Glen Keane Has Left Disney

[Donald Duck]

Heffy has just notified me that Glen Keane, one of the greatest character animators in the entire history of animation (let alone Disney), has resigned from Disney. Here is the resignation letter.

March 23, 2012

Dear Colleagues and Friends of the Walt Disney Animation Studio,

After long and thoughtful consideration, I have decided to leave Disney Animation.

I am convinced that animation really is the ultimate art form of our time with endless new territories to explore. I can’t resist it’s siren call to step out and discover them.

Disney has been my artistic home since September 9,1974. I owe so much to those great animators who mentored me—Eric Larson, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston—as well as to the many other wonderful people at Disney whom I have been fortunate to work with in the past nearly 38 years.

Over these four decades I have seen so many changes, but the one thing that remains the same is that we all do this because we love it.

I am humbled and deeply honored to have worked side by side so many artists, producers and directors during my career here at Disney, and I am tremendously proud of the films which together we have created. I will deeply miss working with you.

With my most sincere and heartfelt good wishes for your and Disney’s continued artistic growth and success,

Glen

Farewell, Mr. Keane. Thanks for all the Disney magic you helped create, and I wish you the best. Pursue your own interests, and all that.

Source: www.cartoonbrew.com/disney/the-full-text-of-glen-keanes-resignation-letter.html

[San]

It really is sad to see him leave Disney... he brought so much life to those films he worked on, and really, himself, made some of the most memorable characters in the Disney canon - Ariel, Aladdin, the Beast, Tarzan, Rapunzel... he left such a strong legacy behind, and it's really sad to see it end. Just the other day I was admiring his pencil tests on Tarzan, listening to his commentary, and just marveling at how much passion he has for this medium. It's inspiring, especially when I, myself, suffer from a lack of interest in my art.

But, thankfully, he's still around, and still wants to animte. I hope to see more of his work in the future - as an artist and animator-in-training, he's one of my strongest inspirations. I wish him the best of luck.

[Cinderella]

Sad, sad day. But eventually we all have to move on in life, I suppose.

Thank you, Glen Keane, for creating many inspirational and wonderful characters and films. I wish you well in life. <3

[Justice, The Cloaked Cavalier]

Why should he stay? His passion is to animate, and there's no work for him at Disney.

If only making an animated feature was a one-man job, then all these fabulous artists could continue to create. But, alas, it takes a studio.

Thanks, Glen, for all the you gave us. You were my favorite.