And after the release of Oliver and Company the subway chase sequence went on to win the 1989 National Computer Graphics Association (NCGA) Special Award for the Application of Computer Graphics to Theatrical Animation when submitted independantly as a short called “The Chase”.

Oliver and Company wins the 1989 National Computer Graphics Association (NCGA) Special Award for the Application of Computer Graphics to Theatrical Animation.

The edited 4 minute segment from Oliver and Company called “The Chase” was submitted for consideration. This was the same year that “Tin Toy” from Pixar was nominated for best short film.

This crew picture of the crew of Oliver and Company was taken at the end of production in the parking lot behind the Walt Disney Feature Animation building at 1420 Flower Street, Glendale California. George Scribner, the director, is lying down in front of the banner holding a small kitten that represents Oliver. I think the entire animation department including human resources, technical support and all the animation departments from pre-production, production and post up to 175 people at that time. This was our second movie done in what was referred to as “the warehouse environment”.

August 15, 1986Huddled in front of the one SGI workstation and the 4′ x 5′ tablet in the corner at Walt Disney Feature Animation at 1420 Flower St. is the beginnings of what would become the dominant medium of the studio 15 years later.

First Row L to R: Steve Gordon, Doug Krohn, Reuben Aquino, Barry Cook, Tony De Rosa.
Second Row L to R: Dan Hansen, Jay Jackson, Mark Henn, Tina Price and Phil Nibblelink.
Not pictured: Dave Bossart.

In 1986 this small group of animators from Walt Disney Feature animation were sent to Art Center School of Design to complete a class in hands-on computer graphics and were taught by experts in the field such as Jim Blinn of JPL and Dr. Chuck Csuri from Ohio State University on the latest state of the art techniques of the day.