With a successful return to "in-person" events in 2022, we would like to thank all the volunteers who helped plan, setup, run and teardown during our events honoring Terri Hardin, Oscar Martinez, Karlos Siqueiros and Don Ballard. Without our volunteers, these events would not be possible.
We would also like to thank everybody who were able to attend our events and the Disneyana Collectible Show and Sale.
We hoped that everybody had a great time while keeping safe.
We are very excited to announce our next Special Event!
We are ecstatic to have animators Willie Ito and Jane Shattuck-Takamoto-Baer join us on the stage. With decades of experience within the animation field, we are deeply honored to have them. Also, with decades of designing many Disney parades, merchandise and artwork, we are also honored to have artists Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily at our event. We are positive that every Disneyana collector has a handful of collectibles that Kevin and Jody designed and created. At the dinner event, we will be awarding our Disneyana Fan Club's Disney Legend award to Willie, Jane, Kevin and Jody.
In addition, we will have noted author and Disney historian, Mindy Johnson. Mindy has been writing about women contributions in Disney animation, the evolution of Tinker Bell, and she contributed to books on Marc Davis and the early Disney films. It is always wonderful to listen to Mindy with another amazing topic for us to enjoy.
Check-in will be at 12:30 p.m., with our presentations beginning at 1:00 p.m. and concluding around 8:30 p.m. A silent auction will be held throughout the day and the DFC team will present our exciting DFC Legends Dinner at 5:00 p.m. In celebration of Disney 100 - 100 Years of Wonder, we are offering tickets to our DFC members for $100! This includes all the presentations and dinner. Non-members price is $160.
We hope that you'll be there for a special weekend of Disneyana fun, as we introduce our newest honorees of the Disneyana Fan Club's Legend Award, Wille Ito, Jane Shattuck-Takamoto-Baer, Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily; and honoring Mindy Johnson with the Disneyana Fan Club's Heritage Award.
Tentative Schedule
Please note: there will be NO morning events.
(times and guests are subject to change)
12:30 p.m.
Check-in
1:00 p.m.
Welcome,
Silent auction benefiting the DFC
and Ryman Arts Foundation begins
Presentations to be announced soon
4:00 p.m.
Break for dinner set-up
5:00 p.m.
Doors open for DFC Legend Awards Dinner
On Sunday, May 7, 2023
DFC EXPO
DFC Members: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
General Public: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
which will include:
Disneyana Collectible Show and Sale
Disney Bounding Contest
Silent Auction
Droid Contest
We would also like to thank everybody who were able to attend our events and the Disneyana Collectible Show and Sale.
We hoped that everybody had a great time while keeping safe.
We are very excited to announce our next Special Event!
We are ecstatic to have animators Willie Ito and Jane Shattuck-Takamoto-Baer join us on the stage. With decades of experience within the animation field, we are deeply honored to have them. Also, with decades of designing many Disney parades, merchandise and artwork, we are also honored to have artists Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily at our event. We are positive that every Disneyana collector has a handful of collectibles that Kevin and Jody designed and created. At the dinner event, we will be awarding our Disneyana Fan Club's Disney Legend award to Willie, Jane, Kevin and Jody.
In addition, we will have noted author and Disney historian, Mindy Johnson. Mindy has been writing about women contributions in Disney animation, the evolution of Tinker Bell, and she contributed to books on Marc Davis and the early Disney films. It is always wonderful to listen to Mindy with another amazing topic for us to enjoy.
Check-in will be at 12:30 p.m., with our presentations beginning at 1:00 p.m. and concluding around 8:30 p.m. A silent auction will be held throughout the day and the DFC team will present our exciting DFC Legends Dinner at 5:00 p.m. In celebration of Disney 100 - 100 Years of Wonder, we are offering tickets to our DFC members for $100! This includes all the presentations and dinner. Non-members price is $160.
We hope that you'll be there for a special weekend of Disneyana fun, as we introduce our newest honorees of the Disneyana Fan Club's Legend Award, Wille Ito, Jane Shattuck-Takamoto-Baer, Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily; and honoring Mindy Johnson with the Disneyana Fan Club's Heritage Award.
Tentative Schedule
Please note: there will be NO morning events.
(times and guests are subject to change)
12:30 p.m.
Check-in
1:00 p.m.
Welcome,
Silent auction benefiting the DFC
and Ryman Arts Foundation begins
Presentations to be announced soon
4:00 p.m.
Break for dinner set-up
5:00 p.m.
Doors open for DFC Legend Awards Dinner
On Sunday, May 7, 2023
DFC EXPO
DFC Members: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
General Public: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
which will include:
Disneyana Collectible Show and Sale
Disney Bounding Contest
Silent Auction
Droid Contest

Disneyana Fan Club's Disney Legend Honoree
Wille Ito
Willie Ito’s career as an animator/cartoonist spans nearly 60 years and worked at four major studios. Growing up in San Francisco's "Japantown" area, Willie dreamed of becoming an animator after watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at a small theater located just outside at the edge of Japantown. Wille practiced his drawing skills by tracing pages from his coloring books and inspiration for his stories came from reading his comic books collection. During World War II, Willie's family were relocated to a Japanese interment camp in Utah. Willie continued to doodle and create animation flip books on anything he could find, including the white spaces and margins of the Sears Roebuck and the Montgomery Ward catalogs. After three years in the interment camp, Willie's family returned to California.
Ready to graduate from San Francisco City College, Willie's art teacher encouraged Willie to go to Hollywood to get in the animation business, instead of Wille's idea of getting a more "practical" job doing medical illustrations. The art teacher wrote a letter of recommendation and Willie applied to the Chouinard Art Institute Summer scholarship program in Los Angeles. Learning from many great names and legends in the world of animation at Chouinard, Willie continued to develop his style.
In 1954, he applied to and started at Walt Disney Productions in the "Lady" unit. At the time, Ink and Paint were all ladies and Willie thought that he was going to start at an entry level position working with all the other ladies in the unit. Willie didn't mind the thought of working with just the gals. He was happy in achieving his dream of working at Disney, He later found out that he was assigned as an apprentice in-betweener on "Lady" and the iconic spaghetti scene in Lady and the Tramp. Later, he worked for six years with Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng at Warner Bros. on classic cartoons such as One Froggy Evening and What’s Opera Doc? and on the Beany and Cecil TV show with Bob Clampett for a year, where he worked on character and story development/layout. He next went at Hanna Barbera for 14 years and worked on shows such as The Flintstones and Yogi Bear. Willie later returned to Disney’s comic strip department and then Disney Consumer Products, mentoring artists as international director of Disney Art. He continues writing and illustrating a series of children’s picture books via his Yabitoon Books company, including Hello Maggie and A Boy of Heart Mountain, and adding to his collection of comic books and collectibles.
Wille Ito
Willie Ito’s career as an animator/cartoonist spans nearly 60 years and worked at four major studios. Growing up in San Francisco's "Japantown" area, Willie dreamed of becoming an animator after watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at a small theater located just outside at the edge of Japantown. Wille practiced his drawing skills by tracing pages from his coloring books and inspiration for his stories came from reading his comic books collection. During World War II, Willie's family were relocated to a Japanese interment camp in Utah. Willie continued to doodle and create animation flip books on anything he could find, including the white spaces and margins of the Sears Roebuck and the Montgomery Ward catalogs. After three years in the interment camp, Willie's family returned to California.
Ready to graduate from San Francisco City College, Willie's art teacher encouraged Willie to go to Hollywood to get in the animation business, instead of Wille's idea of getting a more "practical" job doing medical illustrations. The art teacher wrote a letter of recommendation and Willie applied to the Chouinard Art Institute Summer scholarship program in Los Angeles. Learning from many great names and legends in the world of animation at Chouinard, Willie continued to develop his style.
