Eric Larson
One of Disney's "Nine Old Men", Eric Larson was born in Cleveland, Utah, in 1905, Eric avidly read comic humor magazines, such as "Punch" and "Judge," while growing up on the plains. After high school, he went on to major in journalism at the University of Utah. While there, Eric edited the campus magazine and won a reputation as a creative humorist in both literature and graphic arts. During this time, he also sketched cartoons, which appeared in the local "Deseret News."
After graduation, Eric traveled around America for a year freelancing for various magazines and in 1933, landed in Los Angeles where he developed an adventure serial for KHJ Radio, called "The Trail of the Viking." That same year, taking the advice of a friend, who was familiar with his exceptional drawing skill, Eric decided to submit some of his sketches to The Walt Disney Studios. He was hired as an assistant animator and his journalism aspirations changed for good.
Over the years, Eric animated on such feature films as, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Fantasia," "Bambi," "Cinderella," "Alice in Wonderland," "Peter Pan," "Lady and the Tramp," "Sleeping Beauty," "The Jungle Book," as well as nearly 20 shorts and six television specials. Later, he served as a consultant on "The Black Cauldron" and "The Great Mouse Detective."
After 52 years at Disney, Eric retired in 1986. In an interview at that time, he said, "The important thing is not how long I've been here [at Disney], but how much I've enjoyed it and what I've accomplished in all that time. When I think about my contribution to the animation that people enjoy so much, it makes me feel good."
Eric Larson died in La Cañada-Flintridge, California, on October 25, 1988.
After graduation, Eric traveled around America for a year freelancing for various magazines and in 1933, landed in Los Angeles where he developed an adventure serial for KHJ Radio, called "The Trail of the Viking." That same year, taking the advice of a friend, who was familiar with his exceptional drawing skill, Eric decided to submit some of his sketches to The Walt Disney Studios. He was hired as an assistant animator and his journalism aspirations changed for good.
Over the years, Eric animated on such feature films as, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Fantasia," "Bambi," "Cinderella," "Alice in Wonderland," "Peter Pan," "Lady and the Tramp," "Sleeping Beauty," "The Jungle Book," as well as nearly 20 shorts and six television specials. Later, he served as a consultant on "The Black Cauldron" and "The Great Mouse Detective."
After 52 years at Disney, Eric retired in 1986. In an interview at that time, he said, "The important thing is not how long I've been here [at Disney], but how much I've enjoyed it and what I've accomplished in all that time. When I think about my contribution to the animation that people enjoy so much, it makes me feel good."
Eric Larson died in La Cañada-Flintridge, California, on October 25, 1988.