Legendary Disney Animator Phil Young Passes Away
Brilliant Disney animator Phil Young passed away late last month due to complications from cancer.
An Illustrative Master
Largely known for his work on Academy Award-winning films like “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Lion King,” Young established himself early on as a gifted character animator.
Both the delightful Mrs. Potts and awe-inspiring Mufasa came from Young’s creative work as well as roles in “Aladdin” and “The Great Mouse Detective.” He also developed the endearing bell ringer Quasimodo in “The Hunchack of Notre Dame.”
“I was fortunate to have a really strong character to work on, with the best voice talent to animate to, and a great lead animator on the project in Tony Fucile. He was extremely generous with the scenes he gave me, and at last gave me scenes in which I could exercise some acting chops,” Young told blog FLIP in a 2013 interview.
A key part of the renaissance for Walt Disney animation, Young’s contributions certainly led to the success not only of the films above but also of many others. He also helped to craft “The Little Mermaid,” “Mulan,” “Tarzan,” and even the incredible artistry of the “Rhapsody in Blue” segment of “Fantasia 2000.
Joining the Ranks at Walt Disney Animation
Beginning his career in the 1970s at Disney animation, Young studied under some of the company’s original greats. He counted Eric Larson, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnson, as mentors, and worked with greats Marc Davis and Ward Kimball.
Young’s first feature film with Disney in which he played a major role was 1981’s “Fox and the Hound.” The feature films follows the heart-warming tale of unexpected friendship between Tod, a red fox, and Copper, a hound.
Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, Young worked on animated feature films, penning Kuzco for “The Emperor’s New Groove.” His final project for the Walt Disney Company was “Home on the Range” in 2004.
It’s no wonder that Young went on to such success in crafting such incredibly connectable and timeless characters. He learned from the best. Personally dubbed the “Nine Old Men” by Walt Disney himself, the Disney legends Young knew as mentors crafted the bulk of Walt Disney Productions’ earliest works. The list of masterpieces includes “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Cinderella,” “Lady and the Tramp,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Pinocchio,” and so many more beloved classic Disney films.
Continuing on a Legacy of Mentorship
After retirement, Young taught at Rogue Community College and Savannah College of Art and Design in their animation department. Young himself studied at California State University Long Beach, where he earned a BFA in illustration in 1977. Though he showed strength in art as a student himself, Young only discovered his talents after time serving in the military. He worked there as a draftsman and an illustrator at a training headquarters in Germany.
Passing away at the age of 80, Young leaves behind an incredible career and a lifetime of artistic creation, comraderie, and mentorship.
Image Credit: Cartoon Brew