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| T. Hee | |
|---|---|
| Name | T. Hee |
| Birth name | Thornton Hee |
| Birth date | 06 May 1911 |
| Birth place | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Death date | 25 August 1988 |
| Death place | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Animator, Storyboard artist, Film director |
| Known for | Work at Walt Disney Studios, UPA |
| Notable works | Fantasia, The Emperor's New Clothes (segment), Gerald McBoing-Boing |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film (1951) |
T. Hee. Thornton "T." Hee was an influential American animator, story artist, and director, best known for his sophisticated and satirical character designs and story work at major animation studios. His career spanned the Golden Age of American animation, with significant contributions to Walt Disney Studios, the innovative United Productions of America (UPA), and Hanna-Barbera. Hee is celebrated for his pivotal role in the stylized "The Emperor's New Clothes" segment of *Fantasia* and for directing the Academy Award-winning short Gerald McBoing-Boing.
Thornton Hee was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and demonstrated an early aptitude for drawing and caricature. He pursued formal art training at the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles, an institution that produced numerous talents for the Hollywood animation industry. His education there during the early 1930s coincided with the rise of Walt Disney Productions and the burgeoning field of cel animation, preparing him for a professional career in the arts.
Hee began his professional career not in animation but as a cartoonist and illustrator for publications like The New Yorker and *Judge* magazine, where he honed his sharp, humorous style. He entered the animation industry in the mid-1930s, initially working on Screen Gems cartoons before his distinctive talent for character and story was recognized. His move to the more experimental United Productions of America in the late 1940s marked a key shift, as UPA's philosophy of limited animation and modern design greatly suited his artistic sensibilities.
Hee's tenure at Walt Disney Studios in the late 1930s and early 1940s yielded some of his most famous work. He served as a story artist and character designer on several landmark features. His most notable contribution was the story and character styling for the "The Emperor's New Clothes" sequence in *Fantasia*, where his elegant, caricatured designs for the emperor, Hyacinth Hippo, and the courtiers became iconic. He also contributed to early story development for Bambi and Dumbo.
T. Hee's legacy is defined by his role in elevating the artistic and narrative sophistication of animation. His work at UPA on the Academy Award-winning Gerald McBoing-Boing helped establish the studio's reputation for stylish, modern cartoons that broke from the Disney mold. As a teacher at the Chouinard Art Institute and later the California Institute of the Arts, he influenced a generation of animators, including future Pixar creative lead John Lasseter. His innovative storyboarding techniques and emphasis on strong character design are considered foundational in the industry.
Thornton Hee was known among colleagues for his wit and intellectual approach to animation. He maintained a long professional association with fellow animators like Ward Kimball and John Hubley. He was married to artist Joanna Hee, and the couple resided in Los Angeles, California. Hee continued to consult and teach until his death from cancer in 1988, leaving behind a body of work celebrated for its humor, elegance, and enduring influence on the art of animation.
Category:American animators Category:Walt Disney Studios animators Category:Academy Award-winning animators