Many of us have marvelled at the animation in Walt Disney's 1950 classic Lady and the Tramp, though few will be familiar with the British-born animator behind the stunning visuals - John David Wilson, who died this week aged 93. Wilson, who honed his skills after being injured in the London Rifle Brigade's African campaign in 1941 with the, joined the art department of Pinewood Studios after the war.

John TravoltaJohn David Wilson Animated The Famous Opening Sequence To 'Grease,' Starring John Travolta

The WWII veteran was also responsible for animating the recognisable opening sequence of the 198 high school musical movie Grease, with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.  In a long career with Disney, he worked on characters Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck as well as movies Great Expectations, The Thief of Bagdad, though it will be his work on Lady and the Tramp for which Wilson will be best remembered. 

Read our review of Lady and the Tramp.

Wilson, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease in his later years, formed his own animation company Fine Arts Films in 1955, where he adapted Petroushka, an adaptation of Igor Stravinsky's classic ballet. His talents moved into the world of popular movie and he created conceptual music videos for acts such as Joni Mitchell and Jim Croce. 

John David Wilson died on June 20, in Blackpool, England, his wife said. 

Watch the famous spaghetti kiss scene in Lady and the Tramp: