Most everyone in in the world knows the Disney princesses – Ariel from “The Little Mermaid,” Belle from “Beauty and the Beast,” Jasmine from “Aladdin,” Fa Mulan from “Mulan,” Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog,” and Moana from “Moana.” But few know that the genius talent behind these iconic princesses hails from Dayton, supervising animator Mark Henn.
Honored in 2024 with a Disney Legends Award for more than four decades of dedication to Walt Disney Studios, Henn grew up a Disney fan, spending countless Sunday evenings fascinated by the mechanics of animation showcased on “The Wonderful World of Disney” television show. “From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a Disney animator,” he recalled.
He took as many art classes as he could at Trotwood-Madison High School, Sinclair Community College and Bowling Green State University, sending in no fewer than three portfolios to the Disney Studios along the way – each initially rejected. But Henn never wavered – he couldn’t imagine doing anything else. His third portfolio earned him a spot in the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) Disney Character Animation program. The program’s director, the legendary Jack Hannah, let Henn know he was exactly what Disney Studios were looking for.
Of all his projects, the feature film “Mulan” holds a special place in Henn’s heart. After he helped Disney open a satellite animation studio in Orlando, “Mulan” became the studio’s first feature film. “I was the old man at 30 years old, mentoring kids fresh out of college,” Henn said. The film’s directors asked him to animate not only Fa Mulan but also her father, Fa Zhou – characters whose relationship formed the emotional core of the story. “The moments between Mulan and her father sitting below a cherry blossom tree affected me as I animated them. If you think of animators as actors, which is what we are, you see the performance of the character emerge as it comes from the animator. It is all about creating a performance,” Henn said.
Though he doesn’t return to Ohio as often as he’d like, Henn is still connected to his roots. “I miss it,” Henn said. “Growing up in Ohio influenced me. I had two sisters – maybe that’s why I animated many of the Disney princesses.” When struggling to conceptualize Jasmine, he used his youngest sister as a model. “I do miss the Buckeye state. I miss the seasons. I miss the cornfields.”
Now retired from Disney, at age 67, Henn continues his creative journey as a sculptor and painter in Los Angeles.
Watch the Disney Legends award: Mark Henn – Disney Legends Ceremony 2024