In 1954, he applied to and started at Walt Disney Productions in the "Lady" unit. At the time, Ink and Paint were all ladies and Willie thought that he was going to start at an entry level position working with all the other ladies in the unit. Willie didn't mind the thought of working with just the gals. He was happy in achieving his dream of working at Disney, He later found out that he was assigned as an apprentice in-betweener on "Lady" and the iconic spaghetti scene in Lady and the Tramp. Later, he worked for six years with Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng at Warner Bros. on classic cartoons such as One Froggy Evening and What’s Opera Doc? and on the Beany and Cecil TV show with Bob Clampett for a year, where he worked on character and story development/layout. He next went at Hanna Barbera for 14 years and worked on shows such as The Flintstones and Yogi Bear. Willie later returned to Disney’s comic strip department and then Disney Consumer Products, mentoring artists as international director of Disney Art. He continues writing and illustrating a series of children’s picture books via his Yabitoon Books company, including Hello Maggie and A Boy of Heart Mountain, and adding to his collection of comic books and collectibles.

Disneyana Fan Club's Disney Legend Honoree
Jane Shattuck-Takamoto-Baer
Jane began her animation career working in 1955 as an Assistant Animator on Sleeping Beauty (1959) working alongside the legendary "Nine Old Men" of Walt Disney Animation. In the early 1960's, Jane continued as an animator with Ed Graham Animation, working on various commercials and animated series. After living briefly in Europe, Jane returned to the US and went to work at Pantomime Studios within their Layout Department, working on the "Skyhawks" and "Speed Racer" animated series, followed by continued Layout work at Filmation Studios on the "Aquaman" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth" series. By 1975, Jane returned to Disney as an Animator on the villain Medusa, working along side the legendary animator Milt Kohl for The Rescuers (1977). She then worked on The Fox & The Hound (1981), Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) and The Black Cauldron (1985). Jane's freelance work included storyboarding for several television series at Hanna Barbara, including the original "Smurfs" television series.
In 1984, Jane went on to establish her own animation company - Baer Animation - with her then husband, Dale Baer. Supervising one of the most successful independent animation houses in Hollywood, Jane's talents and direction established Baer Animation's reputation for their high-quality standards and renowned expertise for the fine tradition of classic animation, as well as the integration of live action with animation in the three-dimensional "Roger-Rabbit" style. Jane continued animating superb on the many award-winning commercials and films they worked on, and traveled extensively with a number of international clients, while overseeing staff ranging from 50-100+ personnel and talented artists, based on various productions.
Jane Shattuck-Takamoto-Baer
Jane began her animation career working in 1955 as an Assistant Animator on Sleeping Beauty (1959) working alongside the legendary "Nine Old Men" of Walt Disney Animation. In the early 1960's, Jane continued as an animator with Ed Graham Animation, working on various commercials and animated series. After living briefly in Europe, Jane returned to the US and went to work at Pantomime Studios within their Layout Department, working on the "Skyhawks" and "Speed Racer" animated series, followed by continued Layout work at Filmation Studios on the "Aquaman" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth" series. By 1975, Jane returned to Disney as an Animator on the villain Medusa, working along side the legendary animator Milt Kohl for The Rescuers (1977). She then worked on The Fox & The Hound (1981), Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) and The Black Cauldron (1985). Jane's freelance work included storyboarding for several television series at Hanna Barbara, including the original "Smurfs" television series.
In 1984, Jane went on to establish her own animation company - Baer Animation - with her then husband, Dale Baer. Supervising one of the most successful independent animation houses in Hollywood, Jane's talents and direction established Baer Animation's reputation for their high-quality standards and renowned expertise for the fine tradition of classic animation, as well as the integration of live action with animation in the three-dimensional "Roger-Rabbit" style. Jane continued animating superb on the many award-winning commercials and films they worked on, and traveled extensively with a number of international clients, while overseeing staff ranging from 50-100+ personnel and talented artists, based on various productions.

Disneyana Fan Club's Disney Legend Honorees
Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily
Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily both grew up in the Southern California area and met while working at Disney as Art Directors. After 20+ years at Disney, the both left and formed an independent design company that still creates “art and special high end merchandise for the Disney organization”, including exquisite Mary Poppins items for Disneyland Paris.
