Disney's Nine Old Men

Disney's Nine Old Men. From left to right:
Back row: Milt Kahl, Marc Davis, Frank Thomas, Eric Larson, and Ollie Johnston. Front row: Wolfgang Reitherman, Les Clark, Ward Kimball, and John Lounsbery.

Disney's Nine Old Men were Walt Disney Productions' core animators,^[1] some of whom later became directors, who created some of Disney's most famous animated cartoons, from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) onward to The Rescuers (1977), and were referred to as such by Walt Disney himself.^{[Note 1]} They worked in both short films and feature films. Disney delegated more and more tasks to them in the animation department in the early 1950s when their interests expanded and diversified their scope. Eric Larson was the last to retire from Disney, after his role as animation consultant on The Great Mouse Detective in 1986.^[2]^[3] All members of the group are now deceased, and are acknowledged as Disney Legends.

History[]

The nine were all hired by Disney in the 1920s and 1930s, working initially on Disney's shorter productions, and later on theatrical projects. All nine were present by the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). According to researcher Neal Gabler and animator Frank Thomas, a board was formed to study all possible problems affecting the company in relation to its work between 1945 and 1947. One day in the early 1950s, Disney named the nine members on the board "Nine Old Men".^[4] Disney delegated more and more tasks to them in the field of animation as the work of the company diversified. As well as being honored as Disney Legends in 1989, all of the Nine Old Men were separately honored with the Winsor McCay Award (the lifetime achievement award for animators) during the 1970s and 1980s.

They began to retire one by one from the 1970s, with Eric Larson's 1986 animation consultancy for The Great Mouse Detective being the group's last animation work at Disney. Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston in particular continued on outside of Disney for some time, and were credited on several films in the 1980s and 1990s, including The Chipmunk Adventure (1987), Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1992) and The Iron Giant (1999). A documentary which interviewed the duo, entitled Frank and Ollie was released by Disney in 1995. They were honoured with a final voiced cameo in The Incredibles in 2004, which was produced by Disney but animated by a then-independant Pixar. Johnston, the last surviving member of the group, died in 2008.

Members[]

Les Clark (November 17, 1907 – September 12, 1979), who joined Disney in 1927. Although Clark started his career at Disney working on the Alice comedies' shorts, his specialty was animating Mickey Mouse as he was the only one of the Nine Old Men to work on that character from its origins with Ub Iwerks. Les did many scenes throughout the years, animating up until Lady and the Tramp. He moved into directing and made many animated featurettes and shorts, although since 1964 almost all the films in which Clark worked are short films.
Marc Davis (March 30, 1913 – January 12, 2000) started in 1935 on Snow White, and later he went on to develop/animate the characters of Bambi and Thumper (in Bambi), Tinker Bell (in Peter Pan), Maleficent, Aurora and the raven (in Sleeping Beauty), and Cruella de Vil (in One Hundred and One Dalmatians). From 1961 Davis restricted his duties to his work at Disneyland. Davis was responsible for character design for both the Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion attractions at Disneyland.
Frank Thomas (center) and Ollie Johnston (right) with their wives in 1985
Ollie Johnston (October 31, 1912 – April 14, 2008), who joined Disney in 1935, first worked on Snow White. He went on to author the animator's bible The Illusion of Life with Frank Thomas. His work includes Mr. Smee (in Peter Pan), the Stepsisters (in Cinderella), the District Attorney (in The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad), and Prince John (in Robin Hood). According to the book The Disney Villain, written by Johnston and Frank Thomas, Johnston also partnered with Thomas on creating characters such as Ichabod Crane (in The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad) and Sir Hiss (in Robin Hood).
Milt Kahl (March 22, 1909 – April 19, 1987) started in 1934 working on Snow White. His work included heroes such as Pinocchio (in Pinocchio), Tigger (in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh), Peter Pan (in Peter Pan), and Slue-Foot Sue (in Melody Time) and villains such as Madam Mim (in The Sword in the Stone), Shere Khan (in The Jungle Book), Edgar the butler (in The Aristocats), the Sheriff of Nottingham (in Robin Hood), and Madame Medusa (in The Rescuers).
Ward Kimball (March 4, 1914 – July 8, 2002) joined Disney in 1934 and retired in 1973.^[5] His work includes Jiminy Cricket (in Pinocchio), Lucifer, Jaq and Gus (in Cinderella), and the Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat (in Alice in Wonderland). Specialized in drawing comic characters, his work was often more "wild" than the other Disney animators and was unique. In 1968 he created and released a non-Disney anti-Vietnam War animated short, Escalation.
Eric Larson (September 3, 1905 – October 25, 1988) joined in 1933. One of the top animators at Disney, he animated notable characters such as Peg in Lady and the Tramp; the Vultures in The Jungle Book; Peter Pan's flight over London to Neverland (in Peter Pan); and Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, and Brer Bear (in Song of the South). Because of Larson's demeanor and ability to train new talent, Larson was given the task to spot and train new animators at Disney in the 1970s. Many of the top talents at Disney in later years were trained by Eric in the 1970s and 1980s.
John Lounsbery (March 9, 1911 – February 13, 1976) started in 1935 and, working under Norm "Fergy" Ferguson, quickly became a star animator. Lounsbery, affectionately known as "Louns" by his fellow animators, was an incredibly strong draftsman who inspired many animators over the years. His animation was noted for its squashy, stretchy feel. Lounsbery animated J. Worthington Foulfellow and Gideon in Pinocchio; Ben Ali Gator in Fantasia; George Darling in Peter Pan; Tony, Joe, and some of the dogs in Lady and the Tramp; Kings Stefan and Hubert in Sleeping Beauty; The Elephants in The Jungle Book; and many others. In the 1970s, Louns was promoted to Director and co-directed Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too and his last film, The Rescuers.
Wolfgang Reitherman (June 26, 1909 – May 22, 1985) joined Disney in 1933 as an animator and director. He produced all the animated Disney films after Walt's death until his retirement; In the 1950s, Reitherman was promoted as a director. He also directed a sequence in Sleeping Beauty which featured Prince Phillip's escape from Maleficent's castle and his eventual battle against her as a terrible fire-breathing dragon. Some of his work includes Monstro (in Pinocchio), The Headless Horseman (in The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad), the Crocodile (in Peter Pan), and the Rat (in Lady and the Tramp).
Frank Thomas (September 5, 1912 – September 8, 2004) joined Disney in 1934. He went on to author the animator's bible The Illusion of Life with Ollie Johnston. His work included the wicked Stepmother (in Cinderella), the Queen of Hearts (in Alice in Wonderland), and Captain Hook (in Peter Pan). Frank also was responsible for the iconic spaghetti scene in Lady and the Tramp.

