    • Director
    • 1987
  • California Raisins: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
    Music Video
    • Director
    • 1987
  • Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987)
    Claymation Christmas Celebration
    8.0
    TV Special
    • Director
    • 1987
  • Festival of Claymation (1987)
    Festival of Claymation
    7.4
    Video
    • Director
    • 1987
  • Craig Carothers & The Billy Scream Band: Heroes
    Music Video
    • Director
    • 1985
  • John Fogerty: Vanz Kant Danz (1985)
    John Fogerty: Vanz Kant Danz
    6.8
    Music Video
    • Director
    • 1985
  • The Adventures of Mark Twain (1985)
    The Adventures of Mark Twain
    7.2
    • Director
    • 1985
  • Every Child (1979)
    The Great Cognito
    5.9
    Short
    • Director
    • 1982
  • The Creation (1981)
    The Creation
    6.4
    Short
    • Director
    • 1981

Animation Department

  • Michael Jackson, Sean Lennon, Brandon Quintin Adams, and Kelley Parker in Moonwalker (1988)
    Moonwalker
    6.1
    • animation conception: Will Vinton Productions (segment "Speed Demon")
    • 1988
  • Michael Jackson in Moonwalker (1988)
    Michael Jackson: Speed Demon
    7.6
    Music Video
    • animation director
    • 1988
  • Fairuza Balk, Brian Henson, John Alexander, Sean Barrett, Denise Bryer, Justin Case, Lyle Conway, Stewart Harvey-Wilson, Jean Marsh, Stephen Norrington, Tim Rose, Deep Roy, Michael Sundin, and Mak Wilson in Return to Oz (1985)
    Return to Oz
    6.7
    • claymation director
    • 1985
  • The Adventures of Mark Twain (1985)
    The Adventures of Mark Twain
    7.2
    • additional claymation
    • 1985
  • A Christmas Gift (1980)
    A Christmas Gift
    7.1
    Short
    • animator
    • 1980
  • The Little Prince (1979)
    The Little Prince
    7.2
    Short
    • animator
    • 1979
  • Rip Van Winkle (1978)
    Rip Van Winkle
    6.5
    Short
    • animator
    • 1978
  • Claymation: Three Dimensional Clay Animation (1978)
    Claymation: Three Dimensional Clay Animation
    6.7
    Short
    • animator
    • 1978
  • Martin the Cobbler (1977)
    Martin the Cobbler
    7.9
    Short
    • animator
    • 1977
  • Fantastic Animation Festival (1977)
    Fantastic Animation Festival
    7.0
    • animator: "Closed Mondays" and "Mountain Music"
    • 1977
  • Mountain Music (1976)
    Mountain Music
    6.7
    Short
    • animator
    • 1976
  • Closed Mondays (1974)
    Closed Mondays
    6.6
    Short
    • animator
    • 1974
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos2

Claydream
Trailer 2:15
Claydream
Claydream - Official Trailer HD
Trailer 2:15
Claydream - Official Trailer HD
Claydream - Official Trailer HD
Trailer 2:15
Claydream - Official Trailer HD

Personal details

  • Alternative name
    • Wilf Innton
  • Born
    • November 17, 1947
    • McMinnville, Oregon, USA
  • Died
    • October 4, 2018
    • Portland, Oregon, USA(multiple myeloma)
  • Spouses
      Susan Shadburne(divorced, 3 children)
  • Children
      Billy Vinton
  • Relatives
    • Mary Vinton-Folberg(Sibling)
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Articles

Did you know

  • Trivia
    He was a Claymation artist who coined the term. His studio created numerous Claymation characters for ads, most notably the California Raisins, which gained fame in an ad set to the Motown hit "I Heard It Through the Grapevine".
  • Trademark
    Distinctive mustache

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