Kevin started as a Jungle Cruise skipper and then joined the Disneyland's Art Department after college. In the Art Department, Kevin helped in the design elements of parade floats for Disneyland's 35th Anniversary, the Party Gras parade, and Fantasmic
Jody was designing and painting concept art for Disneyland. Teaming with Kevin, they both then worked on the Lion King parade, Hercules parade, the Christmas holiday overlay at the Disneyland Hotel and other projects at Disneyland. Kevin and Jody then went to Walt Disney Imagineering's Consumer Products division, working in various styles of design, illustration, and sculpture, created hundreds of collectible items and pins that made its way into many home collections.
For Disneyland's 50th Anniversary, they created a large collection of iconic Disneyland items that reflects the park, including small scale replicas of the monorail, Main Street vehicles, the Mark Twain, Jungle Cruise riverboat, the train engine and cars from Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland and the original ticket booths that were located throughout the lands at Disneyland. For Disneyland's 55th, they tackled the challenge of creating Captain Hook's ship (also known as the Chicken of the Seas restaurant). Going back to theme park designs, their Disneyland "Pixar Pals" and “Soundsational” parades were loved and enjoyed by many guests, which ended a multiyear run at the park. Together, Kevin and Jody continues to create paper sculptures and artwork found on many types of merchandise. including a series of figurines in vintage Disneyland Cast Members costume, early Disneyland items like popcorn boxes, cups and plates, and patterns found on shopping bags and other items.
Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily
Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily both grew up in the Southern California area and met while working at Disney as Art Directors. After 20+ years at Disney, the both left and formed an independent design company that still creates “art and special high end merchandise for the Disney organization”, including exquisite Mary Poppins items for Disneyland Paris.
Kevin started as a Jungle Cruise skipper and then joined the Disneyland's Art Department after college. In the Art Department, Kevin helped in the design elements of parade floats for Disneyland's 35th Anniversary, the Party Gras parade, and Fantasmic
Jody was designing and painting concept art for Disneyland. Teaming with Kevin, they both then worked on the Lion King parade, Hercules parade, the Christmas holiday overlay at the Disneyland Hotel and other projects at Disneyland. Kevin and Jody then went to Walt Disney Imagineering's Consumer Products division, working in various styles of design, illustration, and sculpture, created hundreds of collectible items and pins that made its way into many home collections.
For Disneyland's 50th Anniversary, they created a large collection of iconic Disneyland items that reflects the park, including small scale replicas of the monorail, Main Street vehicles, the Mark Twain, Jungle Cruise riverboat, the train engine and cars from Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland and the original ticket booths that were located throughout the lands at Disneyland. For Disneyland's 55th, they tackled the challenge of creating Captain Hook's ship (also known as the Chicken of the Seas restaurant). Going back to theme park designs, their Disneyland "Pixar Pals" and “Soundsational” parades were loved and enjoyed by many guests, which ended a multiyear run at the park. Together, Kevin and Jody continues to create paper sculptures and artwork found on many types of merchandise. including a series of figurines in vintage Disneyland Cast Members costume, early Disneyland items like popcorn boxes, cups and plates, and patterns found on shopping bags and other items.

Disneyana Fan Club's Disney Heritage Award Honoree
Mindy Johnson
Award-winning author, historian, filmmaker, educator, musician and more, Mindy Johnson’s creative accomplishments reflect the diversity of her talents and experience. A leading expert on women’s roles in animation and film history, Mindy writes and speaks on early cinema, animation, women’s history, and creativity. She was honored with the Academy Film Scholar Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, and the ASIFA–Hollywood AEF Grant, for continued research and writing on the contributions of the earliest women within our collective animated past. With several forthcoming volumes underway, Mindy's groundbreaking discoveries continue to cast light on the invisible narrative of women’s presence within the first century of the motion picture industry. Her latest landmark breakthrough is the discovery of Bessie Mae Kelley and her surviving films believed to be the earliest surviving hand-drawn animation, animated and directed by a woman, forever busting the myth of women no longer present at the dawn of the animation industry.
