Podcasts about Tyrus Wong

If you're one of the fortunate people who know who Tyrus Wong was and what a pivotal role he played in getting the classic Disney film "Bambi" made, I think you'll still be blown away by what Dr. Karen Fang has revealed in her recent book, "Background Artist: The Life and Work of Tyrus Wong." I'll give you two hints: Christmas cards and custom kites.

Have you ever watched the movie Bambi? This timeless classic was in many ways made possible by one extraordinary artist. This is the story of Tyrus Wong and his incredible journey from his home village to Walt Disney Studios. Born in China, Tyrus embarked on a daring voyage across the ocean to the United States when he was just nine years old. It's time to discover his fascinating tale.  About Honest History Honest History creates award-winning books, magazines, and this show for young historians across the world. Our mission is to inspire kids to create a positive impact on history themselves. Learn more at honesthistory.co and @honesthistory. Credits This episode was written by Heidi Coburn, narrated by Randall Lawrence, and produced by Robot Pirate Media. Original theme music was written and recorded by Luke Messimer. More Enjoy this episode? Share with your friends and don't forget to rate and review. See you next time!

On Wednesday's show: A recent survey asked Houstonians about their quality of life here. The question came from us here at Houston Matters, and we learn what they had to say.Also this hour: We discuss some of the names already made public as likely members of President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration along with other developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Then, in the latest installment of The Full Menu, Houston food writers share some of their favorite area restaurants to visit for special occasions.And University of Houston film scholar Karen Fang talks about her new book, Background Artist: The Life and Work of Tyrus Wong. Wong was a 20th century Asian-American artist who worked on many famous films, including as the lead production illustrator for Disney's classic Bambi.

