Bill Justice's journey as a portrait painter began when he graduated from the John Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis in 1935. Two years later, he made the move to California and joined the Disney Organisation, where he would spend the next 42 years as a director/animator.
During his time at Disney, Justice brought beloved characters to life, including Thumper from 'Bambi' and Chip 'n' Dale. He also animated the iconic title sequence for the 'Mickey Mouse Club March' from the 1950s TV series 'The Mickey Mouse Club' (1955).
As a director, Justice helmed a number of animated short films, three of which received Academy Award nominations. These films included 'The Truth About Mother Goose' (1957),which explored the origins of classic nursery rhymes, 'Noah's Ark' (1959),and 'A Symposium on Popular Songs' (1962),a musical romp through the world of popular music.
After 1965, Justice transitioned to the imagineering and programming team for Disney's Audio-Animatronics figures at Disneyland. He played a key role in the development of several attractions, including the Hall of Presidents, Mission to Mars, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Justice was also an expert in the use of stop motion animation technique in conjunction with live-action films, as seen in the classic Disney movie 'Mary Poppins' (1964). He collaborated with T. Hee and Xavier Atencio on this project, among others.
After retiring in 1979, Justice was recognized as a Disney Legend in 1996, a testament to his enduring impact on the world of animation and entertainment.
