Kim's Corner
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The Bill Justice Foundation
The Bill Justice Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports art education and local youth health service programs. Grants will be made to Bill’s alma mater, the Herron School of Art at Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis. The Foundation will also make grants to local youth health service programs in Southern California. These grants will be supported by donations from individuals, foundations, corporations and artwork royalties’ from Kim and Bill Justice.
Bill Justice
Disney Animator, Director and Imagineer
Bill Justice enjoyed a 42-year career with the Walt Disney Company and is celebrating his 90th Birthday in 2004. Bill joined the Walt Disney Studios in 1937 and his first assignment was to work on the classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Bill’s animation credits include over 20 feature films and 80 short subjects. He worked on Pinocchio, The "Pastoral Symphony" segment of Fantasia, Dumbo, Bambi, Saludos Amigos, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree and Lady and the Tramp.
Bill headed Studio experiments with the technique of stop-motion animation. Examples of this innovative medium can be seen in Babe’s in Toyland, Mary Poppin’s and The Parent Trap. Bill also received four Academy Awards nominations for Directing that include: Jack and Old Man, The Truth About Mother Goose, Noah’s Ark and A Symposium on Popular Songs.
Among the memorable characters that Bill developed are the precocious, Thumper from Bambi and the mischievous duo, Chip ‘n’ Dale, of which Bill animated all but one of their cartoons. Bill also directed the animated opening of the Mickey Mouse Club. Bill was promoted to Walt Disney Imagineering when Walt decided that an expert animator would help make the movements of his Audio-Animatronic characters at the Theme Park appear more natural. Bill’s first challenge was to animate the auctioneer for the Disneyland attraction, The Pirates of the Caribbean. He then completed the rest of the characters and began his next challenge, The Carousel of Progress. His work on other attractions included: Mission to Mars, The Haunted Mansion, Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree and America Sings at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
The Mickey Mouse Review, which opened in Walt Disney World in 1971 and presently resides at Tokyo Disneyland was Bill’s creation from inception to completion. Perhaps one of his most famous creations was the Main Street Electrical Parade of which he is credited with the original designs. Bill retired in 1979 from The Walt Disney Company. Much of his work can still be seen today at Disneyland in Anaheim, Walt Disney World in Orlando and in Tokyo Disneyland.
Bill is the author of the 1992 book, "Justice for Disney" which elaborates on his many accomplishments and magnificent career. Inducted as a Disney Legend in 1996, Bill and his wife of over eight years, Kim, reside in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles and are living “happily ever after".
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-- Kim Petersen
Kim's Corner is normally posted the fourth Monday of each month and at other times for merchandise updates.
The opinions expressed by our Kim Petersen, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted December 18, 2003