Fred Spencer

• Name — Fred Spencer • Born — 1 May 1904 • Birthplace — Missouri, U.S. • Died — 11 November 1938 • Place of death — California, U.S. • Occupation — Animator • Years Active — 1931–1938

Spencer joined Walt Disney Productions in 1931 and first worked on several early Mickey Mouse cartoons. In 1932 he began independently producing a two-tier Mickey Mouse comic strip, even though he was not connected with the comics department at Disney. The studio approved the project and the strip appeared in the national DeMolay newsletter. The character Donald Duck was introduced at Disney in 1934, and Spencer began to focus more on Donald than on Mickey. In December 1935 Spencer wrote an analysis of Donald which served as the standard for writing for, drawing, and animating the character. Spencer's model sheets included in the report feature a redesigned version of Donald that was shorter and rounder – largely identical to his appearance today. Spencer also included remarks on Donald's personality and mannerisms. Donald's new design was seen on screen starting in 1936, although some animators took longer to adapt to the changes. Spencer animated on seven Disney short films as well as the studio's first feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Spencer's short projects include Mickey's Fire Brigade (1935), On Ice (1935), Moving Day (1936), Donald and Pluto, Don Donald (1937), Pluto's Quin-puplets, and Donald's Golf Game (1938).

Spencer was a member of DeMolay International and received the prestigious Legion of Honor award. He also drew a monthly comic strip starring Mickey Mouse for their magazine. He died in a car accident in 1938.

• The Klondike Kid (1932) • Babes in the Woods (1932) • Mickey's Service Station (1935) • The Cookie Carnival (1935) • Mickey's Fire Brigade (1935) • On Ice (1936) • Orphans' Picnic (1936) • Moving Day (1936) • Donald and Pluto (1937) • Don Donald (1937) • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) • Pluto's Quin-puplets (1938) • The Fox Hunt (1938) • Mickey's Parrot (1938) • Donald's Golf Game (1938) • Donald's Penguin (1939)

The following is established of the heading itself.

The following works and productions are recorded by name or by count. Recorded with the occupation animator. It is also recorded that fred Spencer is recorded with the occupation comics artist. Recorded as a citizen of United States. Institutional cataloguing adds that fred Spencer is recorded with the gender male. Spencer died on 11 November 1938. Born on 1 May 1904.