John Hench

• Name — John Hench • Born — June 29, 1908 • Birthplace — Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S. • Died — February 5, 2004 (aged 95) • Place of death — Burbank, California, U.S. • Occupation — Artist, designer, director • Years Active — 1939–2004 • Spouse — Lowry Hench (m. 1939) • Employer — Walt Disney Imagineering

Hench was born on June 29, 1908, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and raised in Southern California. He attended the Los Angeles Art Students' League. 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.

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 was not completed until 2003. Afterwards, he moved to WED Enterprises (now known as Walt Disney Imagineering). 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.

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.

Animation • Year — Title — Role • 1940 — Fantasia — Artist • 1941 — Dumbo • 1945 — The Three Caballeros • 1946 — Make Mine Music — Art Supervisor • 1947 — Fun & Fancy Free — Artist • 1949 — The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad — Art Supervisor • So Dear to My Heart — Animation Effects • 1950 — Cinderella — Art Supervisor • 1951 — Alice in Wonderland • 1953 — Peter Pan • True-Life Adventure The Living Desert — Animation Effects • 1954 — 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea — Special Effects • 1957 — Our Friend the Atom — Art Supervisor • 1977 — The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — Special Effects • 2003 — Destino — Story Architect / Designer • Year — Attraction • – — Disneyland Tomorrowland • 1971 — Walt Disney World • 1982 — EPCOT Center • 1983 — Tokyo Disneyland