| Robert D. Cardona | |
| Birth Name: | Robert Daniel Cardona |
| Birth Date: | 7 March 1930 |
| Birth Place: | Southern California, U.S. |
| Notable Works: | Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, Tugs |
| Years Active: | 1967–1998 |
| Spouse: | Gloria Tors |
| Children: | 1 |
Robert Daniel Cardona (born March 7, 1930) is a British-American television writer, producer, director and animator. He co-founded Clearwater Features with David Mitton, in 1980.[1]
Cardona has been based in the United Kingdom for much of his career. His best-known work is with his working partner David Mitton; their productions include Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, which Cardona produced until 1986 (the second series), and Tugs, which ran for 13 episodes.[2]
Cardona has also worked on other British TV series such as The Flaxton Boys, The Four Feathers, Thriller, Fraud Squad, Crime of Passion, Emmerdale and Virgin of the Secret Service. In the early 1990s, he moved to Canada, where he worked on the children's series Theodore Tugboat, as a director, which served as a continuation of Tugs. He also provided footage from Tugs for the American children's animated series Salty's Lighthouse. After Theodore Tugboat ended, Cardona returned to the UK, where he has lived ever since.
Cardona was married to English filmmaker, former actress and television writer Gloria Tors with whom he worked on The Flaxton Boys and Emmerdale. They have one son, Tarquin. Tors wrote the very first episode of Tugs, whilst their son also wrote two episodes: "Pirate" and "Quarantine".