Channel Frederator Blog

David Hand began his animation career in New York City, animating and directing pictures. A product of the Chicago Art Institute, he joined the J. R. Bray Studio, in the early 20’s. He joined Max Fleisher, drawing and directing a series entitled, “Out of the Inkwell”, which met with great success. He also created a series of educational films for Eastman Kodak and worked on “Andy Gump.”

Dave joined the Walt Disney Studios in January 1930. His contributions to Disney were many. He began work as an animator, but soon Walt moved him into the position of Director. He was responsible for many outstanding Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies, that included “The Flying Mouse”, “Flowers and Trees” (which won Disney’s first Academy Award), “Who Killed Cock Robin”, “Three Orphan Kittens” (which also won an Academy Award), “Flowers and Trees” (which was the first of Disney’s Academy Awards) and about 80 other memorable shorts.

David became Supervising Director for Disney’s first feature length animation, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, a position that he also held for ” Bambi” and “Victory Through Air Power”.

David felt that it was his responsibility to get Walt Disney’s, sometimes seemingly entangled thoughts and ideas onto the screen. When Walt needed a Studio Production Supervisor, he promoted David Hand to that position. This placed him in the position directly under Walt in the operation of the studio; a position that he held during the production of “Pinocchio”, “Dumbo”, ” Fantasia” and the long list of films between 1933 and 1944, that are now considered to be the Disney “Classic Animations”.

In 1944, after David had left Disney Studios, he discussed with J. Arthur Rank, at that time the top filmmaker in Great Britain, about coming to England, to start a animation film studio. The idea was to teach top English Animators, the art of Animation in the “Classic form”. In a Joint Venture, they created Gaumont-British Animations Studio (GB Animation). Nineteen films were created as a result of their efforts (including “Platypus”).

In 1950, the films were honored in the Festival of Britain, and David was presented to, and honored by, the Queen of England (Queen Elizabeth, now Queen Mother). Since that time the films have been declared to be Historical Documents and the negatives were housed in the National Film Archives of England.

David was responsible for directing and/or supervising over 21 films for which the Walt Disney Studios received Academy Awards. In 1984, he was awarded the Widsor McCay ANNIE, (The Academy Award of the Animation Industry). His vast achievements have been recognized and honored numerous times in his industry and by his peers. In 1994, The Walt Disney Company bestowed their highest award on him by proclaiming him to be a ” Legend of Disney”.

-Floyd Bishop