Jan. 21 Program with Japanese American Animator Willie Ito

SEATTLE, Jan. 10, 2023—On Jan. 21, Japanese American Willie Ito will tell his inspiring story of how as a boy he learned to draw while incarcerated in Utah with his family during World War II, and later became an award-winning animation artist for The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros. and Hanna-Barbera. Joining him in the program will be animation historian Mindy Johnson.

In addition to providing a personal perspective of life in the camps under Executive Order 9066, Ito will share stories about working on classics including The Lady and the Tramp, The Jetsons, The Flintstones, The Yogi Bear Show, and Hong Kong Phooey. The 2 p.m. program, From Internment to Inbetweening, is free with Museum admission.

The program is presented in association with the Museum’s The Walt Disney Studios and World War II exhibition, a retrospective of The Walt Disney Studios’ extensive contributions to the Allies’ World War II effort. The exhibit closes Feb. 5.

Illustration: Cover image of Hello Maggie by Willie Ito. © Disney

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Ted Huetter/Senior Public Relations Manager
T: 206.768.7105 C: 206.455.5360 Email: thuetter@museumofflight.org