Century 21 FX man Dave Mitton

Air Terrainean · 30-05-2008, 07:29 PM

**********

http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=...sitem_no=23415

Dr Kane · 30-05-2008, 07:36 PM

I couldn't get through to the site due to a plethora of javascript ads, but I'll (sadly) assume Mr Mitton has passed away.

Thanks, Mr Mitton; I just hope you knew how much pleasure your work brought to many, many people before you left us. My sincere condolences to family and friends.

Air Terrainean · 30-05-2008, 07:44 PM

**********

Children's TV Creator Dies Unexpectedly

May 28, 2008

Pineapple Squared Ent's Creative Director David Mitton died from a sudden heart attack last week. At the time of his death Mitton was overseeing a number of Pineapple Squared's projects including the animated epic for boys, ADVENTURES ON ORSUM ISLAND.

Television industry stalwart Mitton worked for the THUNDERBIRDS creator Gerry Anderson in the 1960s as a special effects floor technician on THUNDERBIRDS. It was there that he met Pineapple Squared's Supervising Director David Lane.

In the 1980s Mitton started a film company with Ken Turner called Clearwater Films. Clearwater then set up a feature arm, which teamed up with Britt Allcroft to make THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE. Mitton went on to direct write more than 180 episodes of THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE.

Later, Mitton's imagination led to the creation of ORSUM ISLAND, a series for 7-11 year old children. With the benefit of all the experience he gained on THOMAS, TUGS and THUNDERBIRDS, Mitton was convinced that he had come up with a show that would deliver the sort of pace and variety he recognized today's young audiences are demanding. What's more, he viewed his work on ORSUM ISLAND and other upcoming Pineapple Squared productions as a vehicle by which to hand down his knowledge and experience to a new generation. Happy to be seen as something of an elder statesman, Mitton was keen to nurture the younger team members at Pineapple Squared.

Having been one of the main drivers behind several hugely successful shows, Mitton believed his work at Pineapple Squared would set a new tone for worldwide production focusing on story, plot and quality animation through a proprietary pipeline. The production facility was built as a robust feature of Pineapple Squared and is ideally placed to continue his work and provide the market with a fitting legacy for one of its great contributors.

The producers at Pineapple Squared, Michele Fabian-Jones and David Lane, have paid tribute to their partner, saying in a statement, "David Mitton was one of the greats of children's TV, his loss is a considerable one personally and professionally. The blow is cushioned only by the knowledge that he goes on through the continued success of Pineapple Squared Ent. and in particular of ORSUM ISLAND, about which he was so passionate."

Mike Delamar · 30-05-2008, 08:11 PM

thats really upset me

I only found out recentley that he worked on Thunderbirds

but growing up, I was a huge fan of Thomas, to the point when I was a bit older I looked into how it was made and filmed etc,

you can definatley see he learned his trade on Thunderbirds when he did Thomas,
Ive only ever seen the Ringo Starr narrated episodes, they where the best ones and still look back at them now and then,

its what got me interested and hooked on model making and model railways and also film miniatures such as Thunderbirds

a great amount of the success of the show owes a lot to David as Gerry Andersons programmes did to Derek Meddings

rest in peace

Mike

Dr Kane · 30-05-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air Terrainean

Sorry you had trouble with the link Dr.Kane

Probably just down to me being on dial-up. Thanks for reproducing the text here.

**Bishop** · 31-05-2008, 03:04 AM

I have a similar story re Thomas the tank engine, having four kids you understand. A lot of the model making in the series is outstanding, little surprise then the link to C21. May he rest in peace, he's been responsible for quite a bit of joy for kids and adults alike

Mike Delamar · 31-05-2008, 09:14 AM

is there any pics of him working on Thunderbirds?

Mike

**Knight1966** · 07-06-2008, 12:01 AM

Sincere Condolences to his family, yet another sad reminder of our own mortality.

tibbington · 11-08-2012, 11:41 PM

Its sad that he has left us but i never knew he worked on thunderbirds oh well you learn something everyday

30-05-2008, 07:29 PM	#1
Air Terrainean Life Support Officer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: End of runway two-nine Posts: 1,970	Century 21 FX man Dave Mitton ********** http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=...sitem_no=23415 Last edited by Air Terrainean; 09-12-2010 at 10:32 PM.

