Google Celebrates Disney Artist Tyrus Wong’s 108th Birthday

Best known for his illustrations for the 1942 Disney movie “Bambi,” Wong drew his inspiration for his drawings from classical Chinese art of the Song Dynasty according to CNN.

Wong was born in Guangdong, China in 1910 and moved to California when he was around 8-years-old with his father, never to see his mother or sister again.

According to Cnet, Wong practiced calligraphy every night but because they were too poor to afford ink, he used water on newspapers.

Wong attended Otis College of Art and Design on a scholarship during the Great Depression. By chance, Wong was hired by Walt Disney after Disney saw a mural that Wong painted inside a restaurant in LA’s Chinatown where he was employed.

Wong passed away in 2016 at the age of 106. It is said that Wong would be seen flying beautiful kites of his own designs on the beaches of Santa Monica.

Google regards Wong as the Chinese-American artist who is “responsible for some of the best-known images in American popular culture.”

Feature Image via Youtube / googledoodles