Tag "Nine Old Men"

Final Push Seeks to Restore Historic Disney Studio in Kansas City

May 29, 2012 by Thomas J. McLean No Comments divider image

A group looking to restore Walt Disney’s first professional animation studio, in Kansas City, is launching the final push of its 15-year campaign with an eye toward completing the project by 2015. Thank You Walt Disney has been behind the campaign to turn the former site of the Laugh-O-Gram studio [...]

D23 Mag Honors 75 Years of Disney Toons

January 26, 2012 by Ramin Zahed No Comments divider image

The spring issue of Disney fans’ twenty-three magazine pays tribute to the legacy and influence of Disney’s animated films. The official Disney fan club takes readers on a colorful and informative journey from the studio’s first animated classic—Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs—to the projects being readied for 2012 and [...]

Fighting the System: Merle Welton

December 28, 2011 by Michael Mallory No Comments divider image

For every recorded love story between an artist and their animation studio, there are many other relationships that landed on the rocks. One such involved Merle Welton, a native New Yorker who in the late 1940s came to California armed with a college degree and the goal of being an [...]

Ollie Johnston: Even ‘Old Men’ Need a Lift!

October 27, 2011 by Michael Mallory 2 Comments divider image

Those of us who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s became familiar with the smiling, warm fellow who chatted with us over the airwaves every Sunday evening on The Wonderful World of Disney. But as I’m sure everyone knows by now, that avuncular quality was only one facet of [...]

Google Celebrates Mary Blair’s 100th Birthday

October 21, 2011 by Ramin Zahed 1 Comment divider image

Google is showcasing a colorful “birthday doodle” in honor of Disney Legend Mary Blair’s 100th birthday today (Friday, Oct. 21). The much-loved artist, whe worked alongside the famous Nine Old Men at the studio, is most famous for her concept art for Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Song of the [...]

Back to the Days of Christopher Robin & Pooh

July 10, 2011 by Ramin Zahed 1 Comment divider image

Disney returns to the basics with the terrific 2D movie Winnie the Pooh, which is inspired by five classic stories by A. A. Milne. In this day and age, when everyone is trying to jump on the 3-D, CG animation bandwagon, you’ve got to admire Disney for sticking to its [...]

A Superbe Year for French Animation

May 29, 2011 by Ramin Zahed 4 Comments divider image

A record number of top-notch animated movies are slated to be released in France. Is it just coincidence or a sign of things to come? There must have been something special in French waters (Perrier, Evian or Vittel?), because it seems that the country is churningmore high-quality animated features than [...]