In 2012, Frank Thomas' son, Theodore Thomas, produced a documentary featuring the children of the animators remembering their fathers, Growing up with Nine Old Men (included in the Diamond edition of the Peter Pan DVD).^[6]

Legacy[]

Books and influence[]

In 1981, after retiring, Johnston and Thomas published the book Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life, which sets out the 12 basic principles of animation and helps to preserve the animation techniques that the Disney company created.

Another important component of the Nine Old Men's legacy are the many animators in the contemporary animation industry who can directly or indirectly trace their training to someone who was either their apprentice at Disney Animation or their student at CalArts. For example, Wayne Unten, the supervising animator for Elsa in Disney's Frozen, has noted that he apprenticed with John Ripa, who in turn apprenticed with Glen Keane, who in turn apprenticed with Johnston.^[7]

Basic principles of animation[]

As part of their work for Disney, the Nine Old Men refined the 12 basic principles of animation:

Squash and stretch
Anticipation
Staging
Straight Ahead Action and Pose to Pose
Follow Through and Overlapping Action
Slow In and Slow Out
Arcs
Secondary Action
Timing
Exaggeration
Solid Drawing
Appeal

Feature films[]

Title	Les Clark	Marc Davis	Ollie Johnston	Milt Kahl	Ward Kimball	Eric Larson	John Lounsbery	Wolfgang Reitherman	Frank Thomas
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs	Animator	Animator and designer for Snow White	Assistant animator	Animator for The Prince, the Forest Animals	Animator	Animator for Forest Animals, Dwarfs on deer	Assistant animator	Animator for Magic Mirror	Animator for The Dwarfs
Pinocchio	Animator	Animator	Animator for Pinocchio	Animation director/animator for Pinocchio and some scenes of Jiminy Cricket	Animation Director/Designer and animator for Jiminy Cricket	Animation Director for Figaro, Cleo, Marionettes, Donkeys	Animator for "Honest" John Worthington Foutfellow, Gideon	Animation Director	Animator for Pinocchio
Fantasia	Animator	Animator	Animator for Centaurettes and Cupids in "Pastoral Symphony" Segment	Animator	Animation Supervisor for the segment "The Pastoral Symphony"	Animation Supervisor for the segment "The Pastoral Symphony"	Animator for the Segment "Dance of the Hours" (Hyacinth Hippo, Hippos, Ben Alligator, Alligators)	Animation Supervisor for the segment "The Rite of Spring	Animator
The Reluctant Dragon	Animator	Animator	Animator	Animator	Animator and Cameo appearance	Animator	Animator	Animator and Cameo appearance	Animator
Dumbo	Animator	Animator	Animator	Animator	Animation Director for Crows	Animator	Animation Director for Dumbo, Timothy Q. Mouse	Animation Director	Animator
Bambi	Animator	Animator and designer for Bambi, Faline, female rabbit, Flower and female skunk	Animator for Bambi's mother's death, Thumper reciting his father's lesson	Supervising animator for Bambi, Thumper, Deer	Animator	Supervising Animator for Thumper, Friend Owl	Supervising animator	Supervising animator	Animator for Bambi and Thumper ice-skating
Saludos Amigos	Animator	Animator	Animator	Animator for the rides a Llama sequence	Animator	Animator	Animator	Animator	Animator
The Three Caballeros	Animator	Animator	Animator for Donald Duck and "The Flying Gauchito" segment	Animator	Animator	Animator for "The Flying Gauchito", Donald Duck, Jose Carioca, Panchito and Aracuan segments	Animator for Donald Duck, Jose Carioca, Panchito	Animator	Animator for "The Flying Gauchito" segment
Make Mine Music	Animator	Animator	Animator for "Peter and the Wolf" and "Casey at the Bat" segments	Animator for "The Martins and the Coys", "All the Cats Join In"	Animator	Animator for "Casey at the Bat" "Peter and the Wolf"	Animator for Wolf in "Peter and the Wolf" and "The Whale who Wanted to the sing at the Met"	Animator	Animator
Song of the South	Directing Animator	Directing Animator, animator and designer for Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox and Brer Bear	Animator for Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, Br'er Bear	Directing animator for Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, and Br'er Bear (The Tar Baby sequence)	Animator	Directing Animator	Directing Animator	Animator	Animator
