"The animator who helped design Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd has died. Bob Givens was 99 years old. Daughter Mariana Givens says her father died December 14 in Burbank, California from acute respiratory failure. Bob Givens started working for Walt Disney Studios right out of high school in 1937. During his time with Disney, Givens would work on designs for both Donald Duck and Snow White. Three years later, he joined what would become Warner Bros. His version of Bugs Bunny debuted that same year, in 1940. The original designs made for the animated character were said to be 'too cute' and Givens drawings would become the first official design for Bugs Bunny. Other characters he illustrated over his six-decade career included Tom & Jerry, Daffy Duck, Alvin and the Chipmunks and Popeye. His career did have a temporary hold when he went to go serve during World War II. He would return to do work as a storyboard artist on the TV show Linus! The Lion Hearted and then as a graphic designer on the series Baggy Pants & the Nitwits. Givens also brought his skills to TV advertising, animating cartoon insects for Raid bug-killer commercials. Mariana Givens said Saturday that she always likened her father to Popeye when she was growing up. He was always energetic and resilient, and even smoked a pipe." Bob Givens, Bugs Bunny drawer, dies age 99 | Daily Mail Online
