Ollie's Golden Award

From time to time, the Animation Guild honors animation veterans with the "Golden Award," which celebrates an honoree's fiftieth anniversary in the business of cartoons ...

In March 1986, Ollie Johnston was honored with a trophy for his half-century in animation. Mr. Johnston had retired from Disney, but he and Frank Thomas were busy writing books celebrating the art, and consulting on animated projects in California and elsewhere.

It all seems a long time ago, but then again, perhaps not. Because Ollie's handiwork is still out there enjoyed by millions, and his treatises on animation still widely read.

But in a few years, who's going to know that the statue atop the trophy is a peg-board?

Ollie Johnston's trophy: courtesy of director Robert Alvarez.)