GERRY, Vance

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Birth/Death

Birth: 21 August 1929, Pasadena, California,
Death: 5 March 2005, Pasadena, California, USA

Occupation/Title

Animation story developer, layout arist, visual development, story artist, character designer, storyboard artist, assistant in-betweener

Bio Summary

For half a century, Vance Gerry was one of Disney’s most integral employees. In 1955, he was hired as an assistant in-betweener, then was promoted to layout artist, and later worked in story developed in the 1960s. His artistic range broadened during the 90s when he worked on visual development and character design. Aside from his accomplishments at Disney, Gerry owned a letterpress called “The Weatherbird Press.”

Early Life/Family

Gerry is survived by his wife, Mary, of 48 years, and his neice, Elizabeth Soder, of Red Bluff, California (Animation World Network).

Education/Training

Career Outline

Comments On Style

Influences

Personality

Don Hahn, producer of Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, said, “He was a writer’s writer and his sense of storytelling and influence on all of us was profound” (Animation World Network’s Headline News). The Animation Guild said he posessed “modesty and jovial good humor.”

Anecdotes

In the 80s, at a meeting for story artists to discuss Beauty and the Beast, Gerry exploded at another artist for giving negative, unconstructive criticism (Steve Hulett).

Miscellaneous

Filmography

Writer:

Aquamania (1961)
The Jungle Book (1967)
The Aristocats (1970), Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968)
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
The Fox and the Hound (1981)
The Black Cauldron (1985)
The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
The Rescuers (1987)
Oliver and Company (1988) (story)

Layout artist,
The Sword in the Stone (1963)
One Hundred and One Dalmations (1961), Goliath II (1960)
Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959)
He was a storyboard artist for The Prince and the Pauper (1990)
a story artist for Hercules (1997)
and a character designer for Pocahontas (1995)
He worked on the story sequences for Robin Hood (1973)
In the 90s, when Gerry concentrated on visual development and character design, he worked on
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
Tarzan (1999)
Home On The Range (2004)

Storyboard artist
“Carnival of the Animals” sequence in Fantasia 2000 (2000)


Honors

Annie Award: Winsor McCay Award 1995


Related Links

The Day Vance Gerry Erupted. Steve Hulett. May 22, 2006. October 27, 2006. 
Disney Animatory Vance Gerry Dead at 75. March 8, 2005. October 27, 2006. 
Disney 2D Vet Vance Gerry Dead at 75. Chris Grove. March 9, 2005. October 27, 2006.
In Remembrance: Vance Gerry. October 27, 2006. 

Vance Gerry. October 27, 2006.
Vance Gerry. March 2005. October 27, 2006. 


Bibliographic References

Contributors To This Listing

Stephen Bacurin


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