A few weeks ago I was able to attend the official graduation for AnimationMentor in Berkeley, CA.  What an amazing ride these past two years have been.  The people I have met and the experience I have gained has exceeded my wildest expectations.  I’m sad for it to end, but I’ll look back on the whole experience with fond memories.

Thanks Bobby, Shawn, and Carlos for everything.

After hearing the sad news about animator Ollie Johnston a few weeks ago, I was reminded of another one of Disney’s Nine Old Men that I was fortunate enough to meet, Marc Davis.

Marc Davis was an animator, artist and Imagineer, who loved creating characters for animation or any other medium.  His work was instrumental in creating Disneyland, and added a whimsical humor to the park that few realize is due to him. 

Back in 1999, as I was visiting Disneyland with my wife, we noticed a small sign announcing that, for a short period of time, Mr. Davis would be signing a limited edition lithograph of his famous stretching canvas paintings from Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion .  We quickly made note of the time and place, and made sure to arrive a little early. 

After waiting in line for a bit, I was able to speak with him briefly as he carefully signed my lithograph.  He was very gracious and patient with everyone, even though he seemed a little tired.  I didn’t want to take up too much of his time.  Just enough to thank him for his amazing work which helped inspire me to become an animator.  About a few months after that day, he passed away.   I felt very fortunate to be able to meet and let him know that his work was appreciated.