Latest news with #LipscombUniversity
Sharjah 24
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Bancroft Brothers share insights on Disney's golden age at SAC
From Snoopy sketches to Disney dreams The brothers began the talk with a childhood anecdote, saying, 'According to our mother we started drawing at the very young age of three-years-old, and she still has these sketches to this day,' Tom grinned, projecting side-by-side sketches of Snoopy. 'Mine was technically accurate… but stiff as a board. Tony's looked like a clumsy dog mid-sprint.' Tony shot back, 'Hey, I was just preparing for my future animating warthogs and candlesticks!' Their early rivalry-turned-collaboration eventually led them to enrol in CalArts, the Disney-funded arts school Walt himself envisioned, but finances nearly derailed their dreams. 'Our parents told us unfortunately we would only have one year left, and we had to make a plan to somehow find employment,' Tony recalled. Undeterred, the twins crashed a Disney recruiter's portfolio review meant for seniors. 'We sweet-talked our professor with puppy eyes and a lot of caffeine,' Tom quipped. The gamble paid off, and both landed internships at Disney's studio in 1988. By 21, they became full time animators and were promoted to more senior positions by the age of 25. Creating beloved Disney icons Tony's breakout moment came with Beauty and the Beast, where he animated the neurotic clock Cogsworth. 'I related to him being constantly stressed, always ticking!' he joked. But it was his role as character designer and supervising animator for Pumbaa in The Lion King that cemented his legacy. 'Pumbaa's voice actor, Ernie Sabella, ad-libbed so much, we had to animate around his chaos. That warthog's flatulence? Pure improv genius.' Tom, meanwhile, became Disney's 'character whisperer,' designing the fiery dragon Mushu for Mulan. 'Mushu's sass was 90% me, 10% Eddie Murphy,' he deadpanned. The character's popularity stunned even him, saying 'I've even seen Mushu tattoos. Tattoos!.' Iron sharpens iron The brothers' chemistry shone as they debated their workflows. 'Tom's a perfectionist; he'd tweak an eyelash for days,' Tony teased. Tom fired back, 'Tony's 'done' when he's bored. That's why Pumbaa's tail end is half-finished!' Yet their rivalry fueled creativity. Tom stated a proverb they live by, quoting, 'As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another,' to which Tony added, 'Translation: We roast each other until the work sparkles.' Post-Disney, the twins pivoted to mentoring, and Tom founded Lipscomb University's animation programme in Nashville, with Tony joining him in 2021. Their most recent success is through hosting 'The Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast', a #1 iTunes hit where they interview legends from the industry. 'It's like therapy, but with more doodling,' Tony said. They also continue to be pioneers in family-friendly animation, with Tony co-directing an ambitious faith-driven biopic, Light of the World, which was released this year; while Tom's Pencilish Animation Studios champions stories for younger audiences. 'We're still making art that lasts,' Tom said, 'But now with less deadline-induced panic.' Closing the talk, the twins advised aspiring animators to embrace terrible drawings, and keep on practicing. 'My first Snoopy looked like roadkill, and look at me now!' Tom added.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Phyllis Hildreth tapped to lead Nashville Office of Youth Safety
Phyllis Hildreth is set to lead Nashville's first-ever Office of Youth Safety. Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell announced her appointment on April 25. Hildreth will start on May 12. A lawyer, community leader and longtime youth advocate, Hildreth most recently served as chief of staff at American Baptist College and as academic director of the Institute for Conflict Management at Lipscomb University. "Phyllis's passion for supporting our youth goes all the way back to her childhood, where she watched her father support kids in her community as a high school guidance counselor and Sunday school teacher," O'Connell said in a news release. "Her background includes work in both education and juvenile justice — giving her a unique perspective on how we build a resilient ecosystem to support our youth." Young people were key in advocating for the Office of Youth Safety. The Metro Council passed $1 million last year to start the office at the urging of Nashville youth who are part of nonprofit Southern Movement Committee. Dozens of young people from the organization lined up to speak before the council in June. As director, Hildreth will lead the charge in establishing programs for youth violence prevention and conflict resolution. She will also work with other city leaders to make neighborhoods safer for youth and minimize their harmful interactions with the criminal justice system. "The Office of Youth Safety will complement the work ongoing in the city to support young Nashvillians," the release stated. "As director, Hildreth will unite the efforts underway in the space of youth safety and programming." Hildreth earned her Bachelor of Arts in biology from Harvard University before going on to attain a law degree at the University of Maryland. She also has a Master's degree in conflict management from Lipscomb University. She worked as chief counsel for administration at the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, deputy secetary for the Maryland Department of Juvenile Justice and managing director for the Baltimore Juvenile Justice Center. The wife of Meharry Medical College President Dr. James Hildreth, she also served on the Community Oversight Board and Human Relations Commission in Nashville. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Phyllis Hildreth tapped to lead Nashville Office of Youth Safety
