Talking Disney With The Artists Who Knew Him: An Intimate Look at the Man and His Creations

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney's birth, we sit down with the artists who knew him best to discuss his life, work, and legacy.

Walt Disney was a visionary who changed the world of entertainment. His films, television shows, and theme parks have brought joy to generations of people around the globe. But who was the man behind the magic? What was he like as a person? And what were his dreams and aspirations?

Walt's People: Volume 17: Talking Disney with the Artists Who Knew Him

by Didier Ghez

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1943 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	334 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

To find out, we talked to some of the artists who worked with Disney during his lifetime. These artists shared their memories of Disney, and they gave us a glimpse into the man behind the legend.

Marc Davis

Marc Davis was one of Disney's "Nine Old Men," a group of animators who were responsible for creating some of the most iconic Disney characters, including Snow White, Pinocchio, and Bambi.

"Walt was a very demanding boss," said Davis. "But he was also very fair. He wanted the best from his artists, and he was willing to give them the time and resources they needed to create their best work."

Davis recalled one time when he was working on the film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." He was having trouble animating the dwarfs' hair, and he was about to give up when Disney came to his rescue.

"Walt took me aside and said, 'Marc, don't worry about it. Just keep working at it. You'll get it eventually.'"

Davis took Disney's advice, and he eventually figured out how to animate the dwarfs' hair. The dwarfs went on to become one of the most beloved characters in Disney history.

Frank Thomas

Frank Thomas was another one of Disney's "Nine Old Men." He was responsible for animating some of the most famous Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy.

"Walt was a genius," said Thomas. "He had a vision for what he wanted to create, and he was able to communicate that vision to his artists."

Thomas recalled one time when he was working on the film "Fantasia." He was animating the Sorcerer's Apprentice sequence, and he was having trouble getting the water to move realistically.

"Walt came over to my desk and said, 'Frank, don't worry about it. Just imagine that you're a water molecule.'"

Thomas took Disney's advice, and he eventually figured out how to animate the water realistically. The Sorcerer's Apprentice sequence went on to become one of the most famous scenes in Disney history.

Ollie Johnston

Ollie Johnston was the third of Disney's "Nine Old Men." He was responsible for animating some of the most beloved Disney characters, including Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and Baloo.

"Walt was a dreamer," said Johnston. "He always believed that anything was possible if you set your mind to it."

Johnston recalled one time when he was working on the film "The Jungle Book." He was animating the scene where Baloo and Mowgli are floating down the river on a log. Johnston was having trouble getting the log to move realistically.

"Walt came over to my desk and said, 'Ollie, don't worry about it. Just imagine that you're a log floating down a river.'"

Johnston took Disney's advice, and he eventually figured out how to animate the log realistically. The scene where Baloo and Mowgli are floating down the river went on to become one of the most famous scenes in Disney history.

Walt Disney was a visionary who changed the world of entertainment. His films, television shows, and theme parks have brought joy to generations of people around the globe. The artists who worked with Disney during his lifetime were fortunate to have known such a creative and inspiring man. Their memories of Disney give us a glimpse into the man behind the legend, and they help us to appreciate his genius even more.

Walt's People: Volume 17: Talking Disney with the Artists Who Knew Him

by Didier Ghez

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1943 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	334 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE