Daan Jippes
Description
Daan Jippes, born Daniel Jan Jippes on October 14, 1945, in Amsterdam, is a Dutch cartoonist and comic book artist whose career has been primarily defined by his extensive and influential work on Disney comics. While his name appears in the credits of the Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories manga as an original creator for the character Genie, this credit reflects the use of a Disney intellectual property rather than his direct involvement as a manga author. His professional identity is rooted in Western comics and animation, not the creation of original anime or manga series.
Jippes began his comics career in the Netherlands in the late 1960s, with his work appearing in the weekly magazine Pep. He gained national recognition for his graphic novel Bernard Voorzichtig: Twee Voor Thee, a 1972 collaboration with writer Martin Lodewijk. In the mid-1970s, he began working for the Dutch Donald Duck magazine, where his mastery of the classic Disney drawing style caught the attention of the Walt Disney Company. He was subsequently hired by Disney in Burbank, California, working first for the comic strip and merchandising department before moving into animation as a designer and storyboard artist. His film credits during this period include The Rescuers Down Under, The Prince and the Pauper, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. He also worked as a storyboard supervisor on non-Disney animated films such as Amblimation's Balto.
A defining characteristic of Jippes's artistic identity is his celebrated ability to emulate the drawing styles of other cartoonists with remarkable precision, earning him a reputation as a true comics chameleon. He is particularly renowned for his ability to replicate the style of Carl Barks, the legendary creator of Scrooge McDuck and many beloved Disney characters. This talent led to him being commissioned by the Danish Disney publisher Egmont to redraw a series of 1970s Junior Woodchucks stories that were originally written by Barks but drawn by other artists, allowing new editions to present a more unified artistic vision. His facility for imitation also extends to other influential artists, including André Franquin, Floyd Gottfredson, and Morris.
Beyond his work for Disney, Jippes has pursued independent projects. In 2006, he began a new album series based on the detective stories by the author Havank, drawn in a Marcinelle style similar to that of Franquin. His industry significance is substantial within the field of Disney comics, where he is regarded as one of the most accomplished and respected artists. He served as an art director for Dutch Disney comics in the 1970s, training a generation of local artists and helping to establish the Netherlands as a major international producer of Disney comics. His work continues to be reprinted in archival collections, such as the Disney Masters series from Fantagraphics Books, which dedicated a volume to his work alongside that of Freddy Milton.
Jippes began his comics career in the Netherlands in the late 1960s, with his work appearing in the weekly magazine Pep. He gained national recognition for his graphic novel Bernard Voorzichtig: Twee Voor Thee, a 1972 collaboration with writer Martin Lodewijk. In the mid-1970s, he began working for the Dutch Donald Duck magazine, where his mastery of the classic Disney drawing style caught the attention of the Walt Disney Company. He was subsequently hired by Disney in Burbank, California, working first for the comic strip and merchandising department before moving into animation as a designer and storyboard artist. His film credits during this period include The Rescuers Down Under, The Prince and the Pauper, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. He also worked as a storyboard supervisor on non-Disney animated films such as Amblimation's Balto.
A defining characteristic of Jippes's artistic identity is his celebrated ability to emulate the drawing styles of other cartoonists with remarkable precision, earning him a reputation as a true comics chameleon. He is particularly renowned for his ability to replicate the style of Carl Barks, the legendary creator of Scrooge McDuck and many beloved Disney characters. This talent led to him being commissioned by the Danish Disney publisher Egmont to redraw a series of 1970s Junior Woodchucks stories that were originally written by Barks but drawn by other artists, allowing new editions to present a more unified artistic vision. His facility for imitation also extends to other influential artists, including André Franquin, Floyd Gottfredson, and Morris.
Beyond his work for Disney, Jippes has pursued independent projects. In 2006, he began a new album series based on the detective stories by the author Havank, drawn in a Marcinelle style similar to that of Franquin. His industry significance is substantial within the field of Disney comics, where he is regarded as one of the most accomplished and respected artists. He served as an art director for Dutch Disney comics in the 1970s, training a generation of local artists and helping to establish the Netherlands as a major international producer of Disney comics. His work continues to be reprinted in archival collections, such as the Disney Masters series from Fantagraphics Books, which dedicated a volume to his work alongside that of Freddy Milton.
Works
- Topics: Manga overview