Biography

Ken Anderson was born on March 17, 1909 in Seattle, Washington, USA. He was a writer and art director, known for Cinderella (1950), Robin Hood (1973) and The Jungle Book (1967). He was married to Polly Anderson. He died on December 13, 1993 in La Cañada Flintridge, California, USA.

A graduate with a degree in architecture, he began film work at MGM but joined Walt Disney (who would refer to him as his 'Jack of all Trades') to animated Silly Symphonies cartoons. He excelled as a background/layout artist and was soon promoted to art director for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, and The Reluctant Dragon. He created Shere Khan for The Jungle Book and was influential in the production design for Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and The Aristocats. He retired from animation in 1978, though contributing to Walt Disney Imagineering projects at Epcot.

Father of three daughters Sue, Judy, and Wendy. He has 12 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

[speaking about his last conversation with Walt Disney] He came into my office and was so glad and grateful to see him and I said, 'Gosh it's good to see you Walt' and he said, 'Ken it's sure good to be here'. And then he looked at me penetratingly with his eyes. He didn't say anything but I could tell he was forgiving me for that thing I had done on One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961). That was it. The next day he was gone.