Burny Mattinson, animator, director, producer during 1964 People and Story Artist years of his career as the longest-serving “actor” in Walt Disney Co. history, has passed away. he is87.
Martinson died of a short illness at the Canoga Park assisted living facility in Los Angeles on Monday, the studio announced. He should have received the 29 Annual Service Award— The studio’s first – June 4th.
Mattinson was working full-time at Walt Disney Animation Studios at the time of his death as a story consultant and mentor.
“For seven years, Burny’s artistic talent, generosity and love of Disney animation and the generations of storytellers who have come to our door have made us better – more Better artists, better technologists and better collaborators,” Walt Disney Animation Studios chief creative officer Jennifer Lee said in a statement. “All of us who were fortunate enough to know and learn from him will ensure that his legacy lives on.”
Among Mattinson’s accomplishments, there is a solo director’s credit in the feature film Mickey’s Christmas Carol
(1983) — Mickey Mouse returns to at and earned him an Oscar nomination – and as filmmaker and co-director of The Great Mouse Detective (1986).
He also worked as an artist on such classics as Lady and the Tramp (1945), One hundred and one Dalmatians (1955), Sword in the Stone (1955), The Jungle Book (1967), rescue team (1977), Big Hero 6 (2014) and Strange World (2022); served as Aladdin (1994 key member of the story team), beauties And the Beast (1994 ), The Lion King (1994), Pocahontas (1994), The Hunchback of Notre Dame ( 1996), Taishan (1996) and Mulan (1998); is Winnie the Pooh (2008) Story Supervisor; and for the 1998 Goofy short How to Hook Up Your Home Theater contributed.
Burnett Mattinson, the oldest of two children, was born in San Francisco in May 30, 30. Before he was 6, he saw Disney’s Pinocchio , and since then, “it was my dream — to work in this industry,” he recalls road. “So, I work every day and draw.”
His father was drummer in Horace Heidt’s big band and the family moved to Los Angeles. to him when he was drawing a Disney-style cartoon.
After high school, his mother dropped him off at the door of the Disney Studios in Burbank. A guard looked at his portfolio and let him in, and Martinson wrapped up his interview and landed a job in the mailroom. Six months later, with no formal artistic training, he started working as a middleman on Lady and the Tramp.
He was promoted to assistant animator to animator Marc Davis in Sleeping Beauty , And continued in that role in One Hundred and One Dalmatians . When that movie ended, he started 12 Projects with animator Eric Larson include Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color TV, The Sword in the Stone , Mary Poppins (1967), The Jungle Book and The Aristocats (1964).
After completing an eight-week in-house training program, Mattinson became an animator for Robin Hood(1970) and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, Too (1974), in collaboration with animator Ollie Johnston.
Animator Frank Thomas saw Mattinson’s thumbnail and asked him to help storyboard for The Rescuers . “Storyboard as close to direction as possible,” Mattinson points out. “You’re telling the camera where to go, what’s happening on screen, where to cut from, and really create the blueprint for the film.”
Inspired by Disneyland Records’ Christmas album, Martinson A note was sent to then-studio head Ron Miller asking for film ideas. He was surprised when he was assigned to direct Mickey’s A Christmas Carol , which led to his role in Big Mouse Detective .
Mattinson is named a Disney Legend in 2008. On March 5th 2014 he set the longevity record for a cast member, surpassing Disney Artist and Visionary Engineer John Henchy 1993 records for years, 8 months and 1993 sky.
Survivors include his wife Ellen; son Brett, his wife Kelly and their two children; and his daughter Genny, her husband Larry and their two children .
Donations may be made to Motion Picture in lieu of the Flowers & TV Fund .
