Women of Disney Zine

Women of Disney

This monument is focusing on the women that worked at Walt Disney Animation Studio. It has a large focus on the female storyboard and animators in the 1930s-era Disney company who opened to door for women in animation in America, including Retta Scott and Mary Blair. These women worked on classic and beloved Disney films, and helped to make Disney what it is today.

They faced major challenges as women in a male dominated and focused field, where women were thought to not have artistic talent and didn’t belong in the animation field. Women were only allowed to do routine tasks and worked in the ink and paint department to assist with the animation projects.

Retta Scott (February 23, 1916- August 26, 1990)

Retta Scott was an American artist and the first female animator at Disney. She was hired in 1938 to the story department, working on storyboards to help develop scenes in Bamb i. Her sketches were recognized for their intensity and technical skills and she was assigned to animate scenes with the hunting dogs. She was the first woman to receive screen credit as an animator for her work. Scott also helped produce Fantasia and Dumbo . Her promotion to animator was a big step, opening the doors for women in the animation industry.

Mary Blair (October 21, 1911- July 26, 1978)

Mary Blair was an American artist, animator, and designer. She joined the Disney studios in 1940 and worked on many famous Disney films such as Dumbo , Lady and the Tramp , and Fantasia . In 1943, she began doing animation and color design on

major films, and was credited for coloring style on Cinderella , Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan . Blair also worked on Disney attractions and murals in park and hotels across the country, including Disney’s attraction It’s a Small World.

Monument Design

Four women animators standing around a table. One is Retta Scott and one is Mary Blair (two left figures). They are discussing animation scenes, there are sketches and notes on the table. There is enough space at the end of the table for others to walk up to it. The monument is ground level. Made out of a metal material.

Monument Design

Location #1

George Mason University, Fairfax Campus Outside the Art and Visual Technology building

Location #2

Walt Disney Amination Studios, California

Importance In Disney’s animation history, much of the focus is on the men. Although male animators contributed many great pieces of art in Disney history, they often over shadow the work that women did. The women who worked in the ink and painting department did crucial and painstaking work for the animators, tasks they felt were not worth their time.

The women this monument focuses on proved that they were as equally talented as the male animators and deserve the recognition for years to come. Not only famous names like Mary Blair or Retta Scott, but also the women who worked behind the scenes to create these beautiful films.

Monument Proposal Zine Ashley Smith AVT 180