Bill Plympton Quotes

Powerful Bill Plympton for Daily Growth

About Bill Plympton

Bill Plympton, a renowned American animator, cartoonist, and filmmaker, was born on February 14, 1946, in Portland, Maine. Known for his distinctive, hand-drawn animation style and dark humor, he developed a passion for drawing at an early age and would go on to create a unique body of work that has captivated audiences worldwide. Plympton studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where he honed his artistic skills. Influenced by the works of cartoonists such as Charles M. Schulz and Jules Feiffer, Plympton began creating animations during the late 1960s and early 1970s. His first major break came when he was hired to animate on Ralph Bakshi's "Fritz the Cat," a groundbreaking animated film that blurred the lines between animation and adult-oriented content. Plympton's most recognized works include "Your Face" (1987), which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, and "Guard Dog" (1991), both characterized by their stop-motion animation technique and dark humor. In 2005, he released "Idiots and Angels," a full-length animated film that combined his unique art style with complex themes of love and redemption. Throughout his career, Plympton has been a pioneer in independent animation, using innovative techniques like rotoscoping to create captivating visuals. He has received numerous awards for his work, including two Emmy Awards and multiple Annie Awards. His influence can be seen in contemporary animators who continue to push the boundaries of the art form. Bill Plympton's legacy lies in his unwavering dedication to his unique style and his willingness to tackle taboo topics through animation.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Animation can express whatever the mind of man can conceive."

This quote by Bill Plympton signifies the boundless potential of animation as an art form, suggesting that it has no limits in terms of what concepts or ideas it can convey. Essentially, if a human mind can imagine something, it can be realized through animation, making it a powerful tool for storytelling and artistic expression.


"If you're not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary."

This quote emphasizes that taking risks on unconventional ideas or paths is essential for avoiding mediocrity and achieving something extraordinary in life. It encourages individuals to step out of their comfort zones, embrace uncertainty, and challenge the status quo, rather than settling for safe, ordinary outcomes. The implication is that the potential rewards of taking risks greatly outweigh the potential losses, as they can lead to significant personal growth, innovation, and extraordinary achievements.


"I love drawing and I hate talking about it."

This quote suggests that while Bill Plympton deeply enjoys his creative work (drawing), he finds it difficult or unpleasant to discuss or explain that process. It could mean that he prefers the freedom of his artistic expression over dissecting or analyzing it, or perhaps he finds it challenging to articulate his thoughts and ideas verbally compared to visually. Either way, it underlines a common struggle among artists: the desire to express themselves without being confined by words.


"The harder you work, the luckier you get."

Bill Plympton's quote, "The harder you work, the luckier you get," highlights the idea that consistent effort and dedication in one's pursuits can increase the chances of encountering favorable outcomes or opportunities – essentially transforming hard work into good fortune or 'luck.' This thought encourages perseverance, as it suggests that the more diligent one is in their tasks, the more potential they have to be at the right place at the right time, seizing those elusive but valuable chances. In essence, this quote underscores the significance of persistence and discipline in personal development and success.


"My animation is a reflection of myself."

Bill Plympton's quote "My animation is a reflection of myself" suggests that the artist's personal experiences, emotions, thoughts, and creativity are expressed through his animations. The art he creates serves as an outlet for his inner self, showcasing his unique perspective and individuality. This statement emphasizes the strong connection between an artist and their work, implying that one cannot fully understand Plympton's animation without understanding him as a person.


If I'm really feeling good and not having a lot of interruptions, I can do a minute of animation a day, so theoretically, I could do a film in three months without any interruptions.

- Bill Plympton

Could, Having, Months, Theoretically

Being a talented artist is good, it's nice, but it's not the most important thing. I think being a good storyteller, having a good idea, a good gag, is probably more important than being a great artist.

- Bill Plympton

Artist, Idea, I Think, Gag

I'm much better known in France and Germany and Spain than I am in the U.S. When I go to Russia, I get mobbed; I have groups of fans waiting for me out in the hotel lobby, waiting for me to come down off the elevator. In China, I almost got beat up because people were trying to get me to do a drawing for them.

- Bill Plympton

Waiting, Spain, Almost, Elevator

America is behind Europe and Japan in terms of accepting adult ideas in animation.

- Bill Plympton

Behind, Japan, Terms, Accepting

I love Pixar films; I think they're the greatest filmmakers in the world. I love Disney films. 'Tangled,' was great. I loved 'How to Train Your Dragon,' the Dreamworks film. But it's not for me. I don't want to make a film for families; I want to make adult films.

- Bill Plympton

Love, I Think, Pixar, Train

For me, the perfect film has no dialogue at all. It's purely a visual, emotional, visceral kind of experience. And I think one can create wonderful depth and meaning and communication without using words. I started out as an illustrator and a cartoonist and caricature artist, so for me the visual is primary.

- Bill Plympton

I Think, Purely, Visceral, Primary

I'm not as successful as Pixar or Dreamworks, and that is disappointing to me, because I think my films are as valid as a Pixar film. I think there's an audience for my films. I know there's a market for someone like Quentin Tarantino, who basically does adult cartoons in live action.

- Bill Plympton

I Think, Pixar, Valid, Live Action

I think it reflects well on the state of animation that people are knowledgeable about it and love the fantasy and imagination that goes into it.

- Bill Plympton

Love, Think, I Think, Animation

Hand-drawn animation is something that I feel really strongly about. A Pixar movie may be really great, but it looks like it was drawn by a machine.

- Bill Plympton

Movie, Like, May, Animation

I look at some of my early stuff - back when I was 12 or 13 years old - and I was already doing cross-hatching back then. I don't know where I picked that up. I think I was in a hurry, and I wanted to shade something really fast, and I tried cross-hatching a shadow.

- Bill Plympton

Doing, Some, I Think, Shade

I don't see why it's such a stretch for distributors, buyers, and studios to put cartoon characters into adult situations on film.

- Bill Plympton

Studios, Distributors, Situations

My films usually start with an idea that I get while walking the streets. For example, I got the idea for 'Guard Dog' when I was walking in the park and I saw a dog barking at a bird.

- Bill Plympton

Streets, Idea, Films, Park

People used to want to be filmmakers and animators; now they want to make apps.

- Bill Plympton

Want, Now, Animators, Filmmakers

I'd love to win an Oscar; that would be great. I hope to get a feature film that I've made get a wide release. I'm not sure that's ever going to happen.

- Bill Plympton

Love, Happen, Oscar, Feature

I think each film I do has less and less dialogue. It really helps a lot for foreign sales, because when I go to Europe, there's very little problem with communication. All the gags are visual. The music they can understand, and it helps communicate a lot better.

- Bill Plympton

Communicate, I Think, Very, Dialogue

I think it's part of the responsibility of an artist to shock, to upset, to make people think differently, and to surprise people. And that's where the good humor is, if there's a surprise and there's something unexpected. Something that's not normal, not in the realm of general living expectations.

- Bill Plympton

Artist, Upset, I Think, Expectations

I listen to Emmylou Harris. She's my favorite. I don't know why, but I just feel more creative with her playing.

- Bill Plympton

Why, More, Feel, Harris

I like to get up at six in the morning, and I draw until sometimes ten at night.

- Bill Plympton

Like, Get, Six, Draw

I'm very happy with the success of short films. In fact, for me, the short films make more money than the features.

- Bill Plympton

Fact, Very, Films, Features

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