Tom Ruegger () is an American animator and songwriter. Ruegger is known for his association with Disney Television Animation and Warner Bros. Animation. He also created Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, and Histeria!.
Early life and career Ruegger was raised in Metuchen, New Jersey. During his childhood, he made drawings of The Flintstones when it aired. He graduated from Metuchen High School in 1972.
In 1976, he made his first cartoon, called The Premiere of Platypus Duck, while he was a student at Dartmouth College. Shortly after graduation from Dartmouth that year, he moved to Los Angeles to become an animator. Ruegger began his career at Filmation, writing for Gilligan's Planet. He soon after joined Hanna-Barbera, writing and producing various animated series, most notably The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries, Snorks, The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo, Pound Puppies, and A Pup Named Scooby-Doo. He also wrote one episode of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
In 1989, he began working alongside Jean MacCurdy and Steven Spielberg at Warner Bros. Animation to create and produce several animated series, including Tiny Toon Adventures, Taz-Mania, Batman: The Animated Series, The Plucky Duck Show, Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, Freakazoid, Road Rovers, and Histeria.
In 2004, Ruegger started Tom Ruegger Production, a full-service animation studio. In 2006, Ruegger began developing, story-editing and serving as executive producer on the 40-episode animated series Animalia, based on the picture book by Graeme Base. Along with Nicholas Hollander, he developed and story-edited another animated series entitled Sushi Pack.
In 2011, Ruegger began working for Disney Television Animation, where he executive produced 40 half-hours of The 7D for Disney XD, a comedy based on the seven Dwarfs from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Ruegger has received fourteen Emmy Awards for his work in animation.
Personal life Ruegger married voice actress Adrienne Alexander in 1983; they have three sons together, Nathan, Luke and Cody. The couple divorced in 2004. In 2006, he married marathon runner Annie Malley, and they reside near Los Angeles, California. Nathan and Luke have become voice actors. Nathan voiced the baby version of Plucky Duck on Tiny Toon Adventures, Skippy Squirrel on Animaniacs and Froggo on Histeria, where Luke provided the voice for the Flame and Bumpo Basset on Animaniacs and Big Fat Baby on Histeria. Cody performed the voice of Little Blue Bird on Animaniacs and Loud Kiddington on Histeria. Ruegger's sons also are the primary inspiration behind the main characters in Animaniacs, Yakko, Wakko and Dot.
As of 2017, Cody is serving as an attorney in New York City, while Nathan and Luke have careers in film and television in Los Angeles.
Ruegger himself also made occasional cameos on his shows in caricature form, most notably as the recurring character of director Cooper DeVille in Tiny Toon Adventures.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role1976The Premiere of Platypus DuckDirector1985Pound PuppiesWriter1988The Good, the Bad, and Huckleberry HoundWriter, Lyricist1992Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My VacationWriter, Producer, Lyricist1993Batman: Mask of the PhantasmExecutive Producer1999Wakko's WishWriter, Producer, Director, Lyricist2011The Voyages of Young Doctor DolittleWriter
Television Year Title Role1978Jana of the JungleAnimator1978–1979Godzilla1979The New Fred and Barney ShowScooby-Doo and Scrappy-DooCasper and the AngelsSuper FriendsTarzan, Lord of the JungleWriter1980The Tarzan/Lone Ranger/Zorro Adventure Hour1980–1981Sport Billy1981Hero HighThe Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam!Blackstar1982Flash GordonGilligan's PlanetShirt TalesThe Gary Coleman Show1983The DukesHe-Man and the Masters of the Universe1983–1984The New Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Show/The New Scooby-Doo MysteriesDeveloper, Writer, Story Editor, Co-Producer1984Challenge of the GoBotsStory, Story EditorSnorksStory1985The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-DooCreator, Developer, Story, Story Editor, Executive & Associate Producer1985–1988Yogi's Treasure HuntWriter, Story Editor1986–1987Pound Puppies1988A Pup Named Scooby-DooCreator, Developer, Writer, Producer, Storyboard Artist, Title Card Designer, Lyricist, Story1990–1992; 1994; 1995Tiny Toon AdventuresCreator, Writer, Story, Producer, Senior Producer, Story Editor, Lyricist1991–1995Taz-ManiaExecutive Producer1992The Plucky Duck ShowCreator, Story, Writer, Producer1992–1995Batman: The Animated SeriesWriter, Executive Producer, Story, Story Editor1993–1998AnimaniacsCreator, Writer, Story, Producer, Senior Producer, Story Editor, Lyricist, Voice Actor1995–1997Freakazoid!Writer, Developer, Senior Producer1995–1998Pinky and the BrainCreator, Writer, Story, Producer, Senior Producer, Story Editor, Lyricist1996–1997Road RoversCreator, Writer, Executive Producer, Composer1998–2000Histeria!Creator, Writer, Executive Producer, Character Designer, Lyricist1998–1999Pinky, Elmyra & the BrainCreator, Writer, Senior Producer2000Batman BeyondStory2004Duck DodgersWriter, Story (Episode: Of Course You Know, This Means War and Peace)2005Loonatics UnleashedCreative Consultant2007Sushi PackWriter, Developer, Executive Producer2007–2008AnimaliaDeveloper, Story Editor, Executive Producer, Writer2010; 2018; 2023Nostalgia CriticSpecial Guest Star2013–2015Pac-Man and the Ghostly AdventuresWriter, Creator, Developer2014–2016The 7DExecutive Producer, Writer, Composer, Story
References
External links
Official blog