John Hench Quotes

Powerful John Hench for Daily Growth

About John Hench

John Hench (1934-2015) was an American author, illustrator, and artist, best known for his work on Disney animated films. Born in Los Angeles, California, Hench's passion for art was evident from a young age. He attended the Chouinard Art Institute (now CalArts), where he honed his skills as an artist under the tutelage of famous Disney animator, Marc Davis. Hench joined Walt Disney Productions in 1956, beginning his career in animation as an in-betweener on "Sleeping Beauty." He quickly rose through the ranks, working as a background painter and later as an animator on films such as "The Jungle Book," "The Aristocats," and "Robin Hood." One of Hench's most significant contributions to Disney animation was his role in developing the multiplane camera, which allowed for more realistic depth and movement in animated scenes. This innovation was most notably showcased in "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Jungle Book." In 1976, Hench transitioned from animator to character designer, creating iconic characters such as Thumper from "Bambi II," Timon from "The Lion King," and the title character from "Mulan." He also worked on Disney theme park attractions, designing and illustrating for projects like "It's a Small World" and the Haunted Mansion. Throughout his career, Hench was recognized for his contributions to animation and art, receiving numerous awards, including two Emmys and an Annie Award. Despite his success, he remained humble and dedicated, continually pushing the boundaries of animation and character design. John Hench's impact on Disney animation and theme park entertainment continues to be felt today.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"In America, anything can happen. You can come from humble circumstances, and you can still make a mark on the world."

This quote emphasizes the American Dream, a concept that embodies the belief in equal opportunity, where an individual's success is not predetermined by their background or social status. Instead, it suggests that anyone, regardless of humble beginnings, has the potential to make significant contributions and leave a lasting impact on society. It highlights the unique spirit of determination, perseverance, and hope for upward mobility that defines the American ethos.


"The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence."

The quote suggests that providing children with a strong foundation of responsibility (roots) and fostering their ability to make decisions independently (wings) are the most valuable gifts a parent can bestow upon them. In essence, it's about raising self-reliant individuals who are accountable for their actions while having the freedom to navigate their own life paths.


"To be successful in this world, you will have to have single-minded devotion to your goal and the ability to override your fear, doubt, and concern what others think."

This quote emphasizes that achieving success requires a relentless focus on one's goals and an overcoming of personal fears, doubts, and concerns about others' opinions. It suggests that those who can maintain their determination despite these internal and external challenges are more likely to succeed in their endeavors. In essence, the quote encourages perseverance, self-belief, and a willingness to take risks without being overly concerned with what others might think or say.


"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

This quote by John Hench emphasizes that age should not be a barrier for setting new goals or harboring fresh dreams. It encourages individuals to continue personal growth, learning, and striving for achievements regardless of their current age or stage in life. The message is one of optimism, resilience, and the belief that it's never too late to pursue new ambitions and aspirations, as long as there's a will to do so.


"Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though sometimes it is hard to realize this. For the past has gone, can't be changed; and the future is not ours to see."

The quote by John Hench underscores that life consists of a sequence of experiences, each shaping our personal growth in some way. Even though some experiences may seem challenging or difficult at the time, they ultimately contribute to our expansion as individuals. He emphasizes the impermanence of the past and the unknowability of the future, encouraging us to focus on making the most of the present moment, learning from our past, and growing through our experiences.


In live action movies, you just hope that everything works. Because the actor may had a bad morning and doesn't play good, or accidents happen continuously. Many things contradict what you are trying to say. But in cartoons, nothing contradict what you want to say.

- John Hench

Play, Bad, Works, Contradict

We've achieved this feeling, for instance, with the colors. The colors in the park are harmonious with each other, not like in big cities where they don't.

- John Hench

Big, Other, Instance, Harmonious

But Walt and him shared the same kind of optimism. Walt believed in himself, and he was optimistic about what he wanted to do. He just knew it will be okay, and Dali was the same way. They had a great deal in common that way.

- John Hench

Deal, Okay, Shared, Dali

When you go to the park, there is no horizon - just Disneyland.

- John Hench

Horizon, Go, Disneyland, Park

Walt's idea was that - as soon as the people who were dining got through their main course. They were supposed to all be seated, served at the same time, when they got into the dessert.

- John Hench

Through, Idea, Walt, Seated

Walt had a marvelous intuition. And because he understood people very well, liked them and had great respect for people, there was nothing cynical about Walt.

- John Hench

Nothing, Very, Walt, Cynical

Mickey is one of the prime examples: Mickey has never been suspected of being an American export. It was deja vu. They gave him a local name and he's been accepted everywhere he goes.

- John Hench

Been, Prime, Suspected, Export

Nobody now is going from department to another department. Only Walt did that. I was very fond of him, really.

