Artist Burny Mattinson has passed away Monday morning following a short illness. He was eighty-seven years old. He is survived by his wife, Ellen Siirola; his son, Brett Mattinson, and his wife, Kelly, and their two children; and his daughter, Genny, her husband Larry Ellena, and their two children.
Disney's Chief Creative Officer Jennifer Lee said, "Burny's artistry, generosity, and love of Disney Animation and the generations of storytellers that have come through our doors, for seven decades, has made us better—better artists, better technologists, and better collaborators. All of us who have had the honor to know him and learn from him will ensure his legacy carries on."
Director Don Hall said, "For almost thirty years, I've had the privilege to work alongside Burny Mattinson, from Winnie the Pooh to Big Hero 6 to, most recently, Strange World. I have marveled at his artistry, enjoyed his good humor, and sat enraptured by his stories of Disney history. At eighteen years old, he followed his dream of working at Walt Disney Animation Studios, and for almost seventy years he lived that dream every day, inspiring all of us who had the good fortune to follow in his footsteps. I love him dearly."
Animator Eric Goldberg said, "Burny was the Renaissance man of Disney Animation. He literally did everything that could be done at the studio—assistant animator, animator, story artist, producer, and director of many films that made an indelible mark on our collective appreciation of the Disney ethos. He was also, when he started, traffic boy to Walt, giving Walt his weekly spending cash." He added, "Burny was low-key, charming, inventive, and superbly gifted as a draftsperson and a storyteller. His storyboards were beautifully acted and wonderfully atmospheric, which I first encountered when I joined the studio for Aladdin. The more I saw of his work, the more I became in awe of his breadth of talent. I value his cheerful friendship and lasting inspiration to me and so many other animation artists. He will be missed, but not forgotten."
Burnett Mattinson was born in San Francisco, California on May 13th, 1935. At the age of six, he was taken to see Disney's Pinocchio and fell in love with the animation medium. He spent his childhood drawing, and when he turned eighteen his mother dropped him off at Disney's front gate and got a job in the mailroom. Six months later, he began working on the film Lady and the Tramp despite having no formal training.
As a writer, he worked on The Rescuers, The Fox and the Hound, Mickey's Christmas Carol, The Black Cauldron, The Great Mouse Detective, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, Tarzan, and How to Hook Up Your Home Theater.
As a story artist, he worked on The Jungle Book.
As an animator, he worked on Robin Hood, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Pooh and Friends, and Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color.
As a storyboard artist, he worked on The Prince and the Pauper, The Rugrats Movie, and The Simpsons Movie.
As a director and producer, he worked on Mickey's Christmas Carol and The Great Mouse Detective.
Mattinson was named a Disney Legend in 2008. He was the longest serving employee in the history of The Walt Disney Company, beating out artist John Hench in 2018, and was set to receive Disney's first every Seventieth Anniversary Service Award on June 4th.
