W

Personal Info

Known For

Visual Effects

Born

March 4, 1914

Died

July 8, 2002 (age 88)

Place of Birth

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Also Known As

Ward Walrath Kimball

Ward Kimball

Biography

While Kimball was a brilliant draftsman, he preferred to work on comical characters rather than realistic human designs. Animating came easily to him and he was constantly looking to do things differently. Because of this, Walt Disney called Ward a genius in the book The Story Of Walt Disney. While there were many talented animators at Disney, Ward's efforts stand out as especially unique.Kimball created several classic Disney characters including the Crows in Dumbo; Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland; the Mice and Lucifer the Cat from Cinderella; and Jiminy Cricket fromPinocchio. He also animated the famous "Three Caballeros" musical number from the Disney film of the same name.In 1953, Kimball became a director and was responsible for the Academy Award-winning short Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom, and three Disney television shows about outer space that put the United States into the space program. He received anAcademy Award for the short animated cartoon It's Tough to Be a Bird.Ward Kimball was profiled by the Academy Award-winning producer Jerry Fairbanks in his Paramount Pictures film short series Unusual Occupations. This 35mm Magnacolor film short was released theatrically in 1944 and focused on Kimball's backyard railroad and full sized locomotive.Kimball was also a jazz trombonist. He founded and led the seven-piece Dixieland band Firehouse Five Plus Two, in which he played trombone. The band made at least 13 LP records and toured clubs, college campuses and jazz festivals from the 1940s to early 1970s. Kimball once said that Walt Disney permitted the second career as long as it did not interfere with his animation work.Kimball continued to work at Disney up until the early 1970s, working on the Disney anthology television series, being one of the writers for Babes in Toyland, creating animation for Mary Poppins, directing the animation for Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and working on titles for feature films such as The Adventures Of Bullwhip Griffin and Million Dollar Duck. His last staff work for Disney was producing and directing the Disney TV show The Mouse Factory. He continued to do various projects on his own, even returning to Disney to do some publicity tours. Additionally, Kimball worked on an attraction for Disney's EPCOT Center called The World Of Motion.

Known For

Filmography

2022FilmMickey: The Story of a Mouseas Self (archive footage)2019FilmApollo: Missions to the Moonas Self - Disney Animator (archive footage)2009FilmWaking Sleeping Beautyas Self (archive footage)2009FilmThe Making of 'Pinocchio': No Strings Attachedas Self (Archive Footage)2007FilmThe Pixar Storyas Ward Kimball (archive footage)2005FilmFrom Rags to Riches: The Making of Cinderellaas Self (archive footage)2005FilmThe Cinderella That Almost Wasas Self (archive footage)2005FilmFrom Walt's Table: A Tribute to Disney's Nine Old Menas Self (Archive Footage)2004FilmWalt Disney's Fables - Vol.6as Ward Kimball (archive footage) (uncredited)2000FilmA Wish Came True: The Making of 'Pinocchio'as Himself2000FilmThe Fantasia Legacy: The Concert Featureas Self1997FilmThe Story Behind Walt Disney's 'Fun and Fancy Free'as Self1993FilmPinocchio: The Making of a Masterpieceas Self1989FilmIt All Started with a Mouse: The Disney Storyas Self1989FilmThe Wizard of Speed and Timeas The IRS Chief1988FilmRoger Rabbit and the Secrets of Toon Townas Self1981FilmDisney Animation: The Illusion of Lifeas Self1978FilmFrom Fantasia to Fantasylandas self1969FilmIt's Tough to Be a Birdas Bird Fancier1962TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self1959FilmDisneyland '59as Self1956FilmWalt Disney's Where Do the Stories Come From?as Self1955FilmMan and the Moonas Self (uncredited)1955FilmMan in Spaceas Self1954FilmThe Disneyland Storyas Self1951FilmOperation Wonderlandas Self1950FilmOne Hour in Wonderlandas Self - Firehouse Five Plus Two1941FilmThe Nifty Ninetiesas Ward (voice) (uncredited)1941FilmThe Reluctant Dragonas Ward Kimball

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