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Update: The last of Disney’s lead animators dies
As I scanned the headlines of the various news sites I frequent this morning, I could find many references to Ashlee Simpson’s alleged pregnancy and to Marilyn Monroe’s sex film, but as of 11 AM no regular news site - not a single one - referenced the fact that the last of the great lead animators of Walt Disney’s era, Ollie Johnston, had passed away.
Predictable - but lamentable all the same.
You may not know Ollie Johnston’s name, but you surely know his work. He was one of the “nine old men” of Walt Disney’s animators, that great crew that, in one form or another, worked on everything from Snow White to The Fox and the Hound. Some of Johnston’s specific work includes Thumper in Bambi, Smee in Peter Pan, and the fairies in Sleeping Beauty, among many others. Rufus, the cat in The Rescuers, was a caricature of Johnston.
And if you’ve seen The Iron Giant or The Incredibles, you’ve heard Ollie too, in cameos with the animator with whom Johnston was synonymous, the late Frank Thomas. Frank and Ollie are the railroad engineers in The Iron Giant, and they’re the two guys who talk about “old school” at the end of The Incredibles.
Roy Disney, nephew of Walt, said of Johnston: “Ollie was part of an amazing generation of artists, one of the real pioneers of our art, one of the major participants in the blossoming of animation into the art form we know today. One of Ollie’s strongest beliefs was that his characters should think first, then act…and they all did … We will miss him greatly, but we were all enormously enriched by him.”
John Lasseter, the creative chief of Pixar and Disney animation, said: “Ollie had such a huge heart and it came through in all of his animation, which is why his work is some of the best ever done. … He taught me to always be aware of what a character is thinking, and we continue to make sure that every character we create at Pixar and Disney has a thought process and emotion that makes them come alive.”
I cannot recommend highly enough that anyone who cares about animation should seek out Frank and Ollie, the wondrously charming documentary about these two greats. For a great compilation of tributes, see animation historian Jerry Beck’s site, Cartoon Brew. Here’s Ollie’s Disney Legends page, and Frank and Ollie’s official site. That site lists the specific characters the two animated so well.
Yes, I know, the salacious stuff like the Ashlee and Marilyn stories is what sells - but I also know the work of Ollie Johnston will endure long after people have forgotten about Simpson or that Marilyn sex film we’ll never get to see.
Ollie, I’d tell you to say hi to Frank for us, but I’m sure you guys are busy riding a train somewhere. Have fun. We’ll miss you.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Tributes
Comments
By ME
April 16, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
A sad day. I agree Bri that they are terribly overlooked. I think without the ‘old guys’ the new guys wouldn’t have the profession they have today…By Kimberlee
April 15, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
That is sad, my mother (Sue Lowe) worked on Bambi too ( in the 60’s)she was a Walt Disney animator, although not a lead, she has passed away too! Before she passed away she also worked on animations for Filmation such as Fat Albert.By Kim
April 15, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
Kudos to the man who has helped bring magic into the lives and imagination of millions. I am so appreciative of the amazing body of work that Disney has produced and to the part that these special men played in it. Heaven may have a “heckuva band”, but now they have a heckuva animation team as well! May he rest in peace as the legacy of his work lives on.By SRCputt
April 15, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
I own a copy of Frank and Ollie, a must for any adult animation fan. Walt Disney had the imagination, but the nine old men brought it to life. Their work lives on influencing every Disney and Pixar film. and most other animation as well.By Bri
April 15, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
I truely believe that animators are sorely overlooked when praising animated movies. The voice actor usually gets all the credit, while the genius animators are usually left without mention. They are the ones who bring these unforgetable, timeless characters to life … Bravo, Ollie!