Fun and Fancy Free	Directing Animator	Animator and designer for Bongo, butterfly, and yawning trees	Animator for Jiminy Cricket	Lulubelle, Lumpjaw, bears (uncredited)	Directing Animator	Animator	Directing Animator for Jiminy Cricket, Mickey Mouse, Willie the Giant	Directing Animator	Animator
Melody Time	Directing Animator	Animator	Animator for Johnny Appleseed, Johnny's Guardian Angel, Johnny's Ghost, Little Toot	Directing animator for the Johnny Appleseed, Johnny's Guardian Angel, Pecos Bill, Widowmaker and Slue Foot Sue segments	Directing Animator for Pecos Bill y his sequences	Directing Animator for "Once Upon A Wintertime", "Johnny Appleseed" and "Little Toot" segments	Directing Animator for "Once Upon A Wintertime", "Blame it on the Samba" and "Pecos Bill"	Animator	Animator
So Dear to My Heart	Animator	Animator	Animator	Animator	Animator	Animator	Animator	Animator	Animator
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad	Animator	Animator and designer for Mr. Toad, Cyril Proudbottom, Rat, Mole, Angus MacBadger, Mr. Winkie and the weasels	Directing animator/Animator for J.Thaddeus Toad, Ratty, Moley, Angus Macbadger, The Prosecutor, The Judge, Ichabod Crane, Katrina Von Tassel, Baltus Von Tassel, Brom Bones	Directing animator for Angus MacBadger, Rat, Mole, angry mob and Brom Bones	Directing Animator and character animator of both shorts	Animator	Directing Animator for Ichabod Crane's introductory scenes	Directing Animator	Directing animador/Animator for Mr. Toad, Cyril Proudbottom, Rat, Mole, Ichabod Crane and his horse, Katrina Von Tassel, Brom Bones, laughing fat lady
Cinderella	Directing Animator	Animator and designer for Cinderella, Stepsisters (tearing Cinderella's dress apart), Prince Charming, the King (close up of hands and bookends) and the Grand Duke (close up of hands and bookends)	Directing animator/Animator for Stepsisters, Lackey	Directing animator for Fairy Godmother, Prince Charming, the King and the Grand Duke	Directing Animator for Jaq and Gus and Lucifer the Cat	Directing Animator for Cinderella, Prince Charming	Directing Animator for Jaq, Gus, Lucifer, Mice, Bruno, Major	Directing Animator	Directing animador/Animator for Lady Tremaine, Grand Duke
Alice in Wonderland	Directing Animator	Animator and designer for Alice and the eyeglasses creature	Directing animator/Animator for Alice, King of Hearts	Directing animator for Alice, the White Rabbit (one scene), the Dodo, Flamingo and Hedgehog	Directing Animator/Designer and animator for Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Walrus and the Carpenter, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter and Tea Party sequence	Directing Animator for Alice, Dinah, Caterpillar, Queen Of Hearts	Directing Animator for Flowers, Caterpillar, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Strange Creatures	Directing Animator	Directing animador/Animator for Queen of Hearts, Doorknob, strange creatures, a few scenes of the King of Hearts, Cheshire Cat (trial scene)
Peter Pan	Directing Animator	Animator and designer for Tinker Bell and Mrs. Darling	Directing animator/Animator for Mr. Smee, a few scenes of Captain Hook	Directing animator for Peter Pan, Wendy Darling, John Darling, Michael Darling, Mr. Darling, Mrs. Darling, Nana	Directing Animator	Directing Animator for Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook	Directing Animator for George Darling, Wendy, John, Michael, Mary, Nana, Lost Boys, Indians, Pirates, Captain Hook	Directing Animator	Directing animador/Animator for Captain Hook and a few scenes of Mr. Smee
Lady and the Tramp	Directing Animator	Animator	Directing animator/Animator for Lady, Jock and Trusty	Directing animator for Lady, Tramp, Mr. Busy the Beaver, Trusty	Animator	Directing animator for Lady, Tramp, Beaver, Peg	Directing Animator for Lady, Tramp, Tony, Joe, Bull, Toughy, Boris, Peg, Professor, Cop	Directing Animator	Directing animador/Animator for Lady, Tramp and Jock
Sleeping Beauty	Sequence Director	Animator and designer for Aurora, Maleficent, Diablo the Raven, Prince Phillip (a few scenes), King Stefan, and Queen Leah	Directing animator/Animator for Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather	Directing animator for Prince Phillip, King Hubert, King Stefan, Maitre D', animals, Samson	Animator	Sequence Director	Directing Animator for Prince Philip, King Hubert, King Stefan, Animals, Goons	Sequence Director	Directing animador/Animator for Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather
