Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

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In Dizographies' first ever exclusive interview with a Disney animator, we sat down with Ron Husband to hear his inspiring story to become the first fully fledged animator at the Walt Disney Company. Ron overcame bigotry and a near terminal illness to make history and help shape the childhoods of countless kids. This is Part 1 of our coverage of Ron Husband, but we'll also be dropping shorts and bonus content in the weeks to come.

00:00 Introduction to Ron Husband & the Elk
00:57 Ron's Early Life
03:13 Getting in to Disney's Training Program
04:38 Working as an In-Betweener
05:48 Discouraging News
07:16 Battling a Brain Tumor
10:33 Making History
12:35 Supervising Djali
15:42 Fantasia 2000 & the Spiritual Meaning
20:20 Conclusion

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Interview and Narration Performed by Stuart Y
Writing/Editing By - Amber Hannen-Snyder

Resources/Further Reading:
Quick Sketching With Ron Husband:
https://shorturl.at/bi2TQ
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Husband
IMDB
imdb.com/name/nm0403846
Black Past
blackpast.org/african-american-history/husband-ron-1950
Disney Family Museum
waltdisney.org/education/talks/happily-ever-after-hours-animator-ron-husband
Milwaukee Times
milwaukeetimesnews.com/lifestyle-recipe-tips-home-decorating-gardening/ron-husband-the-story-of-disneys-first-black-animator
Animateducated
animateducated.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-ron-husband-interview.html
PBS SoCal
pbssocal.org/press-room/disneys-first-black-animator-tells-his-story-in-huz-drawn-to-life-premiering-on-pbs-socal-feb-12