Walt Disney’s “Nine Old Men” — his designation (borrowed from FDR’s description of the Supreme Court) for his core animation team — were the artists most directly responsible for the visual identity of Disney’s greatest films. Their work spans from Snow White (1937) through The Fox and the Hound (1981), and the original artwork they produced is among the most significant American animation art ever created.
The Nine Old Men
The core Nine Old Men were Les Clark, Marc Davis, Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball, Eric Larson, John Lounsbery, Wolfgang Reitherman, and Frank Thomas. Together they codified the “12 basic principles of animation” — techniques that remain the foundation of animation education worldwide. Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston authored “Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life,” the definitive text on Disney animation technique, still in print and actively used in animation education globally.
Most Valuable Individual Artists
Marc Davis: Creator of beloved Disney villains (Maleficent, Cruella de Vil, Evil Witch) and designer of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean characters. Davis’s original Disneyland attraction character sketches are priceless as both animation art and theme park history.
- Production drawings by named Nine Old Men: Attribution to a named artist increases value 2x–5x over unattributed drawings from the same film
- Signed original artwork by surviving Nine Old Men: Personally signed pieces carry the artist’s legacy and authentication built in
- Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston signed books and drawings: Both passed in 2004; signed materials are now permanently finite
Ready to sell your Disney collection?
Get a free cash offer in 24 hours — no auction fees, no commission.
