End of an era: Disney animator Glen Keane is leaving for Dreamworks

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End of an era: Disney animator Glen Keane is leaving for Dreamworks

In March of last year, there were rumors that legendary animator Glen Keane was unhappy with Disney, his long-time employer, and was negotiating with Dreamworks. Now it looks like the deal is done, as Keane has turned in his resignation letter.

March 23, 2012

Dear Colleagues and Friends of the Walt Disney Animation Studio,

After long and thoughtful consideration, I have decided to leave Disney Animation.

I am convinced that animation really is the ultimate art form of our time with endless new territories to explore. I can’t resist it’s siren call to step out and discover them.

Disney has been my artistic home since September 9,1974. I owe so much to those great animators who mentored me—Eric Larson, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston—as well as to the many other wonderful people at Disney whom I have been fortunate to work with in the past nearly 38 years.

Over these four decades I have seen so many changes, but the one thing that remains the same is that we all do this because we love it.

I am humbled and deeply honored to have worked side by side so many artists, producers and directors during my career here at Disney, and I am tremendously proud of the films which together we have created. I will deeply miss working with you.

With my most sincere and heartfelt good wishes for your and Disney’s continued artistic growth and success,

Glen

This is absolutely huge. Keane is not just an animator, he is the animator for Disney. He was behind Disney’s huge turn to profitability in the early 1990s and has developed the modern Disney visual style. It’s a huge win for Dreamworks and a coup in the animation world.

Via