Posted on 09/10/2004 5:40:37 AM PDT by COBOL2Java
Legendary Walt Disney Co. animator Frank Thomas, whose work ranged from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'' to "Pinocchio " and "Bambi,'' has died at age 92, the studio said Thursday.
One of Disney's original "nine old men,'' the key group that helped make Disney an animation powerhouse from the 1930s onward, Thomas died Wednesday after months of declining health following a brain hemorrhage. He died at his home in Flintridge, Calif., Disney said.
Thomas joined Disney in 1934 when the studio had only just begun working on "Snow White,'' its first full-length animated feature film. The costly movie nearly drove Disney into bankruptcy, but became the company's foundation after it turned into a huge hit in theaters.
"Frank helped to invent animation as an art form and took it to incredible new heights,'' film critic Leonard Maltin said.
He was known for emotional scenes, romance and deeply felt work early in his 43-year career at Disney, but in the late 1940s switched to villains.
Thomas created the spaghetti dinner scene between Lady and Rover in "Lady and the Tramp'' and dreamed up Thumper showing Bambi how to ice skate in "Bambi.'' He helped design Pinocchio and was responsible for the scene in which the marionette gets trapped inside a birdcage by the evil Stromboli.
In 1941, Thomas joined Walt Disney on a trip through South America that resulted in "The Three Caballeros.''
In 1949, he created the superstitious Ichabod Crane of Sleepy Hollow fame and one year later dreamed up the wicked stepmother in "Cinderella.''
Other films on which he worked were "The Jungle Book,'' The Aristocats,'' and "Robin Hood.'' He retired in 1978.
Thomas was born in Santa Monica, and went to college at Stanford University, where he met his lifelong friend and another one of the "nine old men,'' Ollie Johnston, who is the last of those original animators still alive.
Thomas' son, Theodore, made a documentary based on the lifelong friendship between Thomas and Johnston, titled "Frank and Ollie'' and released in 1995.
Thomas is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jeanette, their children and grandchildren.
RIP Frank Thomas, who did so much to make kids like mine so very happy.
It's like losing a part of your childhood.
God Bless him and his family. He brought much pleasure to kids and parents alike for many years.
That about sums it up.
I saw the changes in Disney just in the time I was there. Walt Himself would barely recognize what his studio has become - for both good, and bad.
Thank you Mr. Thomas for making so many children happy.
Amen.
I bet even Cap'n Hooks flag is flying at half mast.
Thanx, for memories, and joy, and dreams.
IIRC, Thomas was responsible for animating the scene in "Snow White" where Dopey cried (believing she was dead). I've got tears in my eyes just recalling that part.
Yeah, it used to be when you went to a Disney produced film (Buena Vista) you knew you could take the entire family. Disney cared about money, but he had standards he wouldn't bend on no matter what the profit.
That is such a beautiful tribute.
Tink's light fades a little in respect, but will not go out.
It was Company legend, when we were there: Walt and Roy were It. Walt only wanted to draw pictures; Roy kept the money flowing. Walt was the face the world saw; Roy was the force behind the scenes.
Roy Jr. did the same thing. He only wanted to draw pictures, so he turned over the CEO job to a succession of people, and eventually wound up with Eisner.
I've met Michael Eisner. He is not a nice man. Neither was Jeff Katzenberg.
Ditto, my young ones much prefer the old Disney movies to the new ones.
It is a great book. BTW, if you want to see Frank and Ollie on film (sort of) get a copy of Iron Giant. The two old railway workers when the train crashes are modeled after and voiced by Frank and Ollie as a tribute to those two grand men.
An expanded version of Iron Giant is coming out soon on DVD, don't miss this animation masterpiece.
Question for you. I grew up in the same county as Walt Disney, in a town only 7 miles from Marceline. During the County Centenial Disney presented the county with a hand drawn and water colored picture of Mickey Mouse signed by Walt Disney. At the end of the Centennial it was given to my grandfather who was the Centennial Chair, and I have since inherited it. Is there any way to identify who drew it and who signed it. I understand the classic Disney signature is not really his.
WOW!!!
The ONLY way I could even BEGIN, would be to contact The Company.
Also, I would try and get in contact with the folks at the Disneyana Association - the single biggest collectors group of all things Mouse. They hold their annual convention at the Contemporary Resort at WDW. If there's ANYONE who could help with the authentication, it's them!
Word of caution: Use photos of the original; keep the original in a safety-deposit storage, and look into insuring it. There are thieves, even among Disney people.
Believe me, it's in a very safe place. I have been told it might be worth 15 to 20 thousand, but who knows.
I never knew Frank Thomas by name, but I sure knew him by his work. I'm only 34, but his work helped create my childhood. I'm sure many feel the same.
God rest this unsung talent. He left tis world a much better place.
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