Animator Art Stevens died 22 May 2007 of a heart attack, according to a Walt Disney spokesman (Stevens retired from Disney in 1983). Born in Roy, Montana, on 1 May 1915, he got his start as an in-betweener on Disney’s Fantasia (1940). His first film as a full animator was Peter Pan in 1953.
Stevens’s other genre animation film work includes: Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), Robin Hood (1973), and 1977’s The Rescuers (which he also co-directed). He also worked on the titles for The Strongest Man in the World (1975) and Freaky Friday (1976). And he received a writing credit for The Black Cauldron (1985).
He also provided story concepts and did animation for three of Disneyland TV’s documentaries on space exploration: “Man in Space” (1955), “Man and the Moon” (1955), and “Mars and Beyond” (1957).
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Penny; two sons, and four grandchildren.
Instead of flowers, his family suggests that donations be made in his name to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York NY 10018; or to the Macular Degeneration Foundation Inc., PO Box 531313, Henderson NV 89053.