Tracy and Holly talk about the Disney animators' strike of 1941, Angel Island, and Tyrus Wong's Christmas cards. They also discuss the merits of dandelions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the course of an extraordinarily long career, Tyrus Wong worked across a range of media in a whole collection of industries – animation, live-action film, commercial art, public art, greeting cards, and in his last years, kitemaking in his personal workshop. Research: Tom, Pamela, writer and director. “Tyrus.” PBS American Masters. 9/8/2017. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/tyrus-about-the-film/8917/ "Tyrus Wong." Encyclopedia of World Biography Online, Gale, 2022. Gale In Context: U.S. History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1631010885/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=943f33c3. Accessed 1 May 2024. PBS American Masters. “Biography.” https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/tyrus-wong-biography/9197/ Fang, Karen. “Commercial Design and Midcentury Asian American Art: The Greeting Cards of Tyrus Wong,” Panorama: Journal of the Association of Historians of American Art 7, no. 1 (Spring 2021), https://doi.org/10.24926/24716839.11548. Friedl, Erik. “Flights of Fancy.” 1987. Via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09Ta8BCrbLw Wu, Tara. “How Tyrus Wong's Christmas Cards Captivated the American Public.” Smithsonian. December 2020. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/tyrus-wong-christmas-card-captivated-american-public-180976239/ Chang, Rosalind. “A Profile of Tyrus Wong.” Angel Island Immigrant Station Foundation. https://www.immigrant-voices.aiisf.org/ Fox, Margalit. “Tyrus Wong, ‘Bambi' Artist Thwarted by Racial Bias, Dies at 106.” New York Times. 12/30/2016. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/30/movies/tyrus-wong-dies-bambi-disney.html Wong, Eddie. “Angel Island Profile: Tyrus Wong.” Angel Island Immigration Statoin Foundation. Via YouTube. 8/8/2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUTsngXHbH8 Fang, Karen. “'Chinese Jesus' in a Broom Closet: The Many Archives of Tyrus Wong.” Opening the Vault: Media Industry Studies and its Archives Peter Labuza, editor, Spectator 41:2 (Fall 2021): 20-30. See, Lisa. “On Gold Mountain: The One Hundred Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family.” Vintage Books. 1995. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here, in the conclusion of our five-episode season on The Hall of the Monkey King, you'll hear about Journey to the West's capacity for reinvention across centuries—about, in other words, its openness to different circumstances, something like the Monkey King's own openness, his playfulness. Julia Lovell says, “Running through Monkey's actions and personality is a love of this thing called play. He's an incredibly playful character. And I don't think it's a coincidence that the Chinese word in the title of the novel that is translated as 'journey'—you—can also be translated as 'play.'" Kaiser Kuo describes the history of openness in China with regard to cosmopolitanism. He mentions the echoes between the Ming Dynasty (when Journey to the West was written) and the Tang Dynasty (when the novel is set). Both of those dynasties, he says, have "periods of outward-facing and inward-facing.” These are times of intensified tensions that Kaiser Kuo observes here across Chinese history. Journey to the West makes much of related dynamics between outward-facing and inward-facing, especially through its playful mood. In this novel, adventuring through traditions from China and from outside China, thinking in different keys, leaping from philosophy to philosophy, and seeking transcendence all depend upon a wild amount of play, of experiment, of fun. Guests this season include Julia Lovell, whose recent translation of Journey to the West is titled Monkey King; D. Max Moerman, scholar of religion at Columbia; Xiaofei Tian, scholar of Chinese literature at Harvard; Karen Fang, scholar of literature and cinema at the University of Houston—she's now working on a biography of Disney legend Tyrus Wong; and Kaiser Kuo, host of the Sinica Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can encounter Journey to the West in film, on television, in comic books—it's a sixteenth-century novel that lives comfortably in an age of cinema and video games. This episode, then, follows a tangent away from the sixteenth century and into the movies. We're talking about heroic quests and martial arts in media centuries after Journey to the West's publication. Wuxia cinema, in particular, occupies our attention here. These are films of high drama and martial arts in pre-modern, legendary Chinese settings. Karen Fang, scholar of cinema and literature at the University of Houston, notes “threads of connection” between Journey to the West and wuxia, and connections include the similar presence of a spiritual quest and martial artistry in a mythical-historical world. Still, to be clear: in this installment, we're going for a walk away from the novel and into the movies. It's just that we find a few patterns that match those of the Monkey King's adventures.  Wuxia stories, like the Monkey King's, draw from dynamics between intense self-cultivation and power struggle. The result is a durable kind of kinetic drama—it's opened up cinematic possibilities for decades. Karen Fang explains the heart of it all: “The underlying idea in wuxia is this idea that somebody can reach a level of human transcendency—a transcendent power, a transcendent skill—through years of training and dedication, both to physical training, but also spiritual dedication.” Guests in this episode include Karen Fang, scholar of literature and cinema at the University of Houston—she's now working on a biography of Disney legend Tyrus Wong; Kaiser Kuo, host of the Sinica Podcast; and Julia Lovell, whose recent translation of Journey to the West is titled Monkey King. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cosmic Library is back, with a five-episode season on Journey to the West, the classic 16th-century Chinese novel of comic mischief, spirituality, bureaucratic maneuvers, and superpowered fight scenes. It's the story of a monk's journey west for Buddhist texts, and that journey is moved along by the rambunctious Monkey King, whose interests include troublemaking and the pursuit of immortality. In film, television, comic books, videogames, and elsewhere, this book remains in pop culture; for example, its story is woven into the new Disney+ streaming series American Born Chinese (based on a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang). And it's also the right book to include on The Cosmic Library shelf alongside Finnegans Wake, 1,001 Nights, and the Hebrew Bible—it's full of transformations, dream-like scenes, and surprising complications.  This season, we'll hear readings from the book and talk about Buddhism, Daoism, cinema, comedy, and more. There's a lot here. Journey to the West continually jolts the reader toward some joke, spiritual consideration, or satirical deflation of such considerations. Gene Luen Yang has described, in his foreword to Julia Lovell's recent translation of Journey to the West, how tales of the Monkey King worked in his childhood as bedtime stories. And in this season of The Cosmic Library, you'll hear how it's the kind of book to read into the night, into the dream-like realm where categories blur, where thoughts and moods shift continually.  Guests this season will include Julia Lovell, whose recent translation of Journey to the West is titled Monkey King; Karen Fang, scholar of literature and cinema at the University of Houston— she's now working on a biography of Disney legend Tyrus Wong; D. Max Moerman, scholar of religion at Columbia; and Xiaofei Tian, scholar of literature at Harvard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode: 3213 How a Chinese immigrant helped make one of Disney's most beloved films.  Today, we save Bambi.

