Back in June, I was very privileged to be invited to Disney Legend Burny Mattinson's 65th anniversary event at the Grand Floridian Hotel, along with talented friends from work (Alex Maher, Fabiola Garza Villalobos, and Lon Smart). It was a special luncheon for D23 Gold Members, and we were invited as "luminaries" to help them all honor this amazing story artist, animator, director and producer. He was hired in 1953 in Burbank, and has worked continuously as the Walt Disney Company's longest-serving Cast Member; his film credits include "Lady and the Tramp" all the way up to the latest film, "Ralph Breaks the Internet". He wrote, directed and produced one of my absolute favorites, "Mickey's Christmas Carol" in 1983, as well as "The Great Mouse Detective" in 1986. The next day, there was a special screening of 1973's "Robin Hood", on which he animated under Ollie Johnston I believe, at the AMC theater in Disney Springs. It was so cool to get to applaud as his name appeared on the opening credits, and with him in the audience.
