Disney honors Legends for 2007

[ALIASd]

Disney Honors Legends for 2007

AnimationWorldNetwork
October 11, 2007

Last night, a dozen new Disney Legends were honored at the 20th annual Walt Disney Co. event at the Burbank studio, including animators Floyd Norman (SLEEPING BEAUTY, JUNGLE BOOK, TOY STORY 2, MONSTERS, INC.); Art Babbitt (The Wicked Queen in SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, Geppetto in PINOCCHIO and Dancing Mushrooms in FANTASIA), whose firing in 1941 led to the Disney animators' strike; and Dick Huemer (Baby Weems from THE RELUCTANT DRAGON, DUMBO, SALUDOS AMIGOS, MAKE MINE MUSIC, ALICE IN WONDERLAND and SILLY SYMPHONIES shorts).

Joining the animators were Disney/Pixar composer Randy Newman (TOY STORY and THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG); Carl Bongirno of Imagineering (responsible for Walt Disney World financial matters); actress Marge Champion (live-action reference model for animated characters in SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, FANTASIA); make-up artist Bob Schiffer (TRON); Chief Archivist Dave Smith; Tom Murphy, head of Capital Cities/ABC Inc.; Roone Arledge, ABC News president and sports pioneer; Ron Logan of Parks and Resorts; and Lucille Martin, Walt Disney's last personal assistant.

Presiding over the special ceremony was Disney President and CEO Robert A. Iger, along with fellow presenters Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios; Roy E. Disney, Disney director emeritus; and Marty Sklar, exec VP and Walt Disney Imagineering Ambassador.

http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=...sitem_no=21164

[BigPigletFan]

Yay! More legends. I love it. Some of these are long over-due and some are a suprise, but all earned.

[BDBopper]

I agree. Congrats to all of them!

[sydney]

Its about time that these legends are honored!

[BFJen]

Yay for Dave Smith being honored - he's an incredible guy.

[IMAGINE]

Im glad Dave got in there, the archives are so special...

[Cmash95]

I agree with some of them but not sure about a couple. I mean randy newman seems a bit young to be considered a legend but I do love his music. I am very glad mr babbit finally got the recongnition he deserved even if he did bring about a dark piece of disney history.

[Opus1guy]

I'm surprised it took this long for them to induct Dave Smith. For a company so steeped in history and traditions...and for a company so continually reliant on the that history for new projects...there's no one out there who is more responsible for preserving and making that history accessible. Very deserving of this award. IMHO.

Also great to see Bob Schiffer in there. What a great and talented guy he was. So friendly to all. And what storied he told!!!

Congrats to all!

[Neverlandtink]

Wow, congratulations to Floyd Norman. That's awesome.

[ChimneySweep]

I just posted lots of pics from the Legends Ceremony if you're interested at mouseclubhouse.com

[I Heart Disneyland]

Love Randy Newman!!!

[Bill]

Finally they honored Ron Logan... he's had a window for five years. It's about time he got the legend status as well!

[jane2073]

I wonder how they pick who gets honored. I think the people who currently do the voices for the "Fab Five" (sensational six-if you count Daisy) are long over due. They honored Tim Allen a couple of years ago. Not saying he is not deserving, but others have done a lot more.

[DisquietingMetamorphosis]

Don't forget the "Tenth Old Man," animator Floyd Norman! I have had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful man, so I must toot my horn - He is certainly worthy of the honor!