I've just been informed that Legendary animator Ollie Johnston passed away yesterday. He was the last one alive of Disney's 9 Old Men. This seriously breaks my heart.

My Professor, John Cullhane used to tell stories about Frank and Ollie and the other 9 Old Men so vividly I felt like I knew them myself.

I guess the best way to do this is post the awn.com news article.

-----



Ollie Johnston, the last surviving animator of Disney's famed Nine Old Men, passed away today April 14, 2008. Johnston worked for the Mouse House from 1935 to 1978, working as an animator on such classics as SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, FANTASIA, BAMBI and PINOCCHIO. He last worked on THE RESCUERS, a film for which he was caricatured as the cat Rufus.

Along with longtime friend and collaborator Frank Thomas, Johnston co-authored the seminal animation reference book THE ILLUSION OF LIFE, which is used as an animation textbook in schools around the globe. Johnston's friendship and partnership with Thomas was warmly chronicled in the 1995's documentary FRANK AND OLLIE, directed by Frank's son Theodore.

Oliver Martin Johnston Jr. was born in Palo Alto, California, and attended Stanford University, where he met Thomas on the staff of the STANFORD CHAPARRAL humor magazine. Later he would attend the University of California, Berkeley, and Chouinard Art Institute.

He first joined Disney, working on shorts such as MICKEY'S GARDEN and THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE. In 1943, he married Disney ink & paint artist Marie Worthey, who passed away on May 20, 2005.

His lifelong love of trains inspired him to build a scaled railroad and locomotives in his backyard, which inspired the train at Disneyland.

He was named a Disney Legend in 1989, and in 2005, Johnston was one of the recipients of the National Medal of Arts.

---------

I have both Frank and Ollie, and The Illusion of Life. I've read a good chunk of The Illusion of Life, and I can honestly say after I did, I became a better animator. Practically overnight.
He was Old, just a few years short of 100, so obviously his time was coming near, but it's sad for me to know I will never get to shake the hands of any of the original Disney Heroes. All I can do, is remember the stories from Mr. Culhane, and watch the Reluctant Dragon and Frank and Ollie.

I think now, more than ever, I need to frame my "Rescuers" cel.