“Pinocchio” and “Fantasia” Animator Don Lusk Passes Away at 105

Don Lusk, prolific animator who worked on several beloved films during Disney’s ‘Golden Age,’ has passed away at the age of 105, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

  • Lusk worked as an animator for Disney from 1933-1960 and in that time his drawings brought to life some of the most iconic Disney films of all-time, including:
    • Pinocchio
    • Fantasia
    • Bambi
    • Song of the South
    • Cinderella
    • Alice in Wonderland
    • Peter Pan
    • Lady and the Tramp
    • Sleeping Beauty
    • One Hundred and One Dalmatians
  • After beginning his career in set and costume design, Lusk caught a glimpse of Disney’s Hyperion Studio.
  • He began his time with Disney as an “in-betweener,” filling in action between key poses on Goofy short films.
  • He later served as a clean up artist on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
  • Lusk was one of 334 Disney animators who went on strike, demanding higher salaries.
  • Despite having his salary increased, Lusk would later leave Disney after he “just barely got credit” for his work on One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
  • Lusk would later go on to work on several other iconic animated works, including The Smurfs and multiple Charlie Brown specials.
  • Lusk would retire in 1993 at the age of 80.

What they’re saying:

  • Animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, in their book Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life, on Lusk’s work on Fantasia: "The scenes of the glowing white fish in the Arabian Dance section of 'Nutcracker Suite' amazed the whole studio. Never has an object on celluloid looked so diaphanous and delicate … No one had ever seen such a gossamer effect, and very few knew how it had been achieved."
  • Disney conceptual artist Mike Peraza in a Facebook post: “As with so many animation veterans he was as talented (and he was) as he was generous to others with his advice and help over the years. He will be missed but his wonderful work will live on.”