Ken Anderson(1909-1993)

A graduate with a degree in architecture, he began film work at MGM but joined Walt Disney (who would refer to him as his 'Jack of all Trades') to animated Silly Symphonies cartoons. He excelled as a background/layout artist and was soon promoted to art director for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, and The Reluctant Dragon. He created Shere Khan for The Jungle Book and was influential in the production design for Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and The Aristocats. He retired from animation in 1978, though contributing to Walt Disney Imagineering projects at Epcot.

[speaking about his last conversation with Walt Disney] He came into my office and was so glad and grateful to see him and I said, 'Gosh it's good to see you Walt' and he said, 'Ken it's sure good to be here'. And then he looked at me penetratingly with his eyes. He didn't say anything but I could tell he was forgiving me for that thing I had done on Les 101 Dalmatiens (1961). That was it. The next day he was gone.