(dpa) - Ollie Johnston Jr,
the creator of Bambi and the last living member of Disney's celebrated
"Nine Old Men," who set the standards for the art of animation, has
died at 95.
Johnston died Monday afternoon of natural causes at a long-term care facility
in Sequim, Washington, according to a press release from Walt Disney Studios.
John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation
Studios called him "one of the greatest animators of all time."
Johnston's helped create Disney's legendary status, beginning with his
animation of the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio. He helped to create such
celebrated characters as Bambi and Thumper in Bambi, the Three Good Fairies in
Sleeping Beauty, Pongo and Perdita in 101 Dalmatians, and Mowgli and Baloo in
The Jungle Book.
Among the most famous scenes he created were Pinocchio's nose growing when he
lied to the Blue Fairy in the 1940 movie; Thumper reciting his lesson about
eating clover greens under his mother's watchful eye in Bambi and Baloo
performing The Bare Necessities in The Jungle Book.
Johnston was born October 31, 1912, in Palo Alto, California, and studied art
at Stanford University, where his father was the head of the romance languages
department. He join Disney in 1935 and quickly worked his way through its
ranks.