Welcome to Episode 59! The Chinese Exclusion Act is one for the most restrictive laws that limited immigration. Although the majority of Chinese were barred from entering the country or becoming naturalized citizens, there was one loophole that allowed many Chinese Americans to claim citizenship and bring in additional Chinese. These were known as paper sons and daughters. We also talk about one particularly famous paper son, Tyrus Wong. There's a great documentary about him called Tyrus by director Pamela Tom. Additionally, we bring back our segment What Are We Listening To? We talk about the music of Sanjana, Monsune, EASHA, Shreea Kaul, Silk Sonic, Deb Never. Do you have a favorite Asian Pacific American musician? Let us know! To learn more, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or https://linktr.ee/AAHistory101 for social media. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@1882media.com. Segments 00:26 Chinese Exclusion Act Comment 04:39 History of Paper Sons and Remembering Tyrus Wong 13:55 What Are We Listening To?

Tune in to hear Nicole and Nusrah talk about Asian American female authors, in conversation with the wonderful Kelly Yang, author of Front Desk and Parachutes. For even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! Books Mentioned Any Day With You by Mae Respicio Insurrecto by Gina Apostol – adult recommendation Stargazing by Jen Wang Eyes That Kiss in the Cornersby Joanna Ho Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park Lalani of the Distant Seaby Erin Estrada Kelly Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Togetherby Andrea Tsurumi Asian-Americans Who Inspire Us by Analiza Quiroz Wolf, illustrated by Tuire Suirainen Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist, written by Julie Leung  From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea by Kai Cheng Thom, illustrated by Kai Yun Ching You can find Nicole on Twitter @ittybittyNY You can find Nusrah on Twitter @JavedNusrah Until next time! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mom and Isaac conclude their discussion of Disney's Golden Era with some controversial takes on the gorgeous, esoteric Bambi. Listen as we discuss the differences between film and book, gush over the incredible hand-painted backgrounds of Tyrus Wong, express disdain for Thumper, and attempt a series of ill-advised Donald Duck impersonations in honor of Clarence Nash. Me, Mom & The Mouse is a podcast about the joy of watching cartoons with your family. If you like this episode, please subscribe and join us each Friday as we watch every film in the Disney Animated Canon and talk about how it was made, what it means, and why we love it (or don't.) Music: The Show Must Be Go by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4509-the-show-must-be-goLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Episode Summary:Hear how “twitterpated” Erin and Rachel both are with Bambi (1942), the delightful classic that chronicles the lives of forest creatures with a heavy-handed conservationist agenda. Widely panned by critics following its initial release, this is the first time the grade Erin assigned on behalf of 1942 viewers is lower than the grade Rachel assigned based on a current day perspective! Episode Bibliography:Bálint, E. (2013). The representation of women in Walt Disney’s productions in the studio era. Americana, 9(2), 8-8.Bambi. Wikipedia. https://web.archive.org/web/20200515132816/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BambiBambi, a Life in the Woods. Wikipedia. https://web.archive.org/web/20200515023159/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bambi,_a_Life_in_the_WoodsBrooks, K. (2017). Tyrus Wong, the ‘Bambi’ artists who endured America’s racism, gets his due. Chinese American Forum, 33(2), 32-33.Cartmill, M. (1993). The Bambi syndrome. Natural History, 102(6), 6-11.Dudley, S. (2018). The Making of Bambi: A Prince is Born (Full Documentary). Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmCiuNotEwUHand, D. (Director). (1942). Bambi [Film]. Walt Disney Productions. King, M. (1996). The audience in the wilderness. Journal of Popular Film & Television, 96(24), 60-69.Ross, M. (2012). The Biology of Bachelor Groups. Quality Deer Management Association. https://www.qdma.com/biology-bachelor-groups/Salten, F. (1923). Bambi: A life in the woods. Ullstein Verlag.Taylor, D. E. (2000). The rise of the environmental justice paradigm: Injustice framing and the social construction of environmental discourses. American Behavioral Scientists, 43(4), 508-580.Whitley, D. (2012). The idea of nature in Disney animation: From Snow White to WALL-E (2nd ed.). Ashgate.Wills, J. (2011). Bambi. https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-film-preservation-board/documents/bambi.pdf

