Claude Coats
Click to enlarge
Coats, Claude (1913-1992) - Claude was the epitome of one group of Disney artists, those who made an early transition from animation to theme park design. After painting backgrounds for two decades with his paintings showing up in such animated films as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Fantasia," "Cinderella," and "Peter Pan," Claude was then asked by Walt to move to WED where he made major contributions to the designs of such attractions as the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Submarine Voyage. He was living proof of Walt's uncanny ability to find talents in his artists which they often did not realize they had.