One Hundred and One Dalmatians	Character Animator	Animator and designer for Cruella de Vil and Anita	Directing animator/Animator for Pongo, Perdita, Nanny	Directing animator for Roger and Anita, Pongo, Perdita, Labrador	Animator	Directing animator for Pongo, Perdita, Puppies, Colonel, Tibbs	Directing Animator for Pongo, Perdita, Puppies, Colonel, Tibbs, Jasper, Horace, Danny, Captain Horse	Director	Directing animador/Animator for Pongo, Perdita, Puppies
The Sword in the Stone	Animator	Animator	Directing animator/Animator for Merlin, Wart, Archimedes, Sugar Bowl	Character design/directing animator for Wart (a.k.a. King Arthur), Merlin, Sir Ector, Kay, Archimedes, Kitchen Woman, Madame Mim, Dogs	Animator	Animator for Wart, Merlin, Archimedes, Sir Ector, Madam Mim	Directing Animator for Wart, Merlin, Archimedes, Sir Ector, Sir Kay, Sir Pelinore, Wolf, Pike, Madam Mim, Scullery Maid	Director	Directing animador/Animator for Wart, Merlin, Squirrel Scene, Madam Mim
Mary Poppins	Animator	Animator	Animator for the Penguins	Animator for the Master of hounds, hounds, fox, stewards	Animator	Animator for Forest animals, Racers	Animator for Farm Animals, Huntsman and Horse	Animator	Animator for the Penguins
The Jungle Book	Animator	Animator	Directing animator/Animator for Mowgli, Bagheera, Baloo, Shanti	Directing animator for Mowgli, Baloo, Bagheera, Shere Khan, King Louie, monkeys, Kaa, the Vultures	Animator	Animator for Mowgli, Bagheera, Vultures	Directing Animator for Colonel Hathi, Winifred, Junior, Elephants, Bugler elephant, Baloo, Mowgli, Bagheera, King Louie, Shere Khan, Vultures, Monkeys	Director	Directing animador/Animator for Mowgli, Baloo, Bagheera, Kaa, King Louie, Flunkey Monkey
The Aristocats	Animator	Animator	Directing animator/Animator for Duchess, Thomas O' Malley, Marie, Berlioz, Toulouse, Amelia and Abigail Gabble, Uncle Waldo	Directing animator for Thomas O'Malley, Duchess, Madame Bonfamille, Edgar and George	Animator	Animator for Roquefort, Kittens, Scat Cat	Directing Animator for Edgar, George Hautecourt, Alley Cats, Roquefort	Producer and Director	Directing animador/Animator for Duchess, Thomas O' Malley, Edgar, Napoleon, Lafayette
Bedknobs and Broomsticks	Animator	Animator	Animator	Animator for King Leonidas, Secretary Bird and the animals	Animation Director	Animator	Animator	Animator	Animator
Robin Hood	Animator	Animator	Directing animator/Animator for Prince John, Sir Hiss, Robin Hood and Little John disguised as fortune tellers, Maid Marian, Lady Cluck	Directing animator for Robin Hood, The Sheriff of Nottingham, Little John, Allan-a-Dale (the rooster), Maid Marian, Lady Kluck, Friar Tuck, Skippy, King Richard	Character animator	Character Animator for Robin Hood, Little John, Vultures	Directing Animator for Robin Hood, Little John, Sheriff of Nottingham, Wolf Arrowmen, Otto	Producer and Director	Directing animador/Animator for Robin Hood disguised as stork, Sheriff of Nottingham, Maid Marian and Skippy
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh	Animator	Animator	Animator for Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit	Animator for Tigger, Winnie the Pooh (scenes with Tigger) and a few scenes of Roo		Animator for Kanga, Roo, Winnie The Pooh	Animator / Director	Producer and Director	Animator for Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Owl and Christopher Robin
The Rescuers	Animator	Animator	Directing animator/Animator for Bernard, Bianca, Penny, Rufus, Orville	Directing animator for Madame Medusa, Mr. Snoops, Penny, Brutus and Nero, a few scenes of Bernard and Bianca		Titles and Animator	Director	Producer and Director	Directing Animator/Animator for Bernard, Bianca, Chairmouse, Nero and Brutus
The Fox and the Hound	Animator	Animator	Animator for Tod, Copper, Vixey, Chief walking in a busted leg	Animator		Animation Consultant		He devised the adaptation of the novel and co-produced and animate film	Supervising animator for Tod and Copper
The Black Cauldron		Animator	Animator	Animator		Animation Consultant		Animator and Executive Producer	Animator
The Great Mouse Detective		Animator		Animator		Animation Consultant		Animator

