Don Oriolo
Description
Don Oriolo is an American artist, musician, writer, and producer best known for his role as the CEO of Felix the Cat Productions and for his extensive career in the music publishing industry. Born in New Jersey, he is the son of animator Joe Oriolo, who co-created the modern version of Felix the Cat and produced the character's cartoon series in the 1950s and 1960s. Following his father's death in 1985, Don Oriolo took over the stewardship of the Felix the Cat franchise.
Before his involvement with Felix, Oriolo built a successful career in the music industry. He worked as a songwriter, studio musician, and music arranger before becoming a music publishing executive. His work in this field included roles at companies such as RSO Records and CBS/Sony Records, where he published works for artists like the Bee Gees, Eric Clapton, and Donna Summer. He is also credited with writing Jon Bon Jovi's first charted single and signing artists such as Meat Loaf and Lisa Lisa.
While Oriolo's primary role in animation has been as a producer and executive, he has also contributed as a voice actor. A notable instance of this is in the 2000 Japanese anime television series Baby Felix, a spin-off featuring a younger version of the classic cat character. Don Oriolo served as a producer on the series, which was launched in collaboration with Japanese companies. In the English language version of Baby Felix, Oriolo provided the voices for several key characters. He voiced the adult Felix, the Professor, the villainous Master Cylinder, and the Professor's nephew, Poindexter. This work represents a direct engagement with anime voice acting for the franchise he oversaw.
Beyond his voice work in Baby Felix, Oriolo's achievements include producing the feature film Felix the Cat: The Movie and the straight-to-video film Felix the Cat Saves Christmas, for which he also served as writer and director. He has also been involved in comic book publishing as an editor and artist for Felix Comics and designed a line of Felix the Cat-themed guitars for the Martin Guitar Company before starting his own guitar manufacturing company, Oriolo Guitars. Despite his extensive career in music and animation, publicly available information focuses on these professional roles, with the voice acting credits in Baby Felix being a specific, documented part of his broader body of work.
Before his involvement with Felix, Oriolo built a successful career in the music industry. He worked as a songwriter, studio musician, and music arranger before becoming a music publishing executive. His work in this field included roles at companies such as RSO Records and CBS/Sony Records, where he published works for artists like the Bee Gees, Eric Clapton, and Donna Summer. He is also credited with writing Jon Bon Jovi's first charted single and signing artists such as Meat Loaf and Lisa Lisa.
While Oriolo's primary role in animation has been as a producer and executive, he has also contributed as a voice actor. A notable instance of this is in the 2000 Japanese anime television series Baby Felix, a spin-off featuring a younger version of the classic cat character. Don Oriolo served as a producer on the series, which was launched in collaboration with Japanese companies. In the English language version of Baby Felix, Oriolo provided the voices for several key characters. He voiced the adult Felix, the Professor, the villainous Master Cylinder, and the Professor's nephew, Poindexter. This work represents a direct engagement with anime voice acting for the franchise he oversaw.
Beyond his voice work in Baby Felix, Oriolo's achievements include producing the feature film Felix the Cat: The Movie and the straight-to-video film Felix the Cat Saves Christmas, for which he also served as writer and director. He has also been involved in comic book publishing as an editor and artist for Felix Comics and designed a line of Felix the Cat-themed guitars for the Martin Guitar Company before starting his own guitar manufacturing company, Oriolo Guitars. Despite his extensive career in music and animation, publicly available information focuses on these professional roles, with the voice acting credits in Baby Felix being a specific, documented part of his broader body of work.
All Characters
- EnglishAnime overview: Baby Felix
- EnglishAnime overview: Baby Felix
- EnglishAnime overview: Baby Felix
- EnglishAnime overview: Baby Felix