About me
Willie Ito began his 50-year career in animation working on Disney’s iconic spaghetti-kissing scene in 1953's Lady & The Tramp. He continued to work at Warner Bros., Hanna-Barbera, Bob Clampett Productions, and other studios before returning to Disney in the early 1970s. After retiring from Disney in 1999, he went on to illustrate children’s books, including Hello Maggie!, A Boy from Heart Mountain, and Lucy: Mascot of the 442nd RCT Medics. In 2025, he co-produced and released his first animated short film, “Hello Maggie!” He is a recipient of the prestigious Winsor McCay Award from the Annies, Comic-Con’s Inkpot Award, and a Legend Award from the Nemo Academy in Florence, Italy.
