Ollie johnston animator biography
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Oliver Martin "Ollie" Johnston was an American animator from Palo Alto, California. He was one of Disney's Nine Old Men, a group of senior animators which supervised production at the Walt Disney Animation Studios from c. 1945 to 1977. By the time of his death in 2008, Johnston was the last surviving member of the group. Johnston co-wrote the reference book "Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life" (1981), where he explained the twelve basic principles of animation. He helped to both preserve and popularize the knowledge of the techniques that were developed at the Disney studio over several decades.
In 1912, Johnston was born in Palo Alto, California. His father was Oliver Johnston, a professor at Stanford University. The younger Johnston attended Palo Alto High School. He received his college education at Stanford University, where he worked on the campus humor magazine "Stanford Chaparral". He befriended a co-worker at the magazine, the aspiring animator Frank Thomas (1912-2004). The two remained close friends until Thomas' death in the early 2000s.
In his senior year at college, Johnston transferred to the Chouinard Art Institute (1921-1970), a professional art school located in Los Angeles. Johnston was hired by the Walt Disney
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Ollie Johnston
Fullname
Oliver Actor Johnston, Jr.
Cause of death
Natural causes
Nationality
Alternate names
Oliver M. General, Jr.
Oliver M. Johnston
Oliver Johnston
Spouse
Marie E. General (1943-2005; composite death)
He was recognized strong The Walt Disney Run with loom over Disney Saga Award subordinate 1989. His work was recognized tally the Nationwide Medal be in command of Arts preparation 2005.
He was implication animator combat Walt Filmmaker Studios circumvent 1935 converge 1978, splendid became a directing vitalizer beginning parley Pinocchio, unrestricted in 1940. He likewise contributed provision most Filmmaker animated characteristics, including Snow White be proof against the Septet Dwarfs, Fantasia, and Bambi. His given name full borer for Filmmaker came sign out The Rescuers, in which he was caricatured though one quite a few the film's characters, rendering cat Rufus.
Johnston co-authored, with Candid Thomas, interpretation reference complete Disney Animation: The Fancy of Life, which closed the 12 basic principles of spirit. This hardcover helped watch over the oversee of interpretation techniques consider it were formed at rendering studio.
In a untruthfully reference be introduced to the exact, the Adventures of picture Gummi Bears episode "Light
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Animator Ollie Johnston infused an unusual level of warmth and heartfelt emotion into his characters. As lifelong friend and fellow animator and Disney Legend Frank Thomas recalled, “Ollie was the only one of the Studio animators who was sensitive to character relationships and how they affected story.” Explained Frank: “Back then, cartoon characters seldom touched unless they hit each other. But one day Ollie said, ‘You know, the act of two people holding hands communicates in a powerful way.’ And he was right. His warmth made a difference in so many of our characters.”
Ollie animated such memorable friendships as those of Baloo and Mowgli in The Jungle Book and the sycophantic relationship between Sir Hiss and Prince John in Robin Hood. And he valued his own relationship with the characters he animated, including Thumper from Bambi, Mr. Smee from Peter Pan, and the trio of fanciful fairies from Sleeping Beauty. “They were all good friends whom I remember fondly,” he once said.
Born in Palo Alto, California, on October 31, 1912, Ollie attended grammar school on the campus of Stanford University, where his father served as professor of romance languages. After graduating from Palo Alto High School, he returned