Scarlett Stahl accompanied Alice Davis to a recent Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences event and shares some photos of this wonderful evening. ~~Rick

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Presents A Salute to John and Faith Hubley

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Friday evening, September 14, 2012, invited guests entered the lobby of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills to attend a reception, prior to a special animation event. Everyone was eager to enter the air conditioned building as Los Angeles was having a heat wave of 107 degrees!!!

After checking in at the desk, the guests showed their tickets to enter the main lobby area and proceeded to dine from various stations on delicious appetizers, which included chicken, mini hamburgers, pasta, salads, to name just a few of the tasty treats. There was a separate table for all the desserts, as well as an open bar with both alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages.

Spotted among the crowd was June Foray, first lady of animation voices- such as Rocky of Rocky and Bullwinkle, who recently received an Emmy. Tony Anselmo, the official Voice of Donald Duck, was present. Also seen were: Charles Solomon (well known animation critic and author), Jerry Beck {another well known animation critic and author, as well as VP of ASIFA-Hollywood}, Tom Sito (president emeritus of the Animation Guild, author, animator and professor at USC).

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Jerry Beck, Tom Sito and Jan O’Bryant

Alice Davis (Disney Legend, who recently received the honor of her own window on Disneyland’s Main St.). Famous animator, Andreas Deja, who gave us Jafar, Scar and Lilo, to name a few of his creations, was seen chatting with fellow famous animator, Eric Goldberg, who created the Genie from Aladdin and the Alligator from Princess and the Frog, amongst many others. John Canemaker, the moderator of the event, circulated as well.

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Andreas Deja and Eric Goldberg

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John Canemaker and Alice Davis

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Scarlett Stahl and Alice Davis

All the guests mingled and visited with friends, colleagues and luminaries in the Animation Industry for about forty five minutes before the bell sounded for them to go up the stairs or elevators to the theatre for their reserved seats. Meanwhile the public, who had been fortunate enough to be able to purchase advance tickets at a nominal fee for the panel, had lined up outside the building and when the doors were opened, they proceeded to the theatre upstairs and filled in all the remaining unreserved seats.

John Canemaker, the moderator, is an animator, animation historian, author, teacher and lecturer. John began teaching and developing the animation program at New York University. His 2005 film, The Moon and the Son, which was about his relationship with his father, won the Academy Award for best animated short and also won an Emmy award for its graphic and artistic design.

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John’s talk skillfully gave the background on the deceased husband and wife team, John and Faith Hubley, which was followed by a showing of their animated films and commercials, and finished with a question and answer period with the Hubley’s daughter, Emily.

John Hubley had been in the animation industry for twenty years, working first for Disney, as art director on Fantasia in the Rite of Spring segment, then Dumbo and Bambi. During the Studio strike, he quit and moved to Columbia and later to UPA. While at UPA, he married Faith, who had been a music, film editor and script supervisor at Columbia and Republic Pictures. The McCarthy Communist blacklist led to their relocation in New York. They had a unique style of animation, which earned them many honors, including three Academy Awards. They worked on commercial projects to have the funds for their films, which had controversial themes, such as environmental polution, race problems, war and over population.Their style of animation was distinctly modern and provocative.

The Hubley’s collaborated with musicians, including Dizzy Gillespie and Herb Alpert for their animated musical works, as well as actors Dudly Moore and Meryle Streep, to name just a couple of the famous actors that they worked with voices for their films.

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One short was shown featuring the voices of their own children. During the Q & A, Emily Hubley was asked if her parents involved the children in their work, to which she replied in the affirmative. It seemed apparent
that their work was a major part of their life, which would naturally include their children.

John passed away in 1977 and Faith continued their work until her own passing in 2001. Their daughter, Emily, has directed several animated films of her own, including some material for Sesame Street.

Films viewed:

  • BROTHERHOOD OF MAN- 1945
  • FLAT HATTING- 1946
  • THE RAGTIME BEAR- 1949
  • ROOTY TOOT TOOT- 1952
  • A SMATTERING OF SPOTS- 1950’S & 60’S
  • ADVENTURES OF AN ASTERIX- 1957
  • THE TENDER GAME- 1958 (vocal by Ella Fitzgerald)
  • THE HOLE- 1963 (voices by Dizzy Gillespie and George Mathews)
  • WINDY DAY- 1968 (voices by Emily Hubley and Georgia Hubley)
  • VOYAGE TO NEXT- 1974 (voices by Maureen Stapleton and Dizzy Gillespie)
  • NORTHERN ICE, GOLDEN SUN- 2001
  • FAÇADE- 1964

Are you familiar with John and Faith Hubley? I’ve include some YouTube examples of their work for you here. I think you’ll find it interesting and inventive for its time.


This one was an Oscar winner for best animated short


Edgy and fun


Example of their commercial efforts

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Rick Wright
Rick has been a long term MiceChat author and co-founder of the Weekend Update. You will often find Rick in the position of "Greeter" at official events due to his warm and welcoming spirit. If you've got photos, news or trip reports to share, Rick would love to hear from you: [email protected]