Blaine Gibson, Disney Legend, Dies

[Patricia]

The man behind Pirates, Haunted Mansion & 'Partners' has died.

From The OC Register:

Disney Imagineer Blaine Gibson, who sculpted everything from pirates to presidents, has died, according to the Walt Disney Family Museum, he was 97.

Gibson started his career with Disney as an in-betweener and assistant animator working on such classics as “Fantasia,” “Bambi” and “Peter Pan.” While working at the Disney Studios, he took evening classes in sculpture at Pasadena City College.

The story goes that one day Walt Disney saw some of his sculptures and assigned him to the Disneyland project. Eventually he became the head of then WED Enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering) Sculpture Department, where he sculpted figures like Abraham Lincoln for the 1964 New York World’s Fair, and dozens of pirates for Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland.

Other Disneyland attractions he worked on included the Haunted Mansion and the Enchanted Tiki Room.

“Blaine Gibson was one of the most important storytellers among all the great talents on Walt Disney’s team of Imagineers,” said Marty Sklar, former vice-chairman of Walt Disney Imagineering. “He showed all of us how to make our Disney park show characters so realistic you never had to guess the role of any three-dimensional figure in our attractions.”

After his retirement in 1983, he continued to consult and sculpt for Disney, including continuing his tradition of sculpting U.S. presidents - of which he sculpted every one for Walt Disney World’s Hall of Presidents up to and including George W. Bush in 2001.

Gibson was also commissioned to sculpt the “Partners” statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse in the Central Hub of Disneyland.

Other famous personages he sculpted included Benjamin Franklin, Mark Twain and Will Rogers for the American Adventure Pavilion at EPCOT.

Gibson was named a Disney Legend in 1993.

[goofy for pluto]

RIP Blaine Gibson. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
It must be comforting for them to know so many have enjoyed his work and that he will be remembered for so many wonderful projects.

[Ian]

[EeyoresBestFriend]

Another amazing Imagineer passes into true legend.

[deedee73]

Wow - without him how different Disney would look. He (and his artistic skills) will definitely be missed but there is comfort that he lives on each and every time you glance at the hub or ride one of the park iconic favorites.

RIP Blaine and thank you for sharing your gift with the world.