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The History of Gumby
By Joan Russell
Art Clokey, teacher and father, often told his children and others original stories he made up. This gift eventually led to making animations of the characters - Gumby. Gumby was based on Clokey's wife's suggestion he create a character like the Gingerbread Man. His favorite color was green, and that is why Gumby is green. Art loved nature and green reflected his kinship with the natural world.
Clokey studied film at the University of Southern California and made a 3 minute animation film called Gumbasia. It was clay animation shot to jazz music. In 1955 it was shown to film producer Sam Engel who funded a 15 minute movie that was eventually called Gumby Goes to the Moon.
Clokey was asked to create a character for children's TV which was Gumby by Engle. He played around with clay and shapes for many weeks to create the perfect form. Animation is a medium that changes every time you use it so he set out to create a shape and size that worked when filming under hot lights. His main goal was to improve children's TV programming. Today, Gumby is still that dark green clay figure that looks somewhat human. He is animated using the technique of stop motion clay animation.
The dirt roads in Michigan are often covered with dirt and clay when it rains. The two combine to form a kind of gumbo which is what Gumby's name is based on. Clokey lived in that area and studied at a seminary for several years to be an Episcopal minister. His character Gumby has good sound moral values that children need to know to learn. Many of the ideas incorporated into his films are based on his religious beliefs.
Eventually Tom Sarnoff of NBC viewed the film Gumbasia and signed him on to produce The Adventures of Gumby. It was introduced on the Howdy Dowdy show to kids. Art was given a seven year contract to make Gumby features. He was given complete artistic freedom which is often unheard of in many studios. This was the beginning of the continuing success of the character.
The voice of Gumby in the film was first done by the wife of the art director and artist Al Egelson. Later Dallas McKennon was used after the pilot for NBC took off and that is who has done the voice ever since. In many Gumby films he is in a toy in a store playing with other toys and there are often books. A technique they use in the animations is that Gumby is able to go in and out of books to explore different environments and have adventures. It was a way to get characters from one place to another.
In the early 1980's the TV show became almost a cult classic. Art and his wife Gloria toured college campuses promoting their characters. From 1987 to 1988 Art produced 99 new Gumby episodes. Art opened a new studio called Prema Vision Studio. During the 1990's he made a movie and and a video that was quite popular.
Due to the broad reach of the Internet many countries are interested in the films and toys around Gumby. People in Canada, Australia, Germany, England and Japan enjoy Gumby movies and tv adventures. Sony is merchandising Gumby in Japan with over 300 quality items and the DVD is being released.
Art Clokey is a big force in the shaping of the Claymation industry with the characters of Gumby and Pokey. His work with clay really began with his work in the advertising industry. He made commercials using this technique. Claymations uses clay, a digital camera, and video software to make animations. It is now taught in schools to children who make short movies with the figures they create. It encourages children to learn about writing, design, computers, software and other subjects.
Gumby is an interesting character. Visit the following website to learn more about Gumby and how the movies and animation are made at Gumby World
http://www.gumbyworld.com/index2.html Prema Vision Studio Site http://www.premavision.com/studio/1950.htm
and the Netvibes Site at www.netvibes.com/gumby#Gumby's_Party