- John Hench

Going, Very, Walt, Department

Well, it was never supposed to be like that. Walt died before we had finished. The original idea of Walt's was that you came down there, into the caves, and there were no pirates. But they had been there just seconds before! There was a hot meal on the table, steaming.

- John Hench

Idea, Been, Before, Table

I did what we call dry for wet effects, some of the miniatures work and two animation sequences.

- John Hench

Some, Call, Effects, Animation

We finally found out the technique of separating and getting information about where every train would be at any moment. Of course, I went over budget many times, because - as you go along - some things improved, and you get better ideas.

- John Hench

Some, About, Technique, Train

For instance, some early ideas for Florida were done only recently. The idea of a little village was there from the beginning and now we have this 'Celebration' village. Same thing for the Disney Institute. Walt talked about this idea in the very first.

- John Hench

Some, Very, Instance, Institute

Walt understood all of those things, and even common things about people. For instance: Usually you get your idea of what kind of day it is by looking at the horizon, because the horizon is your eye level. So what Walt did is to eliminate the horizon.

- John Hench

Idea, About, Instance, Understood

I suppose that I was a kind of consultant for taste. Is it good taste? Or bad taste? I had an attention to detail, to what would tell best the story. Because many people get excited about the work and drift off from the story.

- John Hench

Bad, Tell, Taste, Consultant

Big cities are chaotic. And chaos for humans - who have experience from their ancestors - is the last step before conflict. So, in the park, every kind of visual contradiction has been eliminated.

- John Hench

Big, Been, Eliminated, Chaotic

Color is a very critical thing. I've found that architects don't like colors. Engineers too. And so somebody has to stand in. Because this is the finish of it. It is the emotional part of a structure.

- John Hench

Color, Critical, Very, Structure

I thought that it would be easier to learn that if I worked in motion pictures. So I went to work with one motion picture producer who was developing a color system. This didn't do to me much good. All I did was pick filters for the camera.

- John Hench

Color, Thought, Developing, Filters

I have wanted to be a fine artist painter, and I reached the point in art schools were I'd like to understand more about images and how images communicate information to people. And I was not getting very far in that from my professors.

- John Hench

Artist, Communicate, Very, Reached

We don't have too much ritual in our life anymore. And these life symbols which people rely on to keep their feeling of well being, that life is not too bad after all are required more and more.

- John Hench

Bad, Anymore, Our, Well Being

The colors I choose there was to paint the first hotel, the Disneyland Hotel. Because of the cloudy sky we had in Paris, it had to be a particular kind of color who will fight those grey days. And also something you can see when you're driving up 'There it is! We're arriving!'

- John Hench

Color, Choose, Paint, Arriving

What happen to the pirates we are supposed to see? Then we go down the chutes, and it's where the pirates were. But they're all gone. There is nothing but skeletons down here!

- John Hench

Here, Happen, Skeletons, Pirates

Walt put everything he knew about communication with images into the park, so it was very familiar.

- John Hench

Very, Images, Walt, Park

The park achieved a kind of reality. Like these virtual reality games the children are playing with. I told them we were doing this 40 years ago! Disneyland is virtual reality.

- John Hench

Doing, Like, Virtual, Park

The show is being changed right now, by the way. Jeff Burke is doing it for the Magic Kingdom. And I think it will be better, with new birds, master of ceremonies, etc.

- John Hench

Magic, Think, New, Jeff

I don't think that was too successful. Because I always thought that the two of them should have been more separate. Also I had planned the monorail station to be in the center. So that one day you would have go to World Showcase and then the other day to Future World.

- John Hench

Thought, Other, Been, Showcase

There were no jewelry hidden. Walt wanted this atmosphere: They were supposed to live here, they've been outside somewhere, but they could come back at any minute and catch us.

- John Hench

Jewelry, Here, Atmosphere, Catch

It was supposed to be in the second street project for Main Street. But who knows? Maybe it will be built one of these days. We never throw away any idea.

- John Hench

Will, Away, Maybe, Main Street

Then, you were supposed to discover the city, where they were. But because somebody like skeletons. And that they discovered that they were at a cheap price, we used too many skeletons all over the place, and the public got the wrong message.

- John Hench

Discover, Over, Discovered, Skeletons

Even in China. Children there, next to the Great Wall, who had never seen Mickey Mouse responded. So the studio did have that skill to communicate with images.

- John Hench

Next, Great Wall, Studio, Skill

Of course, it gave the studio an enormous power, because I don't know any other place who had that skill with images to communicate with. And the need of these kinds of images are even greater now than they ever were because we are losing our life symbols.

- John Hench

Communicate, Other, Studio, Skill

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