David Mitton

Mitton was born on 27 February 1939 in Preston, Prestonpans, East Lothian and educated at Strathallan School in Perthshire. ==Career==

Early career On his return from RAF service in the early sixties, Mitton embarked on a career in children's television. Mitton directed 180 out of 182 episodes of the seven series made between 1984 and 2003, as well as writing the scripts once the show began to deviate from adapting Awdry's work in 1991. In 2006, Mitton started another company, Pineapple Squared Entertainment, with director David Lane, whom Mitton had worked with on Thunderbirds earlier in his career. Mitton and Lane had been working on several projects prior to the former's death, including the production of the animated 26-part TV series Adventures on Orsum Island. ==Filmography==

• Thunderbirds (1965-1966) - special effects technician • Thunderbirds Are Go (1966) - special effects technician • Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967-1968) - special effects technician • Thunderbird 6 (1968) - special effects technician • Joe 90 (1968-1969) - special effects technician • Battle of Britain (1969) - special effects • Doppelgänger (1969) - special effects technician • The Secret Service (1969) - special effects technician • The Avengers (1969) - third assistant director • UFO (1970) - special effects technician • Portrait of a People: Impressions of Britain (1970) - assistant director • Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (1984-2003) - director • Director (180 episodes) (seasons 1-7) • Writer (147 episodes) (seasons 1-7) • Producer (130 episodes) (seasons 1-5) • Model Consultant (2 episodes) (season 6) • TUGS (1989) - creator • Director (9 episodes) • Writer (6 episodes) • Voice of "Old Rusty" (1 episode; uncredited) • Shining Time Station (1989-1995) - director (Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends segments) • Bookmark (documentary series) (1995) - Himself • Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000) - model unit creative consultant • Jack and the Sodor Construction Company (2003/2006) - model consultant (uncredited) • Adventures on Orsum Island (2006/2008; unfinished) - creator, director, concept director, producer ==Personal life and death==

Mitton was married twice and had one son. Mitton died on 16 May 2008, having suffered a heart attack. He was 69 years old. His death wasn't announced until 28 May. ==Awards and nominations==

BAFTA Awards • 1985: Nominated for Best Animated Film for Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (shared with Britt Allcroft and Robert D. Cardona) • 1987: Nominated for Best Animated Film for Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (shared with Robert D. Cardona) ==References==