Aragon, Layout Artist on Sleeping Beauty, Dies

From AnimationMagazine.net:
Aragon, Layout Artist on Sleeping Beauty, Dies
Thursday, March 26, 2009By: Thomas J. Mclean
Ray Aragon, an animator who did layout for such classic films as Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians and Yellow Submarine, died March 15, according to Cartoon Brew. He was 83.
A veteran of World War II, Aragon studied illustration at Chouinard Art Institute and began working in advertising. He later returned to school and met Disney animator Marc Davis, who steered him to a job at the studio.
He went on to work at a number of other animation studios, including UPA, Hanna-Barbera, TMS, Fred Calvert Productions, Sanrio, Tom Carter Productions, Filmation and Warner Bros.
Aragon’s most recent animation credits include production design on Happily Ever After and visual development on The Iron Giant. He also taught at CalArts and did other entertainment work, such as designing the El Rio del Tempo ride for Epcot Center at Disney World.
Aragon is survived by his wife, Lena; daughters, Victoria and Lorena; and two grandchildren.

In Case You Missed It.....

Last night, I happened across a cable-tv showing of a Warner Brothers animated feature from 1999, "The IRON GIANT". This was a well-written and superbly-animated film by Brad Bird (The Incredibles) before he joined Pixar. The animation was gorgeous, and Bird's eye-catching designs captured the 50's sci-fi feel perfectly. If you get a chance, I highly recommend watching it, and/or adding it to your collection.


The use of both traditional animation and computer graphics made for a beautifully-rendered production, and the plot was strong and entertaining. Think "Classic Disney"..... It was a very well-made film that I don't believe was marketed properly by Warner Brothers, otherwise it would have been a much bigger box-office success.

The WHO's Pete Townshend, who is listed as a producer, had previously adapted a version into a rock opera/musical in the late 80's or early 90's, and had attempted to get his made into a feature.

This was the cover to the original novel by Ted Hughes, before the story was watered-down and sugar-coated for mass appeal in America.

AND, on a totally unrelated note, I thought you would also appreciate an old character model sheet from the old 'TerryToons' series "TOM TERRIFIC":

I used to watch this when it was shown on "CAPTAIN KANGAROO".