Author Julie Leung and illustrator Chris Sasaki discuss the inspiring true story behind their children's book, Paper Son. Li Wei Yang, curator of Pacific Rim Collections at The Huntington, introduces the program and offers historical context. A book signing follows the talk.

Author Julie Leung and illustrator Chris Sasaki discuss the inspiring true story behind their children's book, Paper Son. Li Wei Yang, curator of Pacific Rim Collections at The Huntington, introduces the program and offers historical context. A book signing follows the talk.

In this week’s episode, we discuss how understanding the power of simplicity allows you to make creative decisions that better serve your story. Belief Agency founder and executive creative director Jesse Bryan and chief storyteller Brian McDonald discuss the importance of simplicity in storytelling. Belief Agency is a full-service marketing and production agency in Seattle, WA. We build brands with conviction. Show notes: Brian’s Invisible Ink blog about simplicity: http://invisibleinkblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/again-with-simplicity.html (3:32, 9:34) Opening scene of Oklahoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5APc0z49wg (26:49) Jaws written on piano keys: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/256775616226044463/ (33:54) Tyrus Wong quote about simplicity in painting and examples of his work: https://ohmy.disney.com/movies/2017/05/19/see-disney-legend-tyrus-wong-talk-about-his-work-on-bambi-in-this-exclusive-video-2/ (38:48, 39:50) New Neighbors by Norman Rockwell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA7A7lciQGo (1:02:41) The Jury by Norman Rockwell: http://images.art.com/images/products/regular/13214000/13214017.jpg (1:08:22)

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“American Masters: Tyrus” filmmaker Pamela Tom interviews filmmakers/artists Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi, who discuss their Oscar-nominated animated short “The Dam Keeper” and artist Tyrus Wong’s influence on their work. See their work and learn more about Wong in “American Masters: Tyrus,” premiering September 8 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) and streaming September 9 at http://pbs.org/americanmasters and PBS OTT apps.

James got that 'milk gift" and he is #blessed, he also narrowly escaped joining a cult. Thank goodness a certain body part saved him. After escaping the cult, Nnekay and James talk about Neil Degrasse Tyson and the universe, which initially freaks Nnekay out- but with Degrasse Tyson and his show, Cosmos' help the universe can be accessible and even... magical? In Nnekay's korner she tells of life and times of Tyrus Wong, the Chinese American artist who radically influenced the Disney classic, Bambi- but his journey to America and the story of his survival might be even more fascinating. Remember the "It Gets Better" Campaign? In James' korner he is seeing if there has been any change in the 7 years since it was first launched. James uncovers some currents facts about LGBT youth, analyses some recent articles that say that the campaign didn't work, and ultimately gives some tips on how to work through those moments in life when things seem bleak. We also have an Ask Minority Korner Anything!!!! This time from Eboni S. and relationships and vegetarians. We also cover such topics as: the wigs of scandal and just fake hairs in general, recommendation for Hasan Minhaj Netflix special Homecoming King and the book This Is What A Librarian Looks Like, which features one of your favorite Wonder Twins of Podcasting.  Links! http://fusion.kinja.com/the-forgotten-chinese-american-artist-behind-a-disney-a-1795380547   https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/30/movies/tyrus-wong-dies-bambi-disney.html

