Disney animator Ann Sullivan, who is credited with drawing The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Hercules, Tarzan, Lilo and Stich and Home on the Range, has died from Covid-19 aged 91.
Tributes have been paid to the trailblazing artist who took on the challenge late in her career of changing over to computerised animation production.
Sullivan died in a Los Angeles nursing home, specifically for people who worked in the media world, where two others have also died of Covid-19.
Sullivan, originally from Fargo, North Dakota, followed in her sister Helen's footsteps by moving to California.
After studying at the Art Center in Pasadena, she landed a job at Walt Disney in the animation paint lab in the early 1950s. She then worked with Hanna Barbera and went back to Disney.
Speaking to online entertainment site Deadline, her daughter said: "Her whole life, she was late for everything. She was fastidious about her appearance and insisted that she wouldn’t leave her room unless her ‘eyebrows and lipstick’ were on. Ann loved Casino Day at (her home) but wasn’t a big fan of bingo!"
"This past Friday was Ann’s 91st birthday. Throughout the day, the incredible MPTF staff helped her connect with family and friends through Facetime so everyone could express their love and admiration for her.
"My mom had a great sense of humor, was extremely positive, and touched everyone who was lucky enough to meet her. She loved to have a good time."
Tributes from the animation world have been paid to the artist on social media.
Ann Sullivan is credited as S. Ann Sullivan on IMDb, and she's credited on a number of Disney Renaissance classics, such as The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. Inking and painting was, even in the 90s, a valuable if easy-to-miss part of the animation process. Sad, sad story.
— Josh Spiegel (@mousterpiece) April 14, 2020
RIP, Disney cel paint artist Ann Sullivan, who has died from coronavirus complications at age 91. Her credits included The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Hercules, Tarzan, Lilo & Stitch, Fantasia 2000, and Home on the Range.
— CartoonBrew.com - Animation News (@cartoonbrew) April 14, 2020
RIP Ann Sullivan. What a legendhttps://t.co/FomAnFutTr
— Mitchell Sunderland (@M_sunderland) April 14, 2020
