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Milton QuonAmerican animator, artist and actor
Date of Birth: 22.08.1913
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Career
- Disney Animation
- Later Career
- Teaching and Recognition
- Awards and Legacy
- Personal Life
Early Life and Career
Born in Los Angeles on August 22, 1913, Milton Quon was the eldest of eight children and the only son of immigrants from Canton, China. Despite his mother's initial hesitation, Quon pursued art at the encouragement of an uncle, earning a scholarship to the California Institute of the Arts. As a young freelancer, he designed restaurant menus and interiors in Los Angeles' Chinatowns.
Disney Animation
In 1939, Quon joined Walt Disney Studios shortly after graduating. He became the third Chinese-American animator on staff, working on scenes in "Fantasia," including "Waltz of the Flowers" and "Arabian Dance," and served as a first assistant animator on "Dumbo." During World War II, Milton led a team of 17 artists at Douglas Aircraft, creating illustrations for repair manuals for bombers and transport planes.
Later Career
Returning to Disney after the war, Quon headed the studio's advertising and publicity department on projects such as "Make Mine Music" and "Song of the South." In 1951, he transitioned to BBD&O, becoming the first Chinese-American art director at a national advertising agency. From 1964 until his retirement in 1980, he worked as a senior designer at Sealright Co., a major food packaging firm.
Teaching and Recognition
From 1974 to 1989, Quon taught drawing and advertising courses at the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College. He began collecting sketchbooks in 1980, amassing over 100. In 2005, the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles held a retrospective of Milton's work. He was one of five artists featured in the exhibition "Round the Clock: Chinese American Artists Working in Los Angeles" at the Vincent Price Art Museum in 2012.
Awards and Legacy
In 2013, Quon received the Golden Spike Award from the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California. His and his son Mike's artworks were showcased in Red Bank, New Jersey, in 2017. A solo exhibition of Milton's work was held at the Santa Monica College Gallery in the same year.
Personal Life
Quon was survived by his wife, Peggy Wong; children, Mike, Jeff, Tim, and Sheryl; and four grandchildren. When asked about the secret to his longevity, the animator often replied, "A good wife and Chinese food."
