“Mindy Johnson has a talent for discovering intriguing stories that cast a light on the human experience. She deftly takes her readers on extraordinary journeys into unexplored realms of our collective past.”
— Speaker Series 2017
Mindy Johnson
Creative
Bio
Award-winning author, historian, filmmaker, educator, musician and more, Mindy Johnson’s creative accomplishments reflect the diversity of her talents and experience.
​
A leading expert on women’s roles in animation and film history, Mindy frequently writes and speaks on early cinema, animation, women’s history, and creativity. Her ongoing research and groundbreaking discoveries continue to cast light on the invisible narrative of women’s presence within the first century of the motion picture industry.
Mindy has produced record-breaking global campaigns, creative content, exhibitions and events for a growing list of clients including: The Walt Disney Company, AMPAS/Oscars.org, WNET/American Masters, The Walt Disney Family Museum, Bing Crosby Enterprises, SiriusXM Radio and Horipro Entertainment.
In addition to her film expertise, literary efforts and consulting, Mindy is also an award-winning playwright, songwriter, composer, and contributing artist on several internationally acclaimed recordings and published compositions. A longtime professor of film and animation, Mindy teaches cinema history, aesthetics and intercultural film, within the Los Angeles area.
Books
Now
Available
Book Trailer
Ink & Paint – The Women of Walt Disney's Animation
Disney Editions Deluxe
Groundbreaking and game-changing,
Ink & Paint – The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation examines the unsung women artists whose contributions defined the legendary animated classics of our time. Mindy's landmark volume lifts the lid on the never-before-explored world of hand-rendered artistry of Ink & Paint and tracks women's advancement into virtually every discipline of animation, forever changing what we thought we knew about animation and cinematic history.
Mindy’s critically acclaimed volume,
Tinker Bell – An Evolution, explores
nearly 100 years of animation artistry and pop culture chronicling the development of everyone’s favorite fairy. Honored with consecutive Family Choice Awards, this lush fairy tome features never-before-seen artwork and photographs, this chronicle of all things Tinker Bell is a must for everyone who knows that “all it takes is faith, trust and pixie-dust!”
Disney Editions Deluxe
Taschen America
This lush volume, featuring essays by eminent Disney experts, traces the complete journey of Walt Disney’s animation from the silent era to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to his 1967 classic, The Jungle Book. Mindy shares her expert insights on two of Walt Disney’s crown jewels: Cinderella and Peter Pan featuring the renowned artistry of Mary Blair. Excerpts of story meeting notes, rare photographs, and behind-the-scenes insights supplement the dizzying array of 1,300 illustrations to vividly tell the production story-behind-the-stories of Walt Disney.
Disney Book Group
Legendary Animator and Imagineer, Marc Davis, defined some of the most beloved animated characters and designed many of the most iconic attractions, enjoyed by generations.
Walt Disney declared: “He’s my Renaissance man.” This celebration of Davis’ artistry features experts in fine art, animation, Imagineering and filmmaking, honoring the extraordinary work and life of Marc Davis with their contributions. Mindy’s contribution explores the indomitable spirit of Alice Estes Davis, Marc’s beloved wife and Disney Legend.
Walt Disney présente Marc Davis: Anatomie d'une légende
Urban Comics
The French release of Marc Davis – Walt Disney's Renaissance Man, featuring a stunning re-envision of this timeless volume, celebrating the glorious artistry of Marc Davis.
Events
FRIDAY
7/14/17
4:30pm – 5:30pm
D23 Expo Panel Event
Anaheim Convention Center / Walt Disney Archives Stage
INK & PAINT – THE WOMEN OF WALT DISNEY'S ANIMATION
Women have been at the forefront of animation from the very beginning, yet in the past, their presence and artistic contributions have largely been unrecognized. Mindy Johnson, author of the landmark volume Ink & Paint – The Women of Walt Disney's Animation (Disney Editions Deluxe) introduces you to some of the extraordinary artists who’ve made remarkable contributions to Walt Disney’s animation.
