Jane Bear dies: ‘Sleeping Beauty’ animator was 91

Jane Shattuck-Takamoto-BaerShe, who had a long career in animation, including “Sleeping Beauty” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” died Monday at age 91 at her home in Van Nuys, California.

A longtime animator, producer and industry pioneer, she got her start as an assistant animator on Walt Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” in 1955, where she worked with Walt Disney Animation’s legendary “Nine Old Men.” She continued to work as an animator at Ed Graham Animation, then joined the layout department at Pantomime Studios, where she worked on “Skyhawks” and “Speed ​​Racer”. Shattuck-Takamoto-Baer then moved to Filmation Studios, where she worked on ‘Aquaman’ and ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth.’ She returned to Disney in 1975 and worked with legendary animator Milt Kahl on “The Fox & The Hound,” “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” and “The Black Cauldron,” and as an assistant animator on Medusa.

In 1984, Shattuck-Takamoto-Baer and her husband, Dale Baer, ​​started their own animation company, Baer Animation, which later became one of the most successful independent animation companies in Hollywood. Together they created the entire Toontown sequence from “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” The company covered all aspects of animation production, including digital ink and paint, compositing, recording, and effects. Shattuck-Takamoto-Baer has also expanded these services to include camera crews that shot key portions of “The Little Mermaid,” “The Prince and the Pauper,” “Rover Dangerfield,” “FernGully: The Last Rain Forest,” and “The Swan Princess,” as well as a variety of projects for Warner Brothers Animation and Hanna-Barbera Studios. She successfully ran Baer Animation until her retirement in the early 2000s.

Shattuck-Takamoto-Baer has also worked on numerous commercials, including “Disney Christmas” for Coca Cola, “Disney Babies” for Pamper, “Princess” for Charmin, and “Lawn Toy” for Snapper Lawn Mower. She has won many awards, including the Gold Award for Best Animation at the Houston International Film Festival for “Princess” and the Clio Award for Best Animation for “Disney Babies.”

Raised in Winnipeg, Canada, Shattuck-Takamoto-Baer’s artistic talent was evident from an early age. She followed in the footsteps of her father (also an illustrator) and trained at the Art Center in Pasadena. She was a founding member of Women in Animation and later served on its advisory board. She was also a long-time member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Animation Guild, and Women in Film.

Shattuck-Takamoto-Baer is survived by her son Michael and his partner Beth, her brother and his family.

Donations can be made in Shattuck-Takamoto-Baer’s name. Best Friends Pet Adoption Center In Los Angeles.