It with great sadness to report on the passing of Disney legend Carson Van Osten, he was 69. Van Osten recently became a Disney Legend at August's D23 EXPO for his exemplary work as an artist, design, and Disney Animation. He worked for 45 years with the Walt Disney Company. Here is his official Disney Legend biography:
After attending the Philadelphia College of Art, Carson instead became a professional musician and recording artist, founding the rock group Nazz along with Todd Rundgren. Moving to Hollywood, he applied his artistic skills as an assistant animator, layout man, and background artist at Fine Art Films, creating animated titles and interstitial segments for The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, The Ken Berry ‘Wow’ Show, Jonathan Winters’ Hot Dog, and The Dean Martin Show. He also worked on the animated feature Shinbone Alley, based on the “Archy and Mehitabel” stories by Don Marquis.
He arrived at Walt Disney Productions in 1970, beginning as an illustrator of Mickey Mouse comic books.
“I did like to draw Mickey and Goofystories from the start,” Carson says. “And the Studio needed them more—Tony Strobl and Al Hubbard drew the ducks.”
Carson became a staff comic strip artist and story man in 1974, working alongside legendary Disney comic artists Floyd Gottfredson and Manuel “Gonzy” Gonzales. “We all worked in the same big room and got to be great friends,” Carson says. “They loved to talk about the early days at Disney.” Carson was an interested and attentive listener. “I still think about Floyd often, especially when I draw Mickey in the 1930s style.”
One of his best-known works is the Disney Comic Strip Artist’s Kit, a seven-page primer on staging, perspective, and other design fundamentals inherent in comic panel art. It is still in use today, all around the world. “I wrote and drew those sketches around 1975, and I’m so tickled to know that people still find them helpful today. Frank Thomas saw it and used it for an animation class he was teaching at the Screen Cartoonists Guild. That’s how some sketches wound up in the book that he and Ollie wrote,Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life.”
In 1980, Carson became a manager in Creative Services for Disney Consumer Products, providing art supervision and concepts for Disney West Coast Licensing. He also oversaw motion picture tie-in advertising, Disney publications, and the Disney Music Company.
“I really liked the variety of work for 2D and 3D products, book or magazine art, record cover ideas, and more. It was changing and challenging every day.”
In 1988 Carson took on the role of vice president in Creative Resources for Disney Consumer Products, providing art supervision and guidelines for art production, as well as helping to establish some of the first licensing style guides for the group. In 1994 he became vice president of Creative Services for the European regional office of Disney Consumer Products in Paris, and, starting in 1997, he was vice president of International Creative Development for the Disney Publishing Group. In that role, he provided art and editorial supervision for key international publishing projects.
Other projects to which Carson has contributed were the logo concepts for Mickey Mouse’s 50th and 60th birthdays, The Walt Disney Studios, and the Disneyland Hotel clock tower “Mickey” at Disneyland Paris. More recently, he has served as a consultant for the Disney Epic Mickey and Where’s MyMickey? games.
“I retired from Disney in 2000,” Carson says, “but I have continued to do projects for my friends there as an outside consultant and illustrator. Most of my work is for books, but I’ve also done concepts for licensing, interactive games, and other areas, too; including seminars about the history of Disney Consumer Products.
Altogether, I’ve been doing some kind of work for Disney regularly for the past 45 years.”
Much condolences to the Van Osten family at this difficult time, we will all truly miss Carson and all the wonderful things he did with the Walt Disney Company. May he rest in peace.
Expanded Cove Bar Now Open at California Adventure:
More seating has been added to the Cove Bar at Paradise Pier in Disney California Adventure Park. The Disney Parks Blog announced today that the expanded seating area is now open.
Will you be visiting the new expanded Cove Bar when you visit Disney California Adventure?
Star Wars Added to Critics' Choice Awards as 11th Best Picture Nominee:
After the nominees had previously announced, yesterday "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" was added as the 11th nominee for Best Picture by the Broadcast Film Critics Association. With such secrecy to the film, critics weren't able to see the film before the association had made their nominations. The group took a vote among its membership to add "The Force Awakens" to the nominees. The group released this statement:
"While making an amendment to the Critics' Choice Awards nominations is highly unusual, having an 11th Best Picture nominee is not unprecedented. In 2000 "Cast Away" was similarly screened to late for normal consideration and the BFCA included it among 11 Best Picture nominees."
The Critics' Choice Awards will air January 17 at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST on A&E and LMN. The awards show will be hosted by "Big Hero 6's" T.J. Miller.
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