There is great comfort in knowing that Frank Thomas survived to see his work recognized by his peers and nearly five generations of admirers and pretenders to his throne. Devoted pupil and master animator Andreas Deja noted that when he came upon a chance to acquire a stack of Thomas’s rough animation drawings of King Louie he got on a plane to fetch them. Flipping through them on the flight home he thought to himself “I can do this!�? Then after photographing the sequence and watching it play out in real (reel) time he sank to the realization that the simplicity was deceptive, and that there was a genius and magic at work in Thomas’s drawings that was still unattainable by even someone as gifted as Deja. A lesson in humility that surely had Thomas beaming as Deja related his story to the April, 2003 audience at the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences tribute to him and his partner-in-crime, Ollie Johnston.

Until the very end Frank Thomas refused to be bound by the limits of a failing body - as his son and daughter-in-law, Ted and Kuniko, can attest to, having accompanied him to events where Thomas struggled against gravity and frailty to stand and acknowledge the warm appreciation of his fans and friends alike. This author will never forget the occasion two years ago when Frank, along with Ollie, attended John Canemaker’s lecture tour for Canemaker’s book on The Nine Old Men. Sitting on the aisle, I spent a few minutes kneeling next to Frank to catch up with him and to listen and watch him light up with excitement while he talked about the Frank & Ollie web site and the success of unleashing their knowledge via the information highway. Suddenly, in almost cartoonish fashion, a young fellow came racing down the aisle and skidded to halt just behind Frank. I stood up and stepped aside to watch as he whispered “Mr. Thomas?�? – wide eyed and reverent. “Yes?�?, Frank said, as he craned his head around to see this little chap in a smart looking blazer (- take note that if an eight year old can dress up for an animation event, surely the rest of us can manage more than just a fresh t-shirt…) “Oh, Mr. Thomas�? he said breathlessly, rapidly gaining speed with each word he spoke, “I think you are the most amazing artist in the world and I’ve been a fan of your work my entire life!!!�? Frank paused and stared at our young hero intently, “Oh, you have, have you!? Well what’s your name?�? It suddenly dawned on our dapper young friend that here was the opportunity he had waited for his “entire life�? and with the precision of a soldier taking an audience with his most beloved general, he snapped to attention and thrust his hand forward announcing “I’m John!�? “Well, nice to meet you, John!!�? replied Frank, as he met the outstretched hand with an equally enthusiastic thrust and a firm grip, and let loose with an avuncular laugh that filled the auditorium.

I saw in that moment both a humbled and a pride-filled Frank Thomas. He was as eager to be idolized as he was willing to be accessible to mere mortals who came to bask in the warmth of his smile. I willingly confess to being such a pilgrim.

For my sake, but mostly for the sake of young John and those who follow, I hope with all my heart and everything that I hold dear that the film industry in general, and the animation industry in specific never forget that they stand on the shoulders of giants – the most sincere of whom has left a mighty footprint on his way home.