Ollie Johnston, April 14, age
95: Johnston was the last survivor of Walt Disney's famed "Nine Old
Men" -- men who in fact had been in their 30s and 40s when they became Disney's
dream team of animators. Johnston joined Disney in 1935, and the first film he
worked on was "Snow White
... more." He went on to work on "Bambi," "Pinocchio" and "Fantasia." He was also a prolific author on books about
animation, and was a lifelong train aficionado. Brad Bird, one of the many young
animators influenced by Johnston and his technique, paid tribute to him with
small cameos in both "The Iron Giant" and "The Incredibles." This summer, a packed gala
celebration of Johnston's life and art was held at Hollywood's famed El Capitan
Theatre. It's the end of the glorious, pre-computer era of animation -- but
Johnston's famed works will live forever.
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