Retta Davidson | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1921-11-01)November 1, 1921 Arcadia, California |
| Died | June 12, 1998(1998-06-12) (aged 76) Carlsbad, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Animation |
Retta Davidson (November 1, 1921 inArcadia, California – June 12, 1998 inCarlsbad, California) was aUnited Statesanimator. She is best known as one of the few women animators forWalt Disney Studios duringthe Golden Age of American animation.[1]
After graduating fromhigh school in 1939, Davidson joined Disney as an inker and painter, where she worked onPinocchio,Bambi,Fantasia, andSleeping Beauty.[2]
The Disney studios were affected by the resultant labor shortage fromWorld War II, and many of their lead animators were drafted to serve in theFirst Motion Picture Unit. In 1941, the studio asked members of the Ink and Paint Department to submit artwork to be considered for animation training and jobs in the animation department. Davidson was one of a group of ten women accepted to the program.[1]
Davidson worked as an animator for a year before taking leave from the studio in 1942 to enlist in theUnited States Navy, which she served in for four years. She returned to Disney Studios after the war, where she worked as an animator until 1966.
After leaving Disney, she provided freelance animation work for advertising agencies, as well as forChuck Jones (including work onDuck Dodgers and the Return of the 24½th Century). Davidson is also known for her work on the1978 animated adaption ofThe Lord of the Rings,The Great Mouse Detective (1986) andHeavy Metal (1981).[3]
In 1980, Davidson was invited back to Disney to work on the feature-length animated filmsThe Fox and the Hound (1981) andThe Black Cauldron (1985) as coordinating animator. After their release, she continued to work at the studio as a trainer for new animators until her retirement in 1985.
Retta Davidson was sometimes credited asRedda Davidson. She should not be confused withRetta Scott, another female animator at Disney.