30-05-2008, 07:44 PM	#3
Air Terrainean Life Support Officer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: End of runway two-nine Posts: 1,970	********** Children's TV Creator Dies Unexpectedly May 28, 2008 Pineapple Squared Ent's Creative Director David Mitton died from a sudden heart attack last week. At the time of his death Mitton was overseeing a number of Pineapple Squared's projects including the animated epic for boys, ADVENTURES ON ORSUM ISLAND. Television industry stalwart Mitton worked for the THUNDERBIRDS creator Gerry Anderson in the 1960s as a special effects floor technician on THUNDERBIRDS. It was there that he met Pineapple Squared's Supervising Director David Lane. In the 1980s Mitton started a film company with Ken Turner called Clearwater Films. Clearwater then set up a feature arm, which teamed up with Britt Allcroft to make THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE. Mitton went on to direct write more than 180 episodes of THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE. Later, Mitton's imagination led to the creation of ORSUM ISLAND, a series for 7-11 year old children. With the benefit of all the experience he gained on THOMAS, TUGS and THUNDERBIRDS, Mitton was convinced that he had come up with a show that would deliver the sort of pace and variety he recognized today's young audiences are demanding. What's more, he viewed his work on ORSUM ISLAND and other upcoming Pineapple Squared productions as a vehicle by which to hand down his knowledge and experience to a new generation. Happy to be seen as something of an elder statesman, Mitton was keen to nurture the younger team members at Pineapple Squared. Having been one of the main drivers behind several hugely successful shows, Mitton believed his work at Pineapple Squared would set a new tone for worldwide production focusing on story, plot and quality animation through a proprietary pipeline. The production facility was built as a robust feature of Pineapple Squared and is ideally placed to continue his work and provide the market with a fitting legacy for one of its great contributors. The producers at Pineapple Squared, Michele Fabian-Jones and David Lane, have paid tribute to their partner, saying in a statement, "David Mitton was one of the greats of children's TV, his loss is a considerable one personally and professionally. The blow is cushioned only by the knowledge that he goes on through the continued success of Pineapple Squared Ent. and in particular of ORSUM ISLAND, about which he was so passionate." Last edited by Air Terrainean; 09-12-2010 at 10:33 PM.

31-05-2008, 03:04 AM	#6
Bishop Chief Science Officer Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Australia Posts: 11,796	I have a similar story re Thomas the tank engine, having four kids you understand. A lot of the model making in the series is outstanding, little surprise then the link to C21. May he rest in peace, he's been responsible for quite a bit of joy for kids and adults alike __________________ "I saw Avatar last weekend, it was so awesome, I wish the whole world was in 3D"

07-06-2008, 12:01 AM	#8
Knight1966 Communications Officer Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SE Kent Posts: 1,119	Sincere Condolences to his family, yet another sad reminder of our own mortality. __________________ I disagree with what you say, but I'd fight to the death to defend your right to say it

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30-05-2008, 07:36 PM	#2
Dr Kane Communications Officer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,458	I couldn't get through to the site due to a plethora of javascript ads, but I'll (sadly) assume Mr Mitton has passed away. Thanks, Mr Mitton; I just hope you knew how much pleasure your work brought to many, many people before you left us. My sincere condolences to family and friends.

30-05-2008, 08:11 PM	#4
Mike Delamar Medical Officer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Liverpool Posts: 3,264	thats really upset me I only found out recentley that he worked on Thunderbirds but growing up, I was a huge fan of Thomas, to the point when I was a bit older I looked into how it was made and filmed etc, you can definatley see he learned his trade on Thunderbirds when he did Thomas, Ive only ever seen the Ringo Starr narrated episodes, they where the best ones and still look back at them now and then, its what got me interested and hooked on model making and model railways and also film miniatures such as Thunderbirds a great amount of the success of the show owes a lot to David as Gerry Andersons programmes did to Derek Meddings rest in peace Mike

31-05-2008, 09:14 AM	#7
Mike Delamar Medical Officer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Liverpool Posts: 3,264	is there any pics of him working on Thunderbirds? Mike

11-08-2012, 11:41 PM	#9
tibbington Medical Technician Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wellington New Zealand Posts: 152	Its sad that he has left us but i never knew he worked on thunderbirds oh well you learn something everyday