In Memory of Collin Campbell

Collin Campbell, November 11, 1926-April 2, 2011.We are saddened to note the passing of Collin Campbell, who died in Florida on April 2. He was a layout and background artist in the Disney Animation Department, and was a long-time art director and concept artist for Walt Disney Imagineering. 

Collin was born in 1926 in St. Charles, Michigan, and began his Disney career in 1943 as a messenger in the Traffic Department at the Studio. Soon after, he was drafted and served two years in the Navy during World War II, but returned to Disney upon completion of his service.

For five years Collin attended the School of Allied Arts in Glendale, CA, where he studied cinema design and storyboarding. After working for a year as an inbetweener, he left the Studio to study at the Académie Julian in Paris. He returned in the layout and background departments in 1953, and worked on features such as Lady and the Tramp (1954) and the shorts The Truth About Mother Goose (1957), and Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959). He pioneered the visual design of the new Xerox camera method in his work on the short Goliath II (1959) and the feature One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961), before transferring to WED Enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering).

One of Collin Campbell's atmospheric concept paintings for Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, 1962. © DisneyHis initial assignment was creating the interior and models for Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland. Other projects included Pirates of the Caribbean, the Blue Bayou restaurant, and it's a small world; and extensive design, concept, and art direction work on many of the attractions throughout the parks in Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

In addition, Collin was a combat artist for both the Navy and Air Force, a sideline that took him to Japan, Korea, the Phillipines, and Thailand war zones, twice to Vietnam, as well as aboard the Apollo 15 pickup carrier.

Collin is survived by his wife, Lois Dabio Campbell of Lighthouse Point, Florida.

Comments

[Michael Crawford]

Thanks for getting the word out. Another irreplaceable link to the past is gone. Condolences to his family.

[Tom G.]

I loved the "The story and song from the Haunted Mansion" album LP as a child. I frequently listened to the album and always looked at the picture book. I love Collin's work!

I was at Disney World last week and when I am there, I always look at the kiosk outside the ride for just the possibility that maybe the picture book had been released in the time since I was there last. Well, wouldn't you know, they realeased the recording on CD with the picture album inside and Collin's work is encoded on the cd to view as well!!! Finally, I am able to listen to the recording and view the picture book after 30-plus years.

Thank you Collin for making this part of my childhood so great! My heartfelt wishes to Mr. Campbell's family.

God Bless,

Tom