6:00pm – 7:00pm
Book Signing / Meet & Greet
Anaheim Convention Center / Disney Dream Store
San Diego Convention Center
-
Cartoon Creatives: Woman Power in Animation / Panel
-
The Genius of Animation: Cartoon Legends and Game Changers Speak / Panel
FRIDAY
7/21/17
​
Comic-Con® International: San Diego
FRIDAY
7/28/17
​
DreamWorks Animation
Private Presentation
MONDAY
8/7/17
7:30pm
Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences
Samuel Goldwyn Theater / 8949 Wilshire Blvd / Beverly Hills, CA 90211
AN INVISIBLE HISTORY: TRAILBLAZING WOMEN OF ANIMATION
From the earliest pioneers of hand-rendered animated films, to the advent of digital technology, women have been at the forefront of the animation medium, yet their extraordinary contributions have largely gone unrecognized. Join Mindy Johnson, author of the landmark volume Ink & Paint – The Women of Walt Disney's Animation (Disney Editions Deluxe) along with a stellar panel of trailblazing artists, as they raise the celluloid curtain on the remarkable history of women in animation.
FRIDAY
9/29/17
​
Lucasfilm
(Private Event)
Presentation & Book Signing
SUNDAY
10/1/17
Doors open at 11am
The World Animation Celebration
Presentation & Book Signing
Sony Pictures Animation / 9050 W. Washington Blvd. / Culver City, CA 90232
WEDNESDAY
10/4/17
11:30am – 1:30pm
Disney Studio Store
Book Signing / The Walt Disney Studios (Studio Exclusive)
Mark Taper Auditorium
Presentation & Book Signing / LA Public Library
630 West 5th Street / Los Angeles, CA
SATURDAY
10/7/17
2:00pm
PAINT, PENCILS & PIXELS – HOW WOMEN TRANSFORMED WALT DISNEY’S ANIMATION
Join Mindy Johnson, author of the landmark volume Ink & Paint –
The Women of Walt Disney's Animation (Disney Editions Deluxe), as she raises the celluloid curtain on the remarkable
‘her-story’ of how women artists defined the classic animation of Walt Disney.
Disney TV Animation – Empire
(Private Event)
Presentation & Book Signing
WEDNESDAY
10/18/17
12:00pm
USC Cinematic Arts Seminar Series
Presentation & Book Signing
John C. Hench Division of Animation & Digital Arts
930 West 34th Street / Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211
WEDNESDAY
10/18/17
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Walt Disney Feature Animation
(Private Event)
Presentation & Book Signing
WEDNESDAY
10/25/17
​
Book Signing / CTN Booksigning B1
Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney's Animation
CTN Expo
Burbank Airport Marriott Convention Center
2500 N. Hollywood Way / Burbank, CA 91505
FRIDAY
11/17/17
3:00pm – 4:30pm
Featuring Mindy Johnson, along with 12+ Disney artists.
5:15pm – 6:00pm
Hosted by Mindy Johnson, featuring Lorna Cook, Kathy Zielinski, and Jane Baer.
Panel Presentation / Theater 1
Leading Ladies of Animation
Mickey's of Glendale – Imagineering
Group Book Signing
WDI Green Space/Patio
1401 Flower Street / Glendale, CA 91201
WEDNESDAY
11/29/17
11:30am – 1:30pm
Occidental College —
ISLA Fall 2017 Speaker Series
JSC Morrison Lounge
1600 Campus Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90041
WEDNESDAY
12/6/17
6:30pm
Presentation & Book Signing
INK & PAINT – THE WOMEN OF WALT DISNEY'S ANIMATION
SATURDAY
12/9/17
4:00pm – 6:00pm
Light Up the Season
Book Signing
The Walt Disney Studios Store (Disney Employee Exclusive)
500 S. Buena Vista St. / Burbank, CA 91521
2018 Events
​
Epcot® International Festival of the Arts
​
Odyssey Festival Showplace
Epcot® World Showcase / Orlando, FL
SUNDAY
1/14/18
​
ORLANDO, FL
11:00am – 12:15pm
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Workshop
Pencils, Paint & Pixels – How Women Transformed
Walt Disney's Animation
Art of Disney at Epcot
​
Epcot® Future World / Orlando, FL
Book Signing
SUNDAY
1/21/18
2:00pm
Barnes & Noble
Media City Center – Burbank, CA
