Burny Mattinson

Burny Mattinson

American animator, director, producer, and storyboard artist
Date of Birth: 13.05.1935
Country: USA

Content:
  1. Early Life and Inspiration
  2. Entry into Walt Disney Animation Studios
  3. Journey as an Animator
  4. Transition to Director and Producer
  5. "Mickey's Christmas Carol" and Beyond
  6. Post-2000 Career
  7. Personal Life and Legacy

Early Life and Inspiration

Barney Mattinson was born in San Francisco in 1935 to parents with British roots. Growing up, his father's work as a jazz drummer exposed him to the entertainment industry. At the age of six, a screening of "Pinocchio" ignited a passion for animation within him, leading him to practice drawing Disney characters.

Entry into Walt Disney Animation Studios

In 1945, Mattinson's family relocated to Los Angeles. After high school, he approached the Disney studio, hoping to find work as an animator. Impressed by his portfolio, the security guard contacted the head of human resources, Ken Seiling. While there were no openings in animation, he secured a position in the mailroom.

Journey as an Animator

Johnny Bond, an in-betweener, became Mattinson's mentor. After six months in the mailroom, he transitioned to working as an in-betweener on "Lady and the Tramp." Upon its release, most character animators were laid off, but Mattinson joined Johnny Walker as Mark Davis's assistants on "Sleeping Beauty." Walker eventually left, and Mattinson took his place, contributing to the iconic character of Maleficent.

Mattinson continued to develop his skills, working on "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" and illustrating the film's Golden Little Book adaptation. He also collaborated closely with Eric Larson on "Ludwig von Drake" for the television series "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color."

Transition to Director and Producer

In the 1970s, Mattinson embarked on an in-house training program for assistant animators. He passed the animation test and became a full-fledged character animator under the guidance of Ollie Johnston. He worked on "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too!" animating Kanga, Roo, Tigger, and Rabbit.

Recognizing Mattinson's talent for storytelling, Frank Thomas recommended him for work on "The Rescuers." Mattinson transitioned to storyboarding and developed the film's opening titles, an approach he later utilized in "The Fox and the Hound" and "The Black Cauldron."

"Mickey's Christmas Carol" and Beyond

In the early 1980s, Mattinson's long-held dream to create a project featuring the "Fab Five" (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto) came to fruition. Inspired by a Disney record, he pitched the idea of "Mickey's Christmas Carol" to CEO Ron Miller. The project was approved and became one of Disney's most beloved holiday specials.

Mattinson's success on "Mickey's Christmas Carol" led to his involvement as a director on "The Great Mouse Detective." He later transitioned to a producer role, eventually overseeing the production of "Oliver & Company" and "Life of Riley" at Disney's Orlando studios.

Post-2000 Career

Throughout the 1990s, Mattinson contributed as a storyboard artist to numerous Disney animation films, including "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," and "The Lion King." He also collaborated with Joe Grant, forming a trio with Vance Gerry.

In 2008, Mattinson was honored with the Disney Legends Award. He continued to work as a story supervisor on "Winnie the Pooh" in 2011.

Personal Life and Legacy

Mattinson was married to Sylvia Frye, a fellow in-betweener on "Sleeping Beauty." They had three children and four grandchildren.

Barney Mattinson passed away at the age of 87 on February 27, 2023, in Canoga Park, Los Angeles. His contributions to Disney animation will be forever remembered.

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