Valerio Oss (right to left) with Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas. Photo courtesy of Valerio Oss.

Valerio Oss
3D Artist and Animator, Owner of Pixel Cartoon

I am an Italian 3D artist and animator, owner of Pixel Cartoon, an animation production company in the north of Italy. When I was in animation school in Milan, the first and best images I tried to “emulate” was the ones by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston and I must say that the first book I bought as a student was the incredible Illusion of Life. I had the pleasure and honor to meet Frank Thomas in an Italian comics and cartoons meeting in Lucca, in 1992. It was his 80th birthday and he came to Italy with Ollie Johnston to celebrate it with us, comics and cartoon fans of all ages (it was Ollie 80th birthday year, too, as you can see from the photo we are eating the birthday cake). You know, when I spoke to him, but just staying beside him, it was as staying beside a giant, even if both he and Ollie were not so healthy in that period. Many memories came to my mind but the time was short and so I could only ask him a couple of questions: he was always gentle and available to everyone, I think this was his best quality, together with his incredible knowledge of drawing and animation. I will miss you, Frank.

Nancy Beiman
Animator, Treasure Planet and Fantasia/2000

I had the pleasure of having Frank Thomas as a friend and mentor for over 25 years.

He and Ollie Johnston went to great lengths to help young students learn the art form that they had helped create and continued to love.

They were particularly kind to female students (there weren’t many of us in those days.)

Disney Animation The Illusion of Life is the greatest gift Frank and Ollie could make to animators. There were other beautifully written and illustrated books by this fine team and later, a Website to continue the grand tradition of character animation.

Frank’s greatest monuments are his wonderful performances—so many of my favorite moments in the Disney features are his, such as Pinocchio singing I Got No Strings, Bambi skating on the ice, Baloo the bear trying to explain things to Mowgli, and Captain Hook fooling Tinker Bell. If there was any justice in the world, or at least in the Academy, Frank Thomas would have won many Best Actor Oscars. He was one of the greatest actors who never stepped in front of a camera.

I am proud to have known this remarkable man. But then, we all know him through his work. I shall remember Frank Thomas whenever I see any of his films—or whenever I see a spaghetti dinner. Thank you, Frank, for everything.

Norman Drew
AWN Educators Forum Moderator and President, Norm Drew Animation Consulting Services, The Academy of Classical Animation

HOMAGE TO A MASTER: FRANK THOMAS
A very sad day as we’ve lost one of animation’s Great Masters and Statesmen; but we can take some comfort in knowing his magic lives on.

We can also be grateful he and Ollie took the time to set down so much about the Secret Ingredients of their Sorcerer’s Alchemy for all we starry-eyed Sorcerer’s Apprentices.

A life greatly fulfilled.

A life that greatly fulfilled the lives of us all, not just animation artists, but people everywhere, transcending culture, language and beliefs.

His marvelous skill with delightful character ACTING animation was a major early influence on my own decision to pursue animation as a career.

His legacy of masterpieces will continue to inspire us all, in whatever aspect of animation we are involved.

We’ll miss his presence among us beyond words, but at least can treasure his art and vision forever.

To paraphrase architect Sir Christopher Wren’s epitaph: “If you seek his monument, study his animation.”