“Being a real human being” is a concept that comes up often in Bruce’s writings, he didn’t want to be considered just an actor or a martial artist, but as a human being who was growing, evolving and creating. “The function and duty of a quality human being, is the sincere and honest development of potential and self-actualization.” “Do you know how I like to think of myself? As a human being. Because under the heavens, under the sky, there is but one family.” There is a unifying quality to Bruce Lee that connects us on a human level. This unifying philosophy is needed now because of the divisiveness among people in the world. “The simple truth is that these opinions on such things as racism, are traditions which are nothing more than a formula that was laid down by elder peoples experience. As we progress and time changes, it is necessary to reform this formula. I, Bruce Lee, am a man who never follows these formulas of the fear mongers. So no matter if your color is black, or white, red or blue, I can still make friends with you without any barrier.” “If I say that everyone under the sun is a member of a universal family, you may think that I’m bluffing and idealistic. But if anyone still believes in racial difference, I think he is too backward and narrow. Perhaps he does not understand man’s equality and love.” “I’m not one of those guys who can just brush people off. If I can take a second to make someone happy why not do it? A person cannot forget someone who is good to them.” Most of our anxiety and pain comes from feeling disconnected and just little moments of empathetic human interaction can make us happier and feel like a human being. “Sensitivity is not possible if you are afraid.” “The point to be made about ego is that man should use his ego and not be used by ego or blinded by it.” “Don’t have an attitude, open yourself, focus yourself, express yourself, and in doing that connect with people so that they can share in the expression of who you are.” Take Action: How do you move through the world? Are you open to growth and change? Do you think of people as the “other”? If you find yourself feeling fearful about human connection and vulnerability, why is that? Try to just smile at another person. Find small ways to open the door a little. Pick someone who you already like and share with them something you appreciate about them. If you go out into the world with the view that we are all one family, how does that change how you interact with the world? #AAHA This week we have an #AAHA nomination of Tyrus Wong from listener Lauren L.: “I would like to nominate the late Tyrus Wong for the #AAHA segment of your podcast. In his 106 years of life, he was an incredible artist; of paintings, murals, and kites. He comes from rough beginnings where, at the age of nine, he immigrated with his father from China. His career as a designer, illustrator, and storyboard artist for Hollywood was most certainly no cake walk; especially as an Asian man in his profession during the 1930's-1960's. The number of times he had faced discrimination and being called "chink" is hard to keep track of. Despite the struggles, Tyrus did succeed in his field. He was the storyboard artist for a number of notable live-action films like "Rebel Without a Cause" and he was the head artist on the Disney animated film, "Bambi." #BruceLeeMoment This week’s #BruceLeeMoment comes from Thinh L.: “The episode "Medicine for my suffering" thoroughly resonates with me. Early 2012 I developed a spinal condition known as spondylolisthesis, in which one vertebra in my lower back becomes disjointed from the other. Like the quote says, "the ailment came from within myself". I was my own worse enemy in this instance. But I also realized that I was my own best medicine.” Share your #AAHAs, #BruceLeeMoments, and #Take Action progress with at hello@brucelee.com. The full version of the show notes is at BruceLee.com/podcast

In episode sixteen, Matthew and Melissa talk about this year's Oscars. Then, Matthew pitches a film about artist and Disney animator Tyrus Wong.