Notes[]

^ According to Frank Thomas, they formed a board that studied all the possible problems affecting the company in relation to its works, but the number of members varied regularly. One day, when Walt Disney learned that there were nine people on the board at the time, he named the group "Nine Old Men". Walt Disney was jokingly referring to the then-famous 1936 bestselling book The Nine Old Men written by Robert S. Allen and Drew Pearson about the nine justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, most of whom were over the age of 70 at the time; meanwhile, the Disney nine were all in their thirty. (In turn, the U.S. Supreme Court was targeted as dominated by very old men by the proposed Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, whose enactment was allegedly averted by the switch in time that saved nine.) According to investigator Neal Gabler, the board was created between 1945 and 1947 as part of the reorganization that the study had to reduce company expenses.

References[]

^ Canemaker, John (2001). Walt Disney's Nine Old Men and the Art of Animation. New York, New York: Disney Editions. ISBN 0-7868-6496-6.
^ https://d23.com/did-you-know-unravel-9-sneaky-facts-from-the-great-mouse-detective/^{[bare URL]}
^ "Book Preview: 'Walt Disney's Nine Old Men: Masters of Animation' (Gallery)". 10 July 2018.
^ Gabler, Neal (2006), Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination, A KNOPF e BOOK
^ Lenburg, Jeff (2006), "Kimball, Ward Walrath", Who's Who in Animated Cartoons: An International Guide to Film and Television's Award-Winning and Legendary Animators, Hal Leonard Corporation, ISBN 978-1557836717
^ Mouse Steps - Ted Thomas Interview About "Growing Up with Nine Old Men" Bonus Film On Peter Pan Diamond Edition
^ Reyes, Robert (16 October 2013). "CSUF alum turned Disney animation artist sneak peaks [sic] latest film". The Daily Titan. CSU Fullerton. Retrieved 2 May 2015.