Broadway Legend Joined: 11/2/05
Ollie Johnston, the last of Walt Disney's original team of animators, known as the Nine Old Men, has died at the age of 95. This is the end of an era for fans of classic Disney.
Obituary link.
I can't thank him enough, along with all the others who worked alongside him, for making films that helped shape my childhood, thus helped shape who I am today.
RIP.
My dad told me that when Disney animation was at the height of its popularity, starting with Snow White on into the '40s and early '50s, people (your average folks) knew who these guys were. They knew their faces and their names. Walt Disney promoted them as his core team, but they also had screen time on TV and in interviews. They hosted Disney shows on TV, and made personal appearances. They were the "rock stars" of animation back then.
It is the end of an era.
RIP
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/05
Wow. I have to admit I didn't know any where still alive. My bad. This is pretty sad.
But he did give me so many wonderful childhood memories, so he will ultimately live on for along long time.
Excellent words, SticktoPriest and Best12Bars. Those men worked on my favorite Disney cartoons.
My sympathies to his family and friends.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
RIP, Mr. Johnston. Thanks for everything.
I just read that Ollie Johnston was responsible for supervising the animation on one of the most powerful scenes in animation history: the death of Bambi's mother.
Almost 70 years later... it doesn't get any better than that.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
I seem to remember reading that Mr. Johnston had also animated the dancing mushrooms in FANTASIA, but that might be someone else.
There's a website:
http://www.frankandollie.com/Film_Features.html
For Ollie, and for fans of his who appreciate his work.
The death of Bambi's mother.
WARNING: Have some Kleenex handy.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-eHr-9_6hCg&feature=related
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
I can't watch Bambi because of that scene. I saw it when I was 4, had a traumatic experience (long story, but amusing), and haven't seen it since.
I do own it though...
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
BAMBI is an amazing film, tougher than you'd expect, not the avalanche of sugary tearjerkiness that it is often made out to be. The humor is genuinely funny, the violence is really painful.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/2/05
Re: BAMBI - the animation is truly stunning, as well. Background stills are landscapes worthy of framing.
RIP good sir.
Bambi's so great, but "Baby Mine" in Dumbo is the tearjerker that gets me every time.
Cartoons as entertainment, art, therapy, and even philosophical.
I can appreciate the Simpsons too, but the old days are truly golden.
Rest in peace.
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