Tyrus
Until his death at the age of 106, Tyrus Wong was America’s oldest living Chinese American artist and one of the last remaining artists from the golden age of Disney animation. The quiet beauty of his Eastern-influenced paintings had a pioneering impact on American art and popular culture.
Previews + Extras
Tyrus
S31 E7 - 2m 24s
Until his death at the age of 106, Tyrus Wong was America’s oldest living Chinese American artist and one of the last remaining artists from the golden age of Disney animation. The quiet beauty of his Eastern-influenced paintings had a pioneering impact on American art and popular culture.
Tyrus Wong's atmospheric work gave "Bambi" its unique style
S31 E7 - 1m 10s
Tyrus Wong spent years honing a soft, atmospheric painting style that relied heavily on lighting and creative use of color. This unique approach gave "Bambi" its groundbreaking impressionistic style.
Tyrus Wong's detention as a new immigrant
S31 E7 - 57s
As a young boy, Tyrus Wong came to the United States with his father, but as part of a grueling immigration process, was detained for a month before being allowed into the country.
Tyrus Wong at the advent of Chinese Modern home decor
S31 E7 - 1m 23s
Tyrus Wong's skillful, inspired painting made its way into homes across America as Chinese Modern home decor became popular. His ceramics featured flowing designs of figures and tranquil scenes in nature.
See Tyrus Wong's work in classic Warner Bros. movies
S31 E7 - 1m 8s
After leaving Disney, Tyrus Wong joined Warner Bros. and began painting scenes based on screenplays. He would continue working for Warner Bros. for 26 years, helping set the stage for thousands of films.
How Tyrus Wong got the job to animate Bambi
S31 E7 - 1m 18s
When he began working for Disney, Wong's role was minor and technical. Then, when a supervisor noticed his work, he was asked to create the atmosphere for the film "Bambi." Wong would go on to paint hundreds of pastels that would define the impressionistic, colorful forests throughout the film.
How Tyrus Wong influenced the makers of "The Dam Keeper"
S31 E7 - 9m 53s
In a new, exclusive interview, filmmakers/artists Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi discuss how Wong influenced them and share an excerpt from their Oscar-nominated animated short The Dam Keeper (2014).
Tyrus Wong revisits Angel Island
S31 E7 - 1m 56s
Due to the Chinese Exclusion Act, Tyrus Wong was held in an internment camp at Angel Island in 1920. He was just a child, but remembers the struggle and uncertainty of his time there.
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