Wolfgang Reitherman backdrop
VISUAL EFFECTS . Visual Effects . 75 years (deceased) . Munich, Germany

Wolfgang Reitherman_

"Born — Died "

Born Munich, Germany
Birthday
75
Lived
10
Credits
Visual Effects
Known For
0.5
Popularity
59 yrs
Career
Updated Feb 20, 2026

Details

Known For
Visual Effects
Birthday
(Saturday)
Died
Birthplace
Languages
English, German
Children
3 children: Bruce Reitherman, Richard Reitherman, Robert Reitherman
Residences
California, Kansas City
Education
Chouinard Art Institute, Pasadena City College
Zodiac Sign
♋ Cancer
Chinese Zodiac
鸡 Rooster
Name Origin
English < German < Middle High German < Old High German
Popularity
Tier C -- 5,820 Wikipedia views/month

DROPTHE_ GOSSIP

Wolfgang Reitherman is known for visual effects.
Born in Munich, Germany (died at age 75).
3 awards including Disney Legends.
Wolfgang Reitherman has 10 credits in our database.
Studied at Array.

DROPTHE GOOD_

14
Notable
out of 100
Most people on Earth score 0. Only those with measurable positive impact appear on this scale.
Human Impact
0
Innovation
0
Giving
0
Sustainability
100
Cultural Uplift
40
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AWARDS (3)

B
Disney Legends
1989
WON
B
Winsor McCay Award
1983
WON
B
Distinguished Flying Cross
WON

Biography

Reitherman began working for Disney in 1934, along with future Disney legends Ward Kimball and Milt Kahl. The three worked together on a number of classic Disney shorts, including The Band Concert, Music Land, and Elmer Elephant and in all, Reitherman worked on various Disney feature films produced from 1937 to 1981, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Slave in the Magic Mirror) to The Fox and the Hound (co-producer). He did the climatic dinosaur fight in Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring in Fantasia, the Headless Horseman chase in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" section in The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, the Crocodile in Peter Pan, and Maleficent as a dragon in Sleeping Beauty (the former three he animated and the latter he directed). Beginning with 1961's One Hundred and One Dalmatians, "Woolie", as he was called by friends, served as Disney's chief animation director. One of Reitherman's productions, the 1968 short Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day, won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. He also served as a producer and sequence director, and starred as himself in the 1941 feature film The Reluctant Dragon. All three of Reitherman's sons — Bruce, Richard and Robert — provided voices for Disney characters, including Mowgli in The Jungle Book, Christopher Robin in Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, and Wart in The Sword in the Stone. Reitherman directed several Disney animated feature films including, One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961), The Sword in the Stone (1963), The Jungle Book (1967), The Aristocats (1970),Robin Hood (1973) and The Rescuers (1977). He is also known for reusing animation in movies directed by him. According to Floyd Norman, this was just one of his trademarks, and had nothing to do with time or cost savings: "Woolie was our director on The Jungle Book. Reuse was just Woolie’s thing. He never did it to save money. I really don’t think the “Old Guard” ever had any interest in saving money. I was never a big f

Frequently Asked Questions

How old was Wolfgang Reitherman?
Wolfgang Reitherman was born on and passed away on at the age of 75.
Where was Wolfgang Reitherman born?
Wolfgang Reitherman was born in Munich, Germany.
What movies or shows has Wolfgang Reitherman been in?
Wolfgang Reitherman has 10 credits in our database. Notable titles include Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974), The Aristocats (1970), Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968), The Jungle Book (1967), Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966).
What is Wolfgang Reitherman known for?
Wolfgang Reitherman is primarily known as visual effects. Reitherman began working for Disney in 1934, along with future Disney legends Ward Kimball and Milt Kahl. The three worked together on a number of classic Disney shorts,…
Where can I find more information about Wolfgang Reitherman?
You can find more about Wolfgang Reitherman on IMDB, TMDB, Wikidata. Their full profile and filmography is available on this page.
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