Thank you heart mountain

Hello Maggie!  A book written by former Heart Mountain incarceree Shigeru Yabu, which recounts his story of being forcibly removed from his family’s home in San Francisco and sent to Heart Mountain, Wyoming, in 1942. While in camp, Shig found a baby magpie that he kept as a pet during the war. The bird provided comfort to Shig, his family, and friends as they endured three years at Heart Mountain.

Legendary cartoonist and animator Willie Ito, also from San Francisco and incarcerated at the Topaz camp in Utah, was a boyhood friend of Shigs and the perfect choice to illustrate the book. 

After the war, Willie went on to an illustrious career as an animator and cartoonist for companies such as Disney, where he was one of the lead artists for the 1955 classic Lady and the Tramp, Warner Brothers, and Hanna-Barbