Gene Deitch
From Tolkien Gateway
Gene Deitch was the director and creator of the first animated film of The Hobbit in 1966. The film was produced by Bill Snyder and was made in under a month. The running time for the film was a miniscule 12 minutes and was produced simply so Snyder could extend his license for The Lord of the Rings, and sell it back to Tolkien Enterprises for $100,000.
