Animated Tribute to Annette Funicello Premieres on YouTube

LOS ANGELES - May 13, 2013 - PRLog -- A new 97-second musical video, starring an animated Annette Funicello, is premiering today on YouTube at http://youtu.be/RPHCz78jeXA.  It was produced to honor the Disney icon who passed away at age 70 just over a month ago from complications due to multiple sclerosis (MS).  The animation was designed to help generate awareness and foster donations to The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases Inc.  Created by Florida based animator, Bob Duane, and west coast artist, Kevin Kidney, the piece features an animated Annette singing and dancing to the ragtime style tune “Mr. Piano Man,” a number she actually performed at Disneyland’s famous Golden Horseshoe Saloon in the 1960’s.

The artwork for the animation was developed by Kidney who designed the Golden Horseshoe Annette character as a paper-cut piece that he donated for auction to Annette’s Fund to help raise money for the charity.  The image was seen online by Orlando animator, Bob Duane, who contacted Kidney about animating it to the original Annette production number that was written by Academy Award winning songwriters, the Sherman Bros., the famous duo who wrote many hit records for the Disney star.  The two artists were soon off and running with the concept.

Duane, a Disney aficionado, animated Kidney’s Golden Horseshoe Annette in the distinctive style of Disney animation legends, Bill Justice and X Atencio.  The result is now featured on YouTube for all to enjoy…and hopefully raise much needed dollars to fund research grants into Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological disease research through Annette’s Fund.

To donate to The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases Inc., please visit www.annetteconnection.com.

“Golden Horseshoe Annette” logo’d merchandise available for purchase to benefit Annette’s Fund at: www.zazzle.com/annettesplace/gifts?cg=196330392414015405