731 North San Fernando Boulevard /
Burbank, CA 91502
Group Book Signing to Include:
Mindy Johnson – Ink & Paint –
The Women of Walt Disney's Animation
Don Hahn – Yesterday's Tomorrow –
Disney's Magical Mid-Century
Dave Bossert – Oswald The Lucky Rabbit
and The Art of Tennessee Loveless
MONDAY
1/22/18
5:30pm Lecture
USC Graduate School -
Business of Animation
John C. Hench Division of Animation & Digital Arts
930 West 34th Street / Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211
PIXAR Animation Studios
(Private Event)
Presentation and Book Signing
WEDNESDAY
1/24/18
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
SATURDAY
2/3/18
12:00pm – 2:00pm
​
EVENT INFO
El Capitan Theater /
Disney's Soda Fountain & Studio Store Hollywood
6834 Hollywood Blvd. / Los Angeles, CA 90028
Group Book Signing to Include:
Mindy Johnson – Ink & Paint –
The Women of Walt Disney's Animation
Marcy Carriker Smothers – Eat Like Walt
Don Hahn – Yesterday's Tomorrow –
Disney's Magical Mid-Century
Dave Bossert – Oswald The Lucky Rabbit and The Art of Tennessee Loveless
MiceChat Anniversary
Author Panel Event
The Anaheim Hotel (across from Disneyland)
1700 South Harbor Boulevard / Anaheim, CA 92802
​
Participating Authors:
Mindy Johnson – Ink & Paint – The Women of Walt Disney's Animation
Dave Bossert – Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons
FRIDAY
2/2/18
6:30pm – 9:00pm
ANAHEIM, CA
FRIDAY
2/9/18
6:30pm
California Institute of the Arts
Seminar Lecture
24700 McBean Parkway / Valencia, CA 91355
SATURDAY
2/17/18
5:00pm – 10:00pm
Ryman Arts Benefit
Book Signing
12021 Harbor Blvd. / Anaheim, CA 92840
​
Featuring:
Marcy Carriker Smothers– Eat Like Walt
Mindy Johnson– Ink & Paint - The Women of Walt Disney's Animation, along with Jane Baer– Animator –
Sleeping Beauty / The Rescuers / Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
SATURDAY
3/3/18
2:00pm
Barnes & Noble
Media City Center – Burbank, CA
731 North San Fernando Boulevard / Burbank, CA 91502
​
Women's History Month Book Signing with Women Artists of Disney Animation:
Gretchen Albrecht– Ink & Paint Department Head
Jane Baer– Animator
Sleeping Beauty / The Rescuers / Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Karen Comella– Supervisor Color Models
Phyllis Fields– Assistant Paint Supervisor
Beth Ann McCoy-Gee– Color Model Mark-up
Teri McDonald– Assistant Final Check Supervisor
Robyn Roberts Parra– Supervisor 2D Animation Processing
WEDNESDAY
3/7/18
6:00pm
Mark Taper Auditorium
Ladies of Animation Panel Event / LA Public Library
630 West 5th Street / Los Angeles, CA
​
Leading Ladies of Animation
From the earliest black-and-white imagery to the advent of digital animation, women have been at the forefront of animation advancements. Meet some of today's trailblazing women whose leading talents brought landmark animated stories to life.
Join Mindy Johnson, historian & author of Ink & Paint – The Women of Walt Disney's Animation, as she pulls back the celluloid curtain on the rich history of women who animate and meet these leading ladies of the animated art form.
​
Panelists:
Kathy Zielinski – Lead Animator
Lorna Cook – Director / Animator / Story Artist
Sue Kroyer – Animator / Art Director / Layout / Producer
Jane Baer – Animator / Studio Head
Gretchen Albrecht – Ink & Paint Department Head
TUESDAY
3/20/18
6:30pm
NEW JERSEY
Ocean County Library - Toms River Branch
Presentation & Signing
101 Washington Street / Toms River, NJ 08753
TUESDAY
3/27/18
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Disney Consumer Products and
Interactive Media
(Private Event)
Presentation and Book Signing
Contact
Press, Speaking & Event Inquiries:
Find me on Facebook
LITERARY AGENT:
Richard Curtis
Richard Curtis & Associates
200 East 72nd Street, Suite 28J
New York, NY 10021