Disney celebrated the work of Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston in this 1995 documentary.

When that film, lovely and beloved, was seen,
There was no doubt an artist was in bloom;
A brilliant weaver on animation's loom,
Entrancing viewers across the silver screen.

There came a war, a strike, unsettled days
Through it all, his pencil, sturdy as a shield
Drew steadily; more genius was revealed
Even in those times of disarray.

Brer Rabbit, Peter, Alice, many more
Were born from him, and so his legend grew.
Beside him, eight great Disney artists who
Made animation greater than before.

His friend Frank Thomas, most beloved of all,
Eric Larson, Marc Davis, Ward Kimball,
John Lounsberry; the others, minds and fingers nimble:
Woolie Reitherman, Les Clark, and Milt Kahl

Upon these men Walt Disney staked his trust
His "Nine Old Men" this cadre soon became
Their names now ring with everlasting fame
While works of lesser men have turned to dust.

He opened his eyes, rose slowly from the chair
And to the window he was drawn again.
Memories of the Nine Old Men
Came vividly, as if the men were there.

Had it been so long ago they worked as one?
Even though they sometimes had disputes,
They had a common goal, so resolute
To make their films creative, colorful, and fun.

For his part, there was Lady, Perdita, Mr. Smee,
Three good fairies, and of course, Baloo --
He and Frank both had much work to do;
They wrote a book to seal their legacy

The years went by, mostly for the best,
Walt passed on and left the Nine in charge
Though the challenges and tasks loomed large
The animators conquered every test

Still, age and time lurked closely 'round the bend
Rufus the cat, his final crowning feat
Was self-caricature and sparkling treat
As the master animator neared the end

The Disney shop had strayed into bad ways,
One day, while drawing Fox and Hound,
He took one last and loving look around,
And ended there his animating days.

III.

Here a tightness came unto his throat.
A tear appeared, to limn his ancient eye.
So many friends to leave his side, to die
Turning into memories remote.

Lounsberry was the first, who gave life to Pluto Pup;
Les Clark was the next of Disney's men.
Death rested six years before it struck again,
Reitherman's years on Earth were then used up.

Within two years the Nine Old Men were four
Although Frank Thomas yet survived,
It seemed that only he and Ollie thrived;
Kahl and Larson passed on through Death's door

As if to reach for immortality,
Frank and he wrote yet another book,
And gave history a long, fond look,
Appearing in a jolly documentary.

The new millennium was less than kind,
Taking those who shared his long and happy life.
Kimball, Davis, and Marie, his loving wife,
Then Frank left his days on Earth behind.

So many others, lost along the way --
Geniuses from other studios
Animation lost a host of those,
Leaving him a relic of his day.

Natwick and Culhane, who worked with him,
Clampett, Jones, and Freleng, Tex and Lantz
One by one departed Life's long dance
The leading lights were growing ever dim.