Burny Mattinson, animator and Disney’s longest-serving employee, dies at 87

Animator, director and producer Burny Mattinson, who was Disney’s longest-serving employee, has died aged 87.

Mattinson passed away at Canyon Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Canoga Park in Los Angeles following a short illness, according to the entertainment giant.

He was due to receive his 70th anniversary service award, the first in the history of the company, on June 4.

Walt Disney Animation Studios chief creative officer Jennifer Lee said in a statement, as reported by Deadline: “Burny’s artistry, generosity and love of Disney Animation and the generations of storytellers that have come through our doors, for seven decades, has made us better – better artists, better technologists and better collaborators.

“All of us who have had the honour to know him and learn from him will ensure his legacy carries on.”

According to Disney, Mattinson was still working full time at Walt Disney Animation Studios as a story consultant and mentor at the time of his death.

During his near 70-year career with Disney, he worked as an artist on films including Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Jungle Book, The Rescuers, Hero 6 and Strange World.

He also served as a key member of the story team and helped develop storylines for films such as Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Mulan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Tarzan and Aladdin.

While he acted as a story supervisor on 2011’s Winnie the Pooh and contributed to the 2007 Goofy short, How to Hook Up Your Home Theater.

In addition to his animation and story work, Mattinson directed the 1983 featurette Mickey’s Christmas Carol, which marked Mickey Mouse’s return to the big screen for the first time in 30 years and earned him an Oscar nomination.

He was also a producer and co-director of the 1986 feature film The Great Mouse Detective.

Mattinson is survived by his wife, Ellen Sirola, children, Brett and Genny, and four grandchildren.