Support this podcast on Patreon and get exclusive and early content! Please Rate & Review us on iTunes SEGMENT EPISODE! For our first segment show of 2017 we pair it up as half a Road Trip episode too! We talk about media in all forms in this show, between long and short, online and theater distribution... and oh yea, the Golden Globes happened. Enjoy! And you can now listen to us on SoundCloud! Topics & Timestamps (4:50) How you doin (the Golden Globes) (14:05) Trailer Talk... (14:42) "Blark and Son" (30:43) Ax by Fax (45:52) Animation News... (47:20) Captain Underpants movie (54:29) Scavengers animated shorts (1:04:55) Tyrus Wong passed away at age 106 Media referenced in this episode https://vimeo.com/179779722  Check out more of your hosts Stephen Brooks @RubberOnion Rob Yulfo @RobYulfo Order Stephen's tutorial book

01/02/17 - In this week’s Disneyland and Southern California news, guests have to be evacuated from Knott’s Berry Farm’s Sky Cabin, the Big Thunder Trail give guests a peak at construction, and the team catches up on three weeks of news.

The Rotoscopers have gone on STRIKE! Last minute they decided to review the Walt Disney Classic, Bambi, instead of Ice Age 5. Was it a good decision? You be the judge! We also chat about the incredible art of Tyrus Wong, naturalism, Bambi's mom, and the "shot-by-shot" (ugh, we're sorry for the pun) analysis by Mason! Full show notes, links, and more: rotoscopers.com/128 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A few weeks ago, it was my pleasure to have filmmaker Pamela Tom in the Lounge to talk about her documentary Tyrus, the story of Chinese-American artist and Disney Legend Tyrus Wong. Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to finally see Tyrus on the big screen. The film opened CAAMFest, an annual film festival in the San Francisco Bay Area that supports and celebrates Asian art and culture. It was a delightful evening, with the screening held at San Francisco's historic Castro Theatre. It was followed by a gala at the Asian Art Museum. On display at the event was an 80-year old watercolor masterpiece by Tyrus Wong called "Chinese Jesus." It depicts an ethereal Christ-like figure floating in a partially clouded sky. For decades, the painting was thought to have been lost, only to be rediscovered a few years ago stashed away in a San Francisco church. The painting came full circle on March 9, when, during a ceremony designating the day as “Tyrus Wong Day” in San Francisco, Tyrus Wong, at 105-years old, signed the painting. Last Friday, since I was in the neighborhood, I dropped by the Walt Disney Family Museum and spent time with Michael Labrie, the museum's director of collections. In 2013, Michael curated Water to Paper, Paint to Sky an exhibition of Tyrus Wong's work. In our conversation, Michael and I talked about Tyrus, as well as a contemporary of Tyrus's at Disney, Mel Shaw. Mel is the subject of a current retrospective at the Museum, Mel Shaw: An Animator on Horseback.  After talking with Michael, imagine my surprise to run into none other than Tyrus Wong at the Museum. He was the guest of honor at a member event later that evening, but he had arrived early to take in the Mel Shaw exhibition. We only chatted briefly, but as always, Tyrus was charming, good humored and an absolute pleasure to talk with. CAAMFest runs through March 20, so if you're in the San Francisco Bay Area this week, I highly recommend seeing one of the many fascinating films screening during the festival. In fact, the Walt Disney Family Museum, in celebration of Tyrus Wong, is showing Bambi this Saturday and Sunday. Plus, you can catch an encore showing of Tyrus at the New Parkway Theater in Oakland also on Sunday. For times and ticket information, visit caamfest.com/2016/schedule. Michael Labrie is my guest today in The Mouse Castle Lounge. Enjoy!www.TheMouseCastle.comRSS Feed: http://themousecastle.libsyn.com/rss

