Late Animator Ron Campbell's Cartoon Pop Art Show Coming To New Hope

NEW HOPE, Pa. — An art show this weekend in New Hope will bring back the joy, the laughter and the fun of watching Saturday morning cartoons.

Works by the late cartoon animator Ron Campbell, best known for his work on the 1960s “The Beatles” television series, as well as the animated feature film “Yellow Submarine,” will be on display during a three day only special pop-art exhibit from Friday, July 15 through Sunday, July 17 at the Arete Gallery, 122 S. Main Street, New Hope.

If you were born between the 1950s and 2000s, chances are you watched a cartoon animated, in part, by Campbell.

Does Scooby Doo, Yellow Submarine, the Jetsons, George of the Jungle, Rugrats and the Smurfs ring any bells?

Campbell, whose career spanned the entire golden age of Saturday morning cartoons, literally animated the childhood of three generations of children, said his longtime business partner Scott Segelbaum, who will be bringing many of Campbell’s cartoon pop art to Bucks County this week.

“This show is going to bring you to a happy time,” said Segelbaum. “It’s bright. It’s colorful. It’s going to put a smile on your face. And you can take home a painting of the Smurfs done by the guy who actually did the Smurfs.”

Campbell, who passed away in January 2021 at the age of 81, left behind dozens of paintings inspired by many of the beloved cartoons that he was involved with over the years including the Saturday Morning Beatles cartoon series; the animated movie “Yellow Submarine”; Scooby Doo; the Smurfs; among many others.

“If you watched cartoons from 1958 through 2008 he impacted you,” said Segelbaum. “That’s three generations of people who grew up watching his cartoons. And he was part of each one of those. It makes it really, really cool.”

Campbell began his career as an animator in his native Australia in 1958 working on shows like Popeye, Beetle Bailey and Krazy Kat for King Features.

In 1964, while still in Australia, Campbell was awakened by a phone call from King Features’ producer Al Brodax, said Segelbaum. Brodax informed Campbell that they had just sold a new show and he would like him to direct it.

When Campbell asked the name of the show, Brodax responded, “The Beatles.” Campbell remarked, “That’s great, but insects make terrible characters for kids cartoons.”

According to Segelbaum, Campbell soon learned a lot about the Fab Four, directing over half of the episodes of the Saturday morning Beatles cartoon series which debuted on ABC-TV on Sept. 25, 1965. It continually fueled new music to the young kids of America as they followed the bouncing drumstick to each Beatles tune.

The Saturday Morning Beatles Cartoon series received monstrous ratings in its time slot - a 67 share, said Segelbaum. Campbell also wrote the forward to the definitive book on the Beatles cartoon series, “Beatletoons.”

After moving to Hollywood, Campbell set up shop in his own studio across from Hanna-Barbera and started doing work for all the studios, said Segelbaum.

Campbell was once again approached by Brodax to help in the animating of the Beatles feature length animated film, “Yellow Submarine.” Campbell went on to animate many scenes from the film including the Sea of Time sequence, and much of the action between the Chief Blue Meanie and his sidekick, Max, as well as the Nowhere Man character.

Through his studio, Ron Campbell Films, Inc., Campbell was involved with some of the most beloved cartoons spanning three generations, including Scooby Doo, Winnie The Pooh, George of the Jungle, The Jetsons, The Flintstones, the Smurfs, Goof Troop, Captain Caveman, Rugrats, Ed, Edd n’Eddy, Yogi Bear and dozens more.

His show, “The Big Blue Marble,” won many awards including a Peabody for Excellence in Broadcasting and an Emmy for Best Children’s Show of the Year, said Segelbaum.

After a 50-year career, Campbell retired and began painting subjects based on the animated cartoons he helped bring to the screen. With emphasis on The Beatles, his cartoon pop art has been featured in galleries worldwide.

“It’s really a cool show and it’s really something to see,” said Segelbaum. “It brings back such memories for people. People will literally come in and start crying because their whole childhood comes rushing back.”

According to Segelbaum, Arete Gallery will be showing and selling 53 paintings of the Beatles, both in their Saturday Morning Cartoon and Yellow Submarine roles, as well as various other works from Ron Campbell’s 50-year career in animation, including Scooby Doo, Smurfs, Rugrats and more.

The show is free and open to the public. The artwork ranges in price from $295 to $1500 with most in the $295 to $695 range.

Gallery hours are Friday, July 15 from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday, July 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, July 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.