Dubbed a “Disney Legend” in 2004, visual animator, story man and development artist Mel Shaw passed away at 97.
Personally recruited by Walt Disney himself, Shaw contributed to several early classic Disney films including Fantasia, Bambi and The Wind in the Willows. His career with Disney was put on hold during the second World War, where he served as a filmmaker and cartoonist. After the war, he returned to work for Disney offering invaluable knowledge and expertise during the making of The Rescuers, The Fox and the Hound, The Great Mouse Detective, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast.
Shaw also recently completed his as-yet-unpublished autobiography Animator on Horseback. Earlier this year, he resided with his son and daughter-in-law.
