Veteran Disney animator and designer, Bill Justice, who died on 10 February – the day after his 97th birthday – was a great character and a wonderful example of the diversity of talent discovered and nurtured at the Disney studio.
I pay tribute to his long and extraordinary career in this obituary in the British newspaper The Guardian.
With essays by Brian Sibley on 'Mary Poppins', 'Alice in Wonderland', 'The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr Toad', 'The Sword in the Stone' and 'Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree'
NOW IN PAPERBACK
Four new Winnie-the-Pooh stories by Brian Sibley & Co.
PACIFIC PERSPECTIVE
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I am much struck and deeply moved by this extraordinary 1967 painting,
'Pacific': the work of Alex Colville (1920-2013), a Canadian artist and
print-mak...
Signed Books: 2 – JOURNEY'S END
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Among my collection of signed books are volumes given to me by writers who
were also friends along with others by writers, actors and celebrities whom
I ...
On Specs
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I love the numerous wacky things to be found in Venice – such as bonkers
spectacles!
These, of course, are modeled on those worn by Peggy Guggenheim and ...
THE SHY SNAIL
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There was a Snail who was painfully shy and timid.
“You know what your trouble is,” said the Blackbird, “you’re far too
insular and self-possessed, too ret...
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SNAPPING THE CLICHÉ-RIDDEN
A Photo-Essay
by
Brian Sibley & David Weeks
"I never take pictures of gondolas," the Photographer told me as I eyed-up
a shot...
Knott's Berry Farm, May 1962
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There is a Berry Farm. Some say you can only find it if you eat your
vegetables and are pure of heart. Who's to say? Not me, I've already
forgotten what ...
Inside the Pink Taco
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I have always been fascinated with the Pink Taco location on Sunset
Boulevard, which sits next to my home-away-from-home, the Chateau Marmont.
At one tim...
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I have to admit that am "tickled to death" (as my good friend Joe Campana
would say) by the four new Disney-related Italian books I just received
today: ...
Long Lost Model Sheets
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I just re-discovered these model sheets. The drawings and notes (with
typos) were meant for my animation crew, animators as well as clean up
artists. T...
A Vintage Disneyland Trip Report - July 1994
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Just six months after my January 1994 trip to Disneyland, I returned to the
park for another visit.
They were finally handing out 1994 guidebooks at the ...
Facebook Page
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This is a reminder to all my blog readers that I have a Facebook page, *Disney's
Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men. *It currently has 614 readers...
Twas The Night Before Christmas, Disney Style
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This magnificent artwork is from McCall's Magazine December 1941 by the
legendary Disney artist Hank Porter. Obviously the very thing for Christmas
Eve. ...
Pat and Mike Show Christmas
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It's our Christmas episode of the Pat and Mike Show. It’s a tribute to the
men and women of animation that my wife Patty and I were honored to work
along...
19 Trips Down the Mountain (Splash Mountain)
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From the archives of The Imagineering Fan Club, that time I rode Splash
Mountain 19 times to try to find out what this sign said (I wouldn't see
and p...
The Swisskapolka!
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Don't call me swissy-pants.
Let me tell you, it was no job for the faint-hearted. The turnstile
position at the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse required ...
Storybook Land Scenes
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Two snapshots featuring scenes along the bank of the canal through
Storybook Land. The attraction reflected Walt's love of miniature and also
Ken Anderson'...
Snow White Sabbatical
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Image copyright Disney's Official Snow White Facebook page, February 2016.
After eight intense years of sitting in front of this computer, researching
a...
Screamin’ in California
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One of the great things about walking around Paradise Pier is when riders
go whizzing overhead on California Screamin’. It’s a driving force to the
livel...
Blu-ray Review: Pixar's "The Good Dinosaur"
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“This is probably one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had in my life,
probably the toughest gig I’ve ever had,” says *The Good Dinosaur* director
P...
Finding Dory in Japan
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Pixar is giving us a new Nemo adventure on the big screen but the Oriental
Land Company is giving their guests a new Nemo attraction in the parks. OLC
has ...
Napoleon and Samantha - 1972
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Cute kids and animals were a hallmark of live-action Disney films and at
first glance *Napoleon and Samantha* looks like just another in a long
list. Ho...
ASIFA EAST Memorial for Michael Sporn March 2, 2015
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Michael Sporn was one of the giants of the New York animation community.
From 1980 until his untimely death last year, Michael Sporn’s studio
produced many...
An Open Letter to Tom Fitzgerald
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Dear Mr. Fitzgerald,
I read last week that you are taking over the creative direction of EPCOT,
and I know I am not the first to write an open letter to...
What do you give a 58-year-old Magic Kingdom?
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What do you give a 59-year-old Magic Kingdom on her birthday? Especially
when she has everything, like she did when I first pinned on a Mickey Mouse
namet...
'Monsters University' viral site
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Briefly: Pixar's viral marketing division hit a home run with its
just-released *Monsters University *website.
The site is incredibly detailed, featuring...
THE ATTRACTION POSTER BOOK IS HERE!!!!
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Finally!! After several years its here!! Late May this Bible will appear
at the parks. While it doesn't show EVERYTHING, it does have a good
historic...
Keep Calm And...
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You've all seen versions of this floating around, so I thought I would make
my version of it. Grab a copy and enjoy- just remember you saw it here
first!
...
Mickey's 60th Birthday Parade
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The year 1988
Disneyland celebrated Mickey's 60th with a
"Special " Birthday Parade...
The Premise of the parade was that Mice from all over
the world were c...
Out and About: Meet Me at The Derby! II
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Well, you waited 5 months for the breathtaking conclusion to my first post
about the Brown Derby (link). Thanks, and welcome back! Today's post
focuses on ...
Who wants to join the 1930s Mickey Mouse Club?
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These images have been sitting around on my computer desktop for weeks now.
I just had to get them posted. Text to follow later this week. Click on any
ima...