Ann Guenther began her career in animation as an inker on Sleeping Beauty.
In those days, she was fresh from Pennsylvania, without money or contacts in the business ... or very much artistic training. One bright morning on the Disney lot, she encountered Walt Disney. He asked her, “What are you doing here so early?”
She answered, “I get here early every morning, Mr. Disney. I have to, because I hitchhike to work.” Ann was eighteen at the time. And Walt Disney was surprised.
Ms. Guenther returned to Disney as a full-fledged background artist after working on the lot as an inker in the late 1950s, one of the first individuals to ever accomplish this feat.
Ann worked in the Disney background department when supervisor Al Dempster ran it, and went on to a career with brushes and paint that spanned decades. Among her many theatrical credits: Robin Hood, The Rescuers, Space Jam, Winnie the Pooh and The Iron Giant. Ann was also a prolific background artist for a wide array of TV shows that include Tiny Toon Advnetures, Pinky and the Brain and The Flintstones.
Ann passed away from pneumonia on January 24th. She was 79.
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