John Hench


John Hench was an artist, designer and creative director at The Walt Disney Company. For 65 years, he helped design and develop various Disney attractions and theme parks.

Early life

Hench was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and raised in Southern California. He attended the Art Students' League in New York. Hench attended further art and creative schools in the United States, including the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Art Institute in San Francisco, and the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles.

Career

In 1939, Hench started as a story artist in the animation department working in areas including backgrounds, layout and art direction, effects animation and special effects. Hench was respected by Walt Disney as one of the studio's most gifted artists and worked him and Salvador Dalí on the animated short Destino, a project which began in 1945 and not completed until 2003.
Afterwards, he moved to WED Enterprises. In 1954, Hench was in the studio's live action department, as lead developer of the hydraulic giant squid in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The film won an Academy Award for Best Special Effects in 1954. Hench was also Disney's official portrait artist of Mickey Mouse, painting the company's portraits for Mickey's 25th, 50th, 60th, 70th, and 75th birthdays.
Hench led the design for various attractions: Tomorrowland, the Adventureland buildings and walkways, New Orleans Square and the Snow White Grotto. He also designed Space Mountain, and Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland. He also contributed to attractions such as the Mickey Mouse Revue, Carousel of Progress and It's a Small World. Hench was often mistaken as Walt Disney, therefore, theme parks guests would often ask him for an autograph or photo.
One of Hench's most recognizable work is his design for the Olympic Torch for the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley, California, which subsequent torches have been based on. The design is modeled after the torches of the 1948 and 1956 Olympiads. In 1990, he received the Disney Legend award, the company's highest honor, presented by then-CEO Michael Eisner. Hench remained at Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, California until 2004.

Personal life

Hench and his wife were longtime devotees of the Hindu saint Ramakrishna, were initiated by Swami Prabhavananda, and were members of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, Hench serving as the society's board president for a short time.
Hench died of heart failure in February 2004 after a brief hospitalization in Burbank, California. His name tag and 65-year service award are displayed in the Imagineering building lobby, with tributes by Imagineers lining its hallways. He is survived by his wife, Lowry.

Legacy

The John Hench School of Animation at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles, California is named in his honor. He was a major contributor to the animation school. The school motto, "Art Makes Us Human", is a quote from Hench when he visited the school to inspire students.

Selected works

YearTitleRole
1940FantasiaArtist
1941DumboArtist
1945The Three CaballerosArtist
1946Make Mine MusicArt Supervisor
1947Fun & Fancy FreeArtist
1949The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. ToadArt Supervisor
1949So Dear to My HeartAnimation Effects
1950CinderellaArt Supervisor
1951Alice in WonderlandArt Supervisor
1953Peter PanArt Supervisor
1953True-Life Adventure The Living DesertAnimation Effects
195420,000 Leagues Under the SeaSpecial Effects
1957Our Friend the AtomArt Supervisor
1977The Many Adventures of Winnie the PoohSpecial Effects
2003DestinoStory

YearAttraction
–Disneyland Tomorrowland
1971Walt Disney World
1982EPCOT Center
1983Tokyo Disneyland

Awards