RIP Ollie Johnston

[S. Gomez]

I'll post the link to where I first heard the story, which was from The Digital Bits:

We've another bit of sad news to report, I'm afraid. We've seen the end of an era in film. Animation legend Ollie Johnston has passed away. He was 95. Perhaps the best thing that can be said today is that Johnston lived a long and full life, and gave us some incredible gifts over the years. Johnston was the last surviving member of Walt Disney's hand-picked team of animators, the legendary Nine Old Men. As such, he worked on nearly all of Disney's early and most beloved animated classics, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Song of the South, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, Sword in the Stone, Mary Poppins, Robin Hood, The Rescuers, The Fox and the Hound and my personal all-time favorite, The Jungle Book. Johnston often worked closely with his best friend and fellow animator, Frank Thomas, who passed away in 2004...

I think I speak for all us when I say, Ollie... you'll be missed. Thanks for all the great memories.

Man, there are certainly a lot of people passing away these days. Rest In Peace, Mr. Johnston. I'll always love your work.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

The end of an era.

Rest in peace, Ollie.

 

[doubleohfive]

I just heard a report about this on NPR not five minutes ago. They mentioned a particular story about how John Lassiter (or was it Brad Bird?) from PIXAR bought a train and took Ollie for a ride around the Disney lot on it, and how much of a joy it was for Ollie, a train enthusiast, to do that.

RIP.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I just heard a report about this on NPR not five minutes ago. They mentioned a particular story about how John Lassiter (or was it Brad Bird?) from PIXAR bought a train and took Ollie for a ride around the Disney lot on it, and how much of a joy it was for Ollie, a train enthusiast, to do that.

Wow, that's awesome. I can see either Lasseter or Bird doing that.

 

[Kegek]

The resume speaks for itself, more than a few are unquestionably classics and films I loved to watch again and again in my youth. RIP, Mr. Johnson.

 

[DarthPipes]

RIP, Ollie Johnston.

There must be something about being an animator, because these guys live long lives and usually die well into their 90s. Mr. Johnston is another fine example.

 

[cardinal biggles]

A lot of classics on his resumé. Even if people forget his name, they won't forget his films anytime soon.

I think I'll pop in Fantasia and queue up Beethoven's Pastoral in his honor.