In addition to her continuing research, various literary efforts, and consulting, Mindy is also an award-winning playwright, songwriter, and contributing artist on several internationally acclaimed recordings and published compositions. Mindy teaches film and animation courses in the Los Angeles area, including a first-of-its-kind course on the history of women in animation, based on her continued ground-breaking research, at CalArts – California Institute of the Arts, in Los Angeles, and Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.
Mindy Johnson
Award-winning author, historian, filmmaker, educator, musician and more, Mindy Johnson’s creative accomplishments reflect the diversity of her talents and experience. A leading expert on women’s roles in animation and film history, Mindy writes and speaks on early cinema, animation, women’s history, and creativity. She was honored with the Academy Film Scholar Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, and the ASIFA–Hollywood AEF Grant, for continued research and writing on the contributions of the earliest women within our collective animated past. With several forthcoming volumes underway, Mindy's groundbreaking discoveries continue to cast light on the invisible narrative of women’s presence within the first century of the motion picture industry. Her latest landmark breakthrough is the discovery of Bessie Mae Kelley and her surviving films believed to be the earliest surviving hand-drawn animation, animated and directed by a woman, forever busting the myth of women no longer present at the dawn of the animation industry.
In addition to her continuing research, various literary efforts, and consulting, Mindy is also an award-winning playwright, songwriter, and contributing artist on several internationally acclaimed recordings and published compositions. Mindy teaches film and animation courses in the Los Angeles area, including a first-of-its-kind course on the history of women in animation, based on her continued ground-breaking research, at CalArts – California Institute of the Arts, in Los Angeles, and Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.
Event Details
Where
DoubleTree Suites By Hilton
Anaheim / Orange County
100 The City Drive S. • Orange, CA • 92868
When
Saturday, May 6, 2023.
Afternoon Panel Presentations
Dinner and DFC's Disney Legend Award Ceremony
12:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Dinner at 5:00 p.m.
Ticket Price
Ticket price includes all presentations and dinner.
DFC Member Price- $ 100 per person (DFC Members may purchase up to 4 tickets at the member price.)
Non-Member Price- $ 160 per person
Disneyana Fan Club Members Special Perk
Register by April 1, 2023 (11:59 p.m. PDT) and you will be entered into a special opportunity drawing for a Magical Prize.
Prize will be awarded at the afternoon's Legend event.
Seating
There will be no assigned seating.
Special Parking Rates for ALL Attendees
Saturday Event Parking for ALL Special Event Attendees is Complimentary.
Sunday Show and Sale Parking for ALL Attendees is $8.00.
Parking Rates Restrictions:
No Discounted overnight parking and no in and out of the lot. Only 1 discount per vehicle.
Information will be available at the Registration / Ticket Desk.
Room Hopping Policy
The DoubleTree Suites By Hilton - Anaheim / Orange County DO NOT allow any Room Hopping.
It is strictly prohibited. Please adhere to their hotel policies.
All sales are final.
Where
DoubleTree Suites By Hilton
Anaheim / Orange County
100 The City Drive S. • Orange, CA • 92868
When
Saturday, May 6, 2023.
Afternoon Panel Presentations
Dinner and DFC's Disney Legend Award Ceremony
12:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Dinner at 5:00 p.m.
Ticket Price
Ticket price includes all presentations and dinner.
DFC Member Price- $ 100 per person (DFC Members may purchase up to 4 tickets at the member price.)
Non-Member Price- $ 160 per person
Disneyana Fan Club Members Special Perk
Register by April 1, 2023 (11:59 p.m. PDT) and you will be entered into a special opportunity drawing for a Magical Prize.
Prize will be awarded at the afternoon's Legend event.
Seating
There will be no assigned seating.
Special Parking Rates for ALL Attendees
Saturday Event Parking for ALL Special Event Attendees is Complimentary.
Sunday Show and Sale Parking for ALL Attendees is $8.00.
Parking Rates Restrictions:
No Discounted overnight parking and no in and out of the lot. Only 1 discount per vehicle.
Information will be available at the Registration / Ticket Desk.
Room Hopping Policy
The DoubleTree Suites By Hilton - Anaheim / Orange County DO NOT allow any Room Hopping.
It is strictly prohibited. Please adhere to their hotel policies.
All sales are final.