Milt Kahl

Milton Erwin Kahl (March 22, 1909 – April 19, 1987) was an American animator. He was one of (and often considered the most influential of) Walt Disney's supervisory team of animators, known as Disney's Nine Old Men.[1]

Milt Kahl
Born
Milton Erwin Kahl

(1909-03-22)March 22, 1909
San Francisco, California, U.S.
DiedApril 19, 1987(1987-04-19) (aged 78)
Mill Valley, California, U.S.
OccupationAnimator
Years active1936–1976, 1985–1986
Known forOne of Disney's Nine Old Men
Spouses
Laura Nordquist Kahl
​
​
(m. 1934; died 1967)​
    Phyllis Bounds Detiege
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1968; div. 1978)​
      Julie Kahl
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1980; died 1987)​
      Children2

      Biography

      Kahl was born in San Francisco, California, to Erwin, a saloon bartender, and Grace Kahl.[2] He had three younger sisters, Dorothy, Marion, and Gladys.[3] He would often refine character sketches from Bill Peet, incorporating ideas of Ken Anderson. The final look of many characters in the Disney films was designed by Kahl, in his angular style inspired by Ronald Searle and Picasso. He is revered by contemporary masters of the form such as Andreas Deja, and also Brad Bird, who was his protégé at Disney in the early 1970s. In the behind-the-scenes feature "Fine Food and Film" shown on the Ratatouille DVD, Bird referred to Kahl as "tough," but in a gentle way, as he often gave Bird advice on where he could improve in animation whenever he came up short. Bird later repeated this in "The Giant's Dream" documentary on the Blu Ray for The Iron Giant.

      In the book The Animator's Survival Kit, the author Richard Williams makes repeated references and anecdotes relating to Kahl, whom he befriended during his early years in the animation industry. The centenary of Kahl's birth was honored by the Academy on April 27, 2009, with a tribute entitled "Milt Kahl: The Animation Michelangelo" and featured Brad Bird as a panelist.[4]

      On April 19, 1987, Kahl died of pneumonia, aged 78, in Mill Valley, California.[5]

      Filmography
      Year Title Credits Characters Notes
      1934Servants' EntranceAnimatoruncredited
      1935Mickey's Fire Brigade (Short)Animatoruncredited
      On Ice (short)Animatoruncredited
      1936Orphans' Picnic (Short)Animatoruncredited
      Elmer Elephant (short)Animatoruncredited
      Mickey's Circus (short)Animatoruncredited
      Toby Tortoise Returns (short)Animatoruncredited
      1937Snow White and the Seven DwarfsAnimatorForest animals[6]Credited as Milton Kahl
      Lonesome Ghosts (short)Animatoruncredited
      1938Ferdinand the BullAnimatorFerdinand (voice; uncredited)
      Farmyard Symphony (short)Animatoruncredited
      1939Ugly Duckling (short)Animatoruncredited
      1940PinocchioAnimation DirectorPinocchio,[7] GeppettoCredited as Milton Kahl
      1942BambiSupervising AnimatorBambi, Thumper[8]Credited as Milton Kahl
      1943Saludos Amigos (Short)AnimatorDonald Duck riding the llama sequence[9]
      The Grain That Built a Hemisphere (Documentary short)Animatoruncredited
      Education for Death: The Making of the Nazi (Short)Animatoruncredited
      Reason and Emotion (Short)Animatoruncredited
      The Winged Scourge (Documentary short)Animatoruncredited
      Chicken Little (short)Animatoruncredited
      1944How to Play FootballAnimatorCredited as Milton Kahl
      1945The Three CaballerosAnimatorCredited as Milton Kahl
      Tiger Trouble (Short)Animatoruncredited
      Duck Pimples (Short)Animatoruncredited
      Hockey Homicide (short)Animatoruncredited
      1946Make Mine MusicAnimator
      Song of the SouthDirecting AnimatorBr'er Rabbit, Br'er Bear, and Br'er Fox
      1947Fun & Fancy FreeDirecting AnimatorBongo
      1948Melody TimeDirecting AnimatorJohnny Appleseed, Slue Foot Sue[9]
      1949So Dear to My HeartAnimator
      The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. ToadDirecting AnimatorWater Rat, Mole, MacBadger, Brom Bones
      1950CinderellaDirecting AnimatorFairy Godmother, the King, the Grand Duke[10]
      1951Alice in WonderlandDirecting AnimatorAlice[10]
      1953Peter PanDirecting AnimatorPeter Pan, Wendy, the Darling children[10]
      1955Lady and the TrampDirecting AnimatorTramp, Trusty
      1959Sleeping BeautyDirecting AnimatorPrince Philip, Sir Minstrel, Samson, King Hubert[10]
      1961One Hundred and One DalmatiansDirecting AnimatorPongo,[11] Perdita, Roger, Anita
      1963The Sword in the StoneDirecting Animator / Character DesignerArthur, Merlin, Lord Ector, Sir Kay, Sir Bart, Madame Mim
      1964Mary PoppinsAnimator
      1967The Jungle BookDirecting AnimatorShere Khan, Kaa, Mowgli, Bagheera, King Louie[12]
      1968Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (Short)AnimatorTigger[13]
      1970The AristocatsDirecting AnimatorThomas O'Malley, Duchess, Edgar, Madame Bonfamille, Georges Hautecourt
      1971Bedknobs and BroomsticksAnimatorKing Leonidas, Fisherman Bear
      1973Robin HoodDirecting AnimatorRobin Hood, Little John, Maid Marian, Lady Kluck, the Sheriff of Nottingham
      1974Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (Short)Directing AnimatorTigger
      1977The Many Adventures of Winnie the PoohAnimatorTigger
      The RescuersDirecting AnimatorMadame Medusa, Snoops, Penny[14]
      1995Frank and Ollie (Documentary)Acknowledgment: Caricatures
      2002Mickey's House of Villains (Video)Animator - Segment "Lonesome Ghosts"

      References
      1. Canemaker 2001, pp. 125–126.
      2. 1910 United States Federal Census
      3. 1920 United States Federal census
      4. "Milt Kahl: The Animation Michelangelo". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved September 28, 2009.
      5. "Milt Kahl, Animator for Disney". United Press International. Chicago Tribune. April 24, 1987. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
      6. Canemaker 2001, p. 137.
      7. Canemaker 2001, pp. 137–138.
      8. Canemaker 2001, pp. 141–142.
      9. Canemaker 2001, p. 143.
      10. Canemaker 2001, p. 145.
      11. Canemaker 2001, p. 147.
      12. Canemaker 2001, pp. 148–150.
      13. Canemaker 2001, p. 164.
      14. Canemaker 2001, pp. 156–160.

      Bibliography
      • Canemaker, John (2001). "Milt Kahl". Walt Disney's Nine Old Men and the Art of Animation. Disney Editions. pp. 125–165. ISBN 978-0786864966.
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