Honorary Award, 1943

Awards presented March 2, 1944

To George Pal, for the development of novel methods and techniques in the production of short subjects known as Puppetoons.

Born in Hungary, Pal was a pioneer in stop-motion animation. He studied architecture in Budapest, but found his métier in the movies, first in Hungary and then at the UFA studios in Berlin. The rise of the Nazis kept Pal moving westward, first to Paris and then to Hollywood, where animator Walter Lantz helped him find employment at Paramount. His skills in animation led him ultimately to special effects for live action science-fiction feature films, and he produced such classics as Destination Moon, When Worlds Collide, and the 1953 War of the Worlds. He also directed, as well as produced, tom thumb, The Time Machine, and the fairytale sections of The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm.