I didn't know about Tyrus Wong, but 'Bambi' is still my favorite Disney movie. The beautiful backgrounds are one of the main reasons. I'll have to look for the American Masters program, as well.
Thanks so much for this!
I've watched a documentary about the animators on the Disney streaming service and don't remember seeing anything about him. That's a shame.
Oh, nice! I love to hear from a Bambi fan specifically! art of the scenery really is the glue and power behind the whole film, I agree! So glad I could share Tyrus' story with you. It's such a pleasure to learn about all these artists and how much passion they put into the larger works.
It's funny I feel like I may have watched the same Disney plus documentary recently?? Was it from the 50's?
Thank you so much, Ash! That makes me so happy to hear you enjoyed the post! I really can never tell when I share stories like this if it'll resonate with others. 😅
Well we’re Jewish and basically my parents were not into anything commercial and Disney is the epitome of commercial television and film. My dad also hated that everything Disney was a happy ending he thought the stories were stupid. He was British and of course British children stories were so much richer than anything Disney came up with in his ideology.
Makes sense, Leah. Disney movies are definitely sappy as hell, I cannot lie. And the gender roles drive me crazy as an adult. As I got older I very much felt the desire to transition away from Disney and into the many other animation options out there (e.g. anime, stop motion, etc.)
Fandom is a tricky thing, but you found the human story here. That's the relatable part to me. Honestly, I loved the work you shared, especially the water colors. But I'm not a big Disney fan (not a hater, just not a fan), and I really didn't like Bambi. Granted, I think I was five when I saw it, and seeing Bambi's mom get killed early on really freaked me out. I actually haven't seen the film since. But I found this post super compelling because you championed the artist rather than the fandom they contributed to. Does that make sense?
Haha, absolutely understand. I am highly ambivalent toward Disney as an adult, so I would never promote the company. If anything I'm that person who rambles at length about all their abuses, including Walt's myriad personal bigotries.
I'm honestly not a huge Bambi fan myself, I haven't seen it since I was a kid either.
Much like you said I'm very much interested in the artists' who changed an industry and brought something so impactful to life behind the scenes. I live for an underdog story.
Hell yeah! I'm so excited for you to watch the doc, Dekera!
Get ready to feel so many wonderful feelings. I honest to god felt so inspired after watching his story. It's a beautifully made documentary too, wonderful interviews, etc.
I'm truly so impressed by how kind and passionate he was.
Yay! I'm glad you enjoyed this! Excited that you're passing the story along to a friend-- I hope Tessa gets all the feels from Tyrus' story as well! I'd love to see his story go far and wide.
He is truly such an empowering inspiration. I cannot get ENOUGH!
Definitely-Unlike you I grew up in a very anti-Disney family for many reasons. My parents did not like the person nor the stories. I also didn’t grow up with a tv until I was 16 and the movies we went to were always art house or foreign so pretty different from Disney stories. I enjoy some of the newer movies and I appreciate the art and artists and work that goes into animated movies so I love learning about the artists especially ones where were overshadowed/obliterated.
*Aggressively pushes interests onto others*
Had you already known about Tyrus Wong? I had no idea.
Did you learn anything interesting through Tyrus’ story?
I love that his dad recognized his worth and talent and invested in him as an artist- its a hard thing for parents to do often. Especially immigrant parents. I know Jewish and Asian parents often have similarities and supporting a career in the arts is hard to come by from these cultures often (speaking as a child of Jewish parents).
It is a little heartbreaking that: Tyrus believed that his success was due to “luck and hard work […] not talent.”
Is this post too long? No - but ai’m supposed to be working so I skim read it but will go back and read it thoroughly later.
I usually try to keep my posts more brief, but I had so many feelings!!! All the feelings all the time! Let them roll out.
Ooooo, interesting to grow up anti-Disney, I'm curious about your background on this. I very much understand, of course. Disney the company is disturbingly corporate and Walt himself was bigoted on almost every level.
I also really loved that Tyrus' dad recognized his worth!
I imagine in their situation that must have really come from such a special and rare heart.
I can't imagine how terrifying it would be for a new immigrant to trust your child to choose their career path at such a young age-- especially a famously difficult one.
Haha, thank you for supporting my feeling explosions! I do enjoy sharing them, I really do! Hahaha.
It makes me so happy that this resonated with people! I often worry my fandoms are too niche, but the more I share my joys the more I realize how wrong I am and it makes me so oozy happy, haha.
I didn't know about Tyrus Wong, but 'Bambi' is still my favorite Disney movie. The beautiful backgrounds are one of the main reasons. I'll have to look for the American Masters program, as well.
Thanks so much for this!
I've watched a documentary about the animators on the Disney streaming service and don't remember seeing anything about him. That's a shame.
Oh, nice! I love to hear from a Bambi fan specifically! art of the scenery really is the glue and power behind the whole film, I agree! So glad I could share Tyrus' story with you. It's such a pleasure to learn about all these artists and how much passion they put into the larger works.
It's funny I feel like I may have watched the same Disney plus documentary recently?? Was it from the 50's?
this was great. might as well've slurped it through a straw
Thank you so much, Ash! That makes me so happy to hear you enjoyed the post! I really can never tell when I share stories like this if it'll resonate with others. 😅
Well we’re Jewish and basically my parents were not into anything commercial and Disney is the epitome of commercial television and film. My dad also hated that everything Disney was a happy ending he thought the stories were stupid. He was British and of course British children stories were so much richer than anything Disney came up with in his ideology.
Makes sense, Leah. Disney movies are definitely sappy as hell, I cannot lie. And the gender roles drive me crazy as an adult. As I got older I very much felt the desire to transition away from Disney and into the many other animation options out there (e.g. anime, stop motion, etc.)
This was a great change of pace! Loved learning about Tyrus Wong, thank you!
Aw, yay, I'm so glad you enjoyed Michael!
I'm thrilled that other people are resonating with his story because I struggle to tell whether my fandoms are relatable or not.
He really is such an inspiration though, I swear, I wish I could have met him-- he seemed like such an authentic person.
Fandom is a tricky thing, but you found the human story here. That's the relatable part to me. Honestly, I loved the work you shared, especially the water colors. But I'm not a big Disney fan (not a hater, just not a fan), and I really didn't like Bambi. Granted, I think I was five when I saw it, and seeing Bambi's mom get killed early on really freaked me out. I actually haven't seen the film since. But I found this post super compelling because you championed the artist rather than the fandom they contributed to. Does that make sense?
Haha, absolutely understand. I am highly ambivalent toward Disney as an adult, so I would never promote the company. If anything I'm that person who rambles at length about all their abuses, including Walt's myriad personal bigotries.
I'm honestly not a huge Bambi fan myself, I haven't seen it since I was a kid either.
Much like you said I'm very much interested in the artists' who changed an industry and brought something so impactful to life behind the scenes. I live for an underdog story.
Thank you. That was very interesting.
So glad you enjoyed, Al!
I could just watch this documentary annually at this point, haha. It fills me with so much inspiration and emotion.
I didn’t know anything about Tyrus Wong and look forward to watching the documentary. Thank you for sharing!
Hell yeah! I'm so excited for you to watch the doc, Dekera!
Get ready to feel so many wonderful feelings. I honest to god felt so inspired after watching his story. It's a beautifully made documentary too, wonderful interviews, etc.
I'm truly so impressed by how kind and passionate he was.
I'm excited to watch. Thank you again for the recommendation!
Great stuff, thanks! I’m going to forward to my acquaintance, Tessa Hulls. https://tessahulls.com/home.html
Yay! I'm glad you enjoyed this! Excited that you're passing the story along to a friend-- I hope Tessa gets all the feels from Tyrus' story as well! I'd love to see his story go far and wide.
He is truly such an empowering inspiration. I cannot get ENOUGH!
Do you think you’ll watch the documentary?
Definitely-Unlike you I grew up in a very anti-Disney family for many reasons. My parents did not like the person nor the stories. I also didn’t grow up with a tv until I was 16 and the movies we went to were always art house or foreign so pretty different from Disney stories. I enjoy some of the newer movies and I appreciate the art and artists and work that goes into animated movies so I love learning about the artists especially ones where were overshadowed/obliterated.
*Aggressively pushes interests onto others*
Had you already known about Tyrus Wong? I had no idea.
Did you learn anything interesting through Tyrus’ story?
I love that his dad recognized his worth and talent and invested in him as an artist- its a hard thing for parents to do often. Especially immigrant parents. I know Jewish and Asian parents often have similarities and supporting a career in the arts is hard to come by from these cultures often (speaking as a child of Jewish parents).
It is a little heartbreaking that: Tyrus believed that his success was due to “luck and hard work […] not talent.”
Is this post too long? No - but ai’m supposed to be working so I skim read it but will go back and read it thoroughly later.
I usually try to keep my posts more brief, but I had so many feelings!!! All the feelings all the time! Let them roll out.
Ooooo, interesting to grow up anti-Disney, I'm curious about your background on this. I very much understand, of course. Disney the company is disturbingly corporate and Walt himself was bigoted on almost every level.
I also really loved that Tyrus' dad recognized his worth!
I imagine in their situation that must have really come from such a special and rare heart.
I can't imagine how terrifying it would be for a new immigrant to trust your child to choose their career path at such a young age-- especially a famously difficult one.
Haha, thank you for supporting my feeling explosions! I do enjoy sharing them, I really do! Hahaha.
Loved this—had no idea. Thank you for sharing it!
So glad you enjoyed the story, Dana!!
It makes me so happy that this resonated with people! I often worry my fandoms are too niche, but the more I share my joys the more I realize how wrong I am and it makes me so oozy happy, haha.
Of course, Mitchell! I'm seriously so glad so many people have enjoyed his story here!