Ward Kimball
Ward Kimball
Biography
While Kimball was a brilliant draftsman, he preferred to work on comical characters rather than realistic human designs. Animating came easily to him and he was constantly looking to do things differently. Because of this, Walt Disney called Ward a genius in the book The Story Of Walt Disney. While there were many talented animators at Disney, Ward's efforts stand out as especially unique.Kimball created several classic Disney characters including the Crows in Dumbo; Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland; the Mice and Lucifer the Cat from Cinderella; and Jiminy Cricket fromPinocchio. He also animated the famous "Three Caballeros" musical number from the Disney film of the same name.In 1953, Kimball became a director and was responsible for the Academy Award-winning short Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom, and three Disney television shows about outer space that put the United States into the space program. He received anAcademy Award for the short animated cartoon It's Tough to Be a Bird.Ward Kimball was profiled by the Academy Award-winning producer Jerry Fairbanks in his Paramount Pictures film short series Unusual Occupations. This 35mm Magnacolor film short was released theatrically in 1944 and focused on Kimball's backyard railroad and full sized locomotive.Kimball was also a jazz trombonist. He founded and led the seven-piece Dixieland band Firehouse Five Plus Two, in which he played trombone. The band made at least 13 LP records and toured clubs, college campuses and jazz festivals from the 1940s to early 1970s. Kimball once said that Walt Disney permitted the second career as long as it did not interfere with his animation work.Kimball continued to work at Disney up until the early 1970s, working on the Disney anthology television series, being one of the writers for Babes in Toyland, creating animation for Mary Poppins, directing the animation for Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and working on titles for feature films such as The Adventures Of Bullwhip Griffin and Million Dollar Duck. His last staff work for Disney was producing and directing the Disney TV show The Mouse Factory. He continued to do various projects on his own, even returning to Disney to do some publicity tours. Additionally, Kimball worked on an attraction for Disney's EPCOT Center called The World Of Motion.
Known For
Personal Info
Known For
Visual Effects
Known Credits
102
Gender
Gender not available
Birthday
1914-03-04 (111 years old)
Place of Birth
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Acting

2022

Mickey: The Story of a Mouse as Self (archive footage)

2019

Apollo: Missions to the Moon as Self - Disney Animator (archive footage)

2009

Waking Sleeping Beauty as Self (archive footage)

2009

The Making of 'Pinocchio': No Strings Attached as Himself (Archive Footage)

2007

The Pixar Story as Ward Kimball (archive footage)

2005

From Rags to Riches: The Making of Cinderella as Self (archive footage)

2005

The Cinderella That Almost Was as Self (archive footage)

2004

Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6 as Ward Kimball (archive footage)

1989

The Wizard of Speed and Time as The IRS Chief

1969

It's Tough to Be a Bird as Bird Fancier

1959

Disneyland '59 as Self

1955

Man and the Moon as Self (uncredited)

1954

The Disneyland Story as Not available

1950

One Hour in Wonderland as Self - Firehouse Five Plus Two

1941

The Reluctant Dragon as Ward Kimball

1941

The Nifty Nineties as Ward (voice) (uncredited)
Crew

1972

The Mouse Factory Creator

1971

Bedknobs and Broomsticks Animation Director

1968

Pacifically Peeking Animation

1968

Escalation Director

1967

A Salute to Alaska Animation Director

1964

Mary Poppins Animation

1963

Fly With Von Drake Animation

1963

Inside Outer Space Director

1961

Babes in Toyland Writer

1959

Eyes in Outer Space Director

1959

Eyes in Outer Space Producer

1958

Magic Highway U.S.A. Director

1955

Man in Space Director

1955

Man and the Moon Director

1955

Man and the Moon Producer

1955

Man and the Moon Writer

1955

Man in Space Producer

1955

Man in Space Writer

1953

Melody Animation

1953

Melody Director

1953

Peter Pan Animation

1953

Peter Pan Animation Director

1951

Alice in Wonderland Animation

1950

Cinderella Animation Director

1948

Pecos Bill Animation

1948

Melody Time Animation

1947

Fun and Fancy Free Animation Director

1946

Peter and the Wolf Animation

1945

Hockey Homicide Animation

1944

The Three Caballeros Animation

1943

Chicken Little Animation

1943

Reason and Emotion Animation

1943

The Spirit of '43 Animation

1943

Victory Vehicles Animation

1942

How to Play Baseball Animation

1941

The Nifty Nineties Animation

1941

The Little Whirlwind Animation

1941

The Reluctant Dragon Animation

1941

Dumbo Animation

1940

Fantasia Animation

1940

Pinocchio Animation

1940

Pinocchio Animation Director

1939

The Autograph Hound Animation

1938

Ferdinand the Bull Animation

1937

Woodland Café Animation

1936

More Kittens Animation

1936

Elmer Elephant Animation Production Assistant

1936

Toby Tortoise Returns Animation

1935

Pluto's Judgement Day Animation

1935

The Tortoise and the Hare Animation Production Assistant

1934

The Wise Little Hen Animation

1934

Mickey Plays Papa Animation Production Assistant

1934

Orphan's Benefit Animation

1934

The Hot Choc-late Soldiers Animation Production Assistant

1934

The Goddess of Spring Animation Production Assistant