Spaghetti Western Directors, Screenwriters, Cinematographers

Spaghetti Western Director ~ Olivier Jean-Marie

Olivier Christophe Hervé Jean-Marie was a French animator, director, storyboard artist, and writer best known for directing acclaimed animated series such as ‘Oggy and the Cockroaches’ and creating ‘Zig & Sharko’.

Born on November 19, 1960, in Brunoy, Essonne, France, Jean-Marie began his career in the animation industry during the 1980s as a background artist and animator before advancing to roles as a director, supervisor, and writer. He joined the animation studio that became Xilam Animation in 1999, where he served as artistic director and played a foundational role in establishing the studio's signature slapstick humor and innovative visual style. Over his career, he mentored a significant portion of France's top storyboard artists and directors, influencing a generation of animators, and retired in 2018 after decades of prolific output.

Jean-Marie's most notable contributions include directing over 300 episodes of ‘Oggy and the Cockroaches’ (1998–present), a globally popular series blending Looney Tunes-inspired comedy with modern animation techniques, as well as writing and directing its 2013 feature film adaptation. He also created and directed the first season of ‘Zig & Sharko’ (2010), a 52-episode underwater adventure series, and contributed to ‘Space Goofs’ (1997–2006) as an animator, director, and writer. Other key projects encompass directing the Lucky Luke spinoff ‘Les Daltons’ (2010–2012), the Annecy Cristal-nominated film “Go West: A Lucky Luke Adventure” (2007), and the recent Xilam series ‘Mr. Magoo’ (2019–present).

Jean-Marie passed away on May 13, 2021, at the age of 60 following a long battle with cancer, surrounded by his family, including his wife Agnès and daughters Ianka and Julie; his death was announced shortly thereafter by Xilam. His work continues to entertain audiences worldwide, cementing his legacy as a pillar of European animation.

Oliver Je4an-Marie directed one animated Euro-wester film, “Tous à l'Ouest: Une aventure de Lucky Luke” (Go West: A Lucky Luke Adventure) in 2007 and two animated television euro-western cartoon series “Le nouvelles aventures de Lucky Luke” (The New Adventures of Lucky Luke) in 2001-2002 and “Les Dalton” (The Daltons) with Jim Gomez and Charles Vaucelle.

JEAN-MARIE, Olivier (aka O. Jean Marie) [11/19/1960, Brunoy, Essone, France - 5/13/2021, Rueil-Malmaison, Hauts-de-Saine. France] - director, writer, animator.

The New Adventures of Lucky Luke (TV) – 2001-2002

Go West: A Lucky Luke Adventure – 2007

The Daltons (TV) – 2010-2016 (co)

Spaghetti Western Screenwriter ~ Ivan Della Mea

Ivan Della Mea was born Luigi Della Mea; October 16, 1940 and was an Italian singer-songwriter, novelist, journalist, and political activist whose work centered on protest music in Milanese dialect, capturing the raw experiences of working-class life, factory labor, and leftist resistance against exploitation.

Born in Lucca, Tuscany on October 16, 1940, and raised in Milan after relocating as a child, Della Mea immersed himself in the city's proletarian neighborhoods, drawing from a milieu blending progressive intellectualism and labor traditions; he adopted his artistic pseudonym early in his career while pursuing multifaceted roles as a proofreader, translator, folk researcher, and director of the Ernesto de Martino Institute in Sesto Fiorentino, dedicated to documenting and advancing working-class cultural knowledge.

His musical output, marked by a gravelly voice and narrative economy rejecting operatic conventions, debuted prominently with the 1964 EP Ballate della violenza and included seminal tracks like "O cara moglie" (1965), which depicted the brutal rhythms of industrial toil and calls for proletarian unity, and "El me gatt" (1964), a visceral tale of urban vengeance; these pieces, often performed in dialect, positioned him as a leading voice in Italy's 1960s political songwriting scene, affiliated with collectives such as Nuovo Canzoniere Italiano.

Beyond music, Della Mea authored detective novels for the Gialli Mondadori series and co-wrote the screenplay for the Marxist-themed spaghetti western “Tepepa” (1969), starring Orson Welles, while his journalism and activism—rooted in ties to outlets like the Communist Party's L'Unità—infused his later works, such as the expansive title track of La Cantagranda (2000), with unyielding critiques of capitalism, clerical authority, and societal resignation, framed through themes of rebellion and historical memory.

Della Mea died in San Paolo, Milan, Italy on June 14, 2009 at the age of 68.

Ivan Della Mea co-wrote on Spaghetti western, “Tepepa” (Blood and Guns) with Franco Solinas and Giulio Petroni in 1968.

DELLA MEA, Ivan (Luigi Della Mea) [10/16/1940, Lucca, Italy - 6/14/2009, San Paolo, Milan, Italy] – writer, poet, singer.

Blood and Guns – 1968 (co)

 

Spaghetti Western Cinematographer ~ Moreau

Moreau was a French silent film cameraman of which nothing is known.

Moreau was a cameraman on one Silent euro-western, “Cow-boy” (Cowboy) in 1907.

MOREAU [French] – cameraman.

Cowboy – 1906