The passing of an animation era

The last of Walt Disney's famed "Nine Old Men" passed away yesterday. Ollie Johnston, who animated "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Fantasia," "Bambi" and other classic Walt Disney films, was 95 years old.

In the early days of his studio, Walt Disney dubbed his team of animators his "Nine Old Men," even though most of the guys were in their 20s at the time. This name stuck with them for the rest of their lives.

The Nine Old Men created a new art form. Before them, animation was used to amuse, not to touch the heart. It consisted of minutes-long shorts and not animated features. The work Ollie and his peers did 70 years ago set the stage for all the great animated movies that followed.

Johnston worked as an assistant animator on "Snow White" and became an animation supervisor on "Fantasia" and "Bambi" and animator on "Pinocchio." He also worked on "Cinderella," "Alice in Wonderland," "Peter Pan," "Lady and the Tramp," "Sleeping Beauty," "101 Dalmatians," "Mary Poppins," "The Jungle Book," "The Aristocats," "Robin Hood" and "The Rescuers." He was especially proud of his work on "Bambi" and its classic scenes, including one depicting the heartbreaking death of Bambi's mother at the hands of a hunter. That scene has brought tears to the eyes of generations of young and old viewers.

Here is Glen Keane, Disney animator and son of cartoonist Bil Keane of The Family Circus fame, speaking about Ollie's work.