Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston - Frank & Ollie Interview (1995)

This is an interview tying in with the 1995 theatrical release of the documentary film Frank & Ollie about the animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. It was filmed at the Sundance Film Festival, where the film, made by Frank's son Theodore, debuted.

Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston were two of Walt Disney's Nine Old Men. These were the core group of animators he primarily relied on from the early 1940's through his death in 1966. Collectively, they were known as Frank and Ollie to the point many people thought "Frankenollie" was one person.

College friends in art school, the pair formed a lifelong friendship closer than brothers, (they even bought connecting lots where they built their family homes.) Starting at the Walt Disney Studios together in the mid 1930's, they oversaw numerous animated characters over their over five decades with the studio.

After their retirement, they continued to mentor the younger generation starting their own careers at the Walt Disney Studios. They also co-authored several books on animation together so all they'd discovered would be lost. These books are highly sought after animation textbooks today.

In this short interview the pair talk about their career with Walt Disney. It's a shame this interview isn't longer.

The documentary film Frank & Ollie is a historical record of the pair's friendship and how it shaped Walt Disney Feature Animation. It was put out in wide release in October of 1995 and was later released to VHS and DVD.

Original air date January 1995

Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.