Disney Legend Burny Mattinson Dies at 87

The Walt Disney Firm has shared the unhappy information that Disney Legend Burny Mattinson, who labored as an animator, director, producer, and story artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios throughout a 70-year profession, handed away Monday, February 27, at Canyon Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Middle in Canoga Park, California, following a brief sickness. He was 87 years previous.

Mattinson was the corporate’s longest-serving worker, attributable to obtain his seventieth anniversary service award (the primary ever) on June 4.

His many achievements embody solo directing credit score on the animated featurette, Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983), which noticed Mickey Mouse return to the silver display for the primary time in 30 years, and a job as producer in addition to co-director of the 1986 Disney characteristic The Nice Mouse Detective.

Jennifer Lee, chief inventive officer, Walt Disney Animation Studios, stated, “Burny’s artistry, generosity, and love of Disney Animation and the generations of storytellers which have come by way of our doorways, for seven many years, has made us higher—higher artists, higher technologists, and higher collaborators. All of us who’ve had the respect to know him and be taught from him will guarantee his legacy carries on.”

Academy Award-winning Disney director Don Corridor stated, “For nearly 30 years, I’ve had the privilege to work alongside Burny Mattinson, from Winnie the Pooh to Large Hero 6 to, most just lately, Unusual World. I’ve marveled at his artistry, loved his good humor, and sat enraptured by his tales of Disney historical past. At 18 years previous, he adopted his dream of working at Walt Disney Animation Studios, and for nearly 70 years he lived that dream on daily basis, inspiring all of us who had the great fortune to comply with in his footsteps. I like him dearly.”

Mattinson was nonetheless working full-time at Walt Disney Animation Studios as a narrative guide and mentor on the time of his passing. Along with Unusual World (2022) and Large Hero 6 (2014), he labored as an artist on such classics as Girl and the Tramp (1955), One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961), The Sword within the Stone (1963), The Jungle E book (1967), and The Rescuers (1977). He served as a key member of the story crew on modern Disney classics together with Aladdin (1992), Magnificence and the Beast (1993), The Lion King (1994), Pocahontas (1995), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Tarzan (1997), and Mulan (1998). He served because the story supervisor on the 2011 theatrical characteristic Winnie the Pooh and contributed to the 2007 Goofy quick How one can Hook Up Your Dwelling Theater.

Legendary Disney animator Eric Goldberg, an in depth good friend and colleague, stated, “Burny was the Renaissance man of Disney Animation. He actually did every thing that might be executed on the studio—assistant animator, animator, story artist, producer, and director of many movies that made an indelible mark on our collective appreciation of the Disney ethos. He was additionally, when he began, visitors boy to Walt, giving Walt his weekly spending money.”

Talking of Mattinson’s artwork, Goldberg added, “Burny was low-key, charming, creative, and fantastically gifted as a draftsperson and a storyteller. His storyboards have been fantastically acted and splendidly atmospheric, which I first encountered after I joined the studio for Aladdin. The extra I noticed of his work, the extra I grew to become in awe of his breadth of expertise. I worth his cheerful friendship and lasting inspiration to me and so many different animation artists. He will probably be missed, however not forgotten.”

Burnett Mattinson was born in San Francisco on Might 13, 1935, the primary of two youngsters. Earlier than he was 6 years previous, his mom took him to the San Francisco Orpheum Theatre, the place he noticed Walt Disney’s Pinocchio. “Ever since I noticed that movie, this was my dream—to work on this enterprise,” Mattinson as soon as recalled. “So, I labored on daily basis, drawing.”

His father, a drummer with Horace Heidt’s Large Band, moved the household to Los Angeles after the band’s demise in 1945, and Mattinson continued drawing by way of his college years. By the point he was 12, he was skillfully drawing Disney-style cartoons, and he stored dreaming of being a Disney artist.

After his highschool commencement, his mom drove him to Burbank and dropped him off on the Studio gate. A kindly guard took a have a look at {the teenager}’s portfolio and referred to as the pinnacle of the personnel division. Mattinson bought an interview and a job, starting within the mailroom. Six months later, and with no formal artwork coaching, he began work as an in-betweener on Girl and the Tramp.

He was promoted to assistant animator beneath Disney Legend Marc Davis on Sleeping Magnificence and continued in that capability on One Hundred and One Dalmatians. When that movie ended, he started a 12-year stint with Disney Legend Eric Larson, engaged on a wide range of initiatives together with Walt Disney’s Fantastic World of Coloration tv collection (1961-1979), The Sword within the Stone, Mary Poppins (1964), The Jungle E book, and The Aristocats (1970).

After finishing an eight-week inner coaching program, Mattinson grew to become an animator on Robin Hood (1973) and a key animator on Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, Too (1974), working with Disney Legend Ollie Johnston. Disney Legend Frank Thomas noticed Mattinson’s thumbnail sketches and requested him to assist on storyboards for The Rescuers. “Storyboards are as near course as you will get,” Mattinson later stated. “You’re telling cameras the place to go, what’s taking place onscreen, the place to chop, and actually making a blueprint for the movie.”

Impressed by a Disneyland Data Christmas album, Mattinson openly despatched it, together with a notice containing an concept for a movie, to Ron Miller, then head of the studio. The subsequent day, Mattinson was summoned by Miller. Mattinson feared that his boldness had been a gaffe, however was pleasantly stunned when the studio chief agreed along with his concept, assigning the startled animator to direct Mickey’s Christmas Carol, which he additionally produced. This success led to his contribution as producer and director on The Nice Mouse Detective.

“Animation is 75 % pondering and 25 % drawing,” Mattinson as soon as stated. “All the pieces have to be rigorously thought out first. Our animators not solely should suppose like actors but additionally work out the way to get that efficiency throughout on paper and on the display. Our characters pause to suppose and connive. You may see it of their eyes.”

He added, “The vital factor to recollect about good animation is that much less is extra. Shifting the characters an excessive amount of is the signal of an actual novice. We put our efforts into extra delicate, rigorously thought out actions that talk the purpose clearly and in an entertaining means.”

Mattinson was named a Disney Legend in 2008. He set the solid member longevity report on March 5, 2018, when he handed the earlier report—held by Disney artist, Imagineer, and Disney Legend John Hench—of 64 years, eight months, and 29 days (or 23,651 days).

When requested to mirror on his lengthy Disney profession on the half-century mark, Mattinson stated, “I imply, 50 years is a very long time, however I nonetheless really feel like that 18-year-old child that got here right here again in ’53, you already know? I by no means really feel like I’ve gotten previous.”

Mattinson is survived by his spouse, Ellen Siirola; his son, Brett Mattinson, and his spouse, Kelly, and their two youngsters; and his daughter, Genny, her husband Larry Ellena, and their two youngsters. Funeral companies will probably be non-public, and he will probably be laid to relaxation at Forest Garden, Hollywood Hills. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the MPTF (Movement Image and Tv Fund) in Woodland Hills, California.

Supply: The Walt Disney Firm