Art Babbitt facts for kids

Arthur Harold Babitsky (born October 8, 1907 – died March 4, 1992), known as Art Babbitt, was a famous American animator. He is best known for his amazing work at Walt Disney Animation Studios. Art Babbitt helped create the character of Goofy. He also worked on many classic Disney movies like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Dumbo. He even won over 80 awards for his animation work!

Early Life of Art Babbitt

Art Babbitt was born in Omaha, Nebraska. His family later moved to Sioux City, Iowa after he finished kindergarten. When Art's father had an accident and became paralyzed, Art decided to move to New York. He wanted to help support his family.

Art Babbitt's Animation Career

Art Babbitt started his animation journey in New York City. He worked for Paul Terry's Terrytoons Studio. In the early 1930s, he moved to Los Angeles. There, he got a job at the growing Walt Disney Studio.

Working at Disney Studio

Art Babbitt began as an assistant animator at Disney. But his great talent was quickly noticed. He was soon promoted to a full animator. His first important work was animating a funny, drunken mouse. This was for the short film The Country Cousin (1936). The film won an Academy Award for Disney.

Art Babbitt animated the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This was a very challenging role. While working on Snow White, he met his first wife, Marjorie Belcher. She was a dance model. Her movements helped animators draw Snow White.

For the movie Pinocchio, Babbitt animated the character of Geppetto. He became a directing animator for this film. Art Babbitt loved Pinocchio the most out of all Disney's films. He thought it was the studio's best work during the "Golden Age" of animation.

Babbitt also animated many characters in Fantasia. These included the Dancing Mushrooms and Zeus. On the film Dumbo, he was again a directing animator. He animated the character of the stork. He made the stork look like its voice actor, Sterling Holloway.

Art Babbitt is also famous for helping to create Goofy. He once described Goofy: "Goofy was someone who never really knew how stupid he was. He thought long and carefully before he did anything, and then he did it wrong."

In the 1930s, Babbitt became one of Disney's highest-paid artists. He lived a very comfortable life. This was even during the tough times of the Great Depression.

The Cartoonist Strike

Even though he was well-paid, Art Babbitt supported other Disney artists. Many of them were not paid well. They wanted to form a union for better working conditions. In 1941, these artists went on strike.

Art Babbitt was one of the few high-paid artists to join the strike. He became a leader. One morning, Walt Disney drove past the striking workers. Babbitt called out to him with a bullhorn. Disney got out of his car to confront him. Others had to step in to stop a fight.

Because of the strike, Walt Disney became angry with Babbitt. Disney had to re-hire Babbitt after the strike ended. But the two men did not like each other. Babbitt was fired more than once. But he always got his job back. He even took his case to the Supreme Court of the United States and won!

Serving in World War II

After the strike, Art Babbitt served in the Marines during World War II. He fought in the Pacific. After the war, he returned to Disney for a short time. Disney was forced to rehire him after Babbitt filed a lawsuit.

Career After Disney

Art Babbitt left Disney and joined United Productions of America (UPA). This new studio created a modern, simpler style of animation. He worked on many award-winning short films there. In the 1950s, he co-owned Quartet Films. There, he made television commercials.

Art Babbitt was known as a great teacher of animation. In 1973, Canadian animator Richard Williams invited Babbitt to his London studio. Babbitt gave famous lectures on animation acting and techniques.

Some of Babbitt's last work was on Williams' film The Thief and the Cobbler. He animated characters like King Nod. He also animated the Camel with Wrinkled Knees in Raggedy Ann and Andy: A Musical Adventure.

In 1991, Roy E. Disney, Walt's nephew, contacted Babbitt. They ended the long disagreement between them. Art Babbitt's former rivals, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, spoke kindly at his funeral. He was buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).

Family Life and Legacy

Art Babbitt's first wife was Marge Champion. She was a dance model for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. His second wife was Dina Babbitt, an artist. They had two daughters, L. Michele and Karin Wendy. His third wife was actress Barbara Perry.

Art Babbitt passed away on March 4, 1992, due to kidney failure. In the late 1980s, a British TV show called Animating Art celebrated his life. It included many interviews with Babbitt. In 2007, he was named a Disney Legend after his death.

The Academy Film Archive keeps some of Babbitt's personal films. They have saved his home movies, including one from the 1938 Academy Awards.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Art Babbitt para niños