Tyrus Wong is a Disney Legend. Though his time at the Disney Studios was brief—only three years from 1938-1941—his contributions there were profound. It was Tyrus' artistic vision that gave Disney's Bambi it's lush impressionistic forest backgrounds, a look that still influences and inspires artists and animators nearly 75 years after the film's release. Tyrus' work on Bambi represents only a small portion of his life's prolific artistic output. Tyrus was part of the “Orientalist” art movement popular in the U.S. in the 1930s. After leaving Disney, Tyrus would spend over 25 years at Warner Bros. as a production illustrator and concept artists on such films as The Sands of Iwo Jima, Rebel Without a Cause, Harper and The Wild Bunch. He designed menus for restaurants and greeting cards for Hallmark. Today, at 105 years old, he still creates art, most notably ornate kites that he flies once a month on the beach at Santa Monica. Two and a half years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Tyrus Wong for an episode of The Mouse Castle Lounge. We were at the opening of an art exhibition at The Walt Disney Family Museum--Water to Paper, Paint to Sky—that celebrated Tyrus' life's work. Our interview remains one of my all-time favorites as I was charmed by the man's modesty, good humor and immense talent. It was also at this exhibition where I first met filmmaker Pamela Tom, who was in the middle of shooting a documentary about Tyrus. Today, that film is complete and Pamela is my guest. Her film, appropriately titled Tyrus, is a moving and inspiring story of a man who overcame the hardships of poverty and racism to succeed as both a popular and fine artist. Completing this film has been a labor of love for Pamela as she met Tyrus Wong and conducted her first interview with him over 15 years ago. Pamela is an award winning producer and director who has been involved with numerous film projects on PBS including WW2: Behind Closed Doors, Wired Science and the short film Two Lies. She is a respected educator who has taught at UC Santa Barbara, Loyola Marymount and UCLA Extension.  Enjoy!www.TheMouseCastle.comRSS Feed: http://themousecastle.libsyn.com/rss

11/14/13 - Michael Bowling discusses artist Tyrus Wong and the art and animation of Bambi.

Jeff dons his "Chef" hat and offers a synopsis of a recent Haunted Mansion presentation he delivered at the fall gathering of the Golden Gate Disneyana Club on this week's episode of Mousetalgia. From the Mansion's architectural origins to the great haunt debate (should it be scary or should it be spooky?), we examine a few of the interesting elements that make the Haunted Mansion such an unforgettable and fascinating attraction. Next, we join Andreas Deja and Carol Police at the Walt Disney Family Museum and report on a talk about "Art and Character Development in Walt Disney's Bambi," featuring an in-depth look at the groundbreaking artwork created by Tyrus Wong for the film's production. Plus - deep-sixing Disneyland attractions, Little Mermaid Second Screen Live screenings, another view of the Villains event - and more!

During one amazing evening at the Walt Disney Family Museum, "Mouse Castle Lounge" host Tim Callaway chats with 102-year old Disney Legend Tyrus Wong at the opening of a retrospective of his work, "Water to Paper, Paint to Sky: The Art of Tyrus Wong." Also on hand to pay tribute to Wong are Pixar director Pete Docter ("Monsters Inc.," "Up"), Disney Legend and artist (and voice of Donald Duck) Tony Anselmo, and author and historian J.B. Kaufman. Wong's art spans decades, from his exquisite work on "Bambi" to over 25 years as a pre-production artist at Warner Bros. In retirement, Wong has earned great reknown as a designer and builder of fanciful kites. www.TheMouseCastle.com.

Tim wraps up his interview with Disney historian Paula Sigman Lowery as they talk about the development of the Walt Disney Family Museum and about Walt's relationship with his father Elias. Tim also chats on the phone with WDFM CEO Gabriella Calicchio about upcoming events at the Museum (and apologizes in advance for the murky sound quality). The Museum has a full slate of special exhibitions coming up, including the work of Maurice Sendak, Camille Rose Garcia and Tyrus Wong. Also paying a visit to the Lounge once again is Tina, who has a thing or two to say about beer.  www.TheMouseCastle.com

The art of the Disneyland "fun map" - this week, Team Mousetalgia talks to attraction designer Chris Merritt about the history and making of the classic Disneyland "fun maps," the poster-sized wall maps that were created and sold as souvenirs at the parks. We also discuss Pirates Lair and Sam McKim's artwork for WED. Then, Jeff reviews a recent event at the Walt Disney Family Museum honoring the art of Disney Legend Tyrus Wong (conceptual artist for Bambi), at which the 100-year-old Wong made a surprise appearance! Plus favorite Disney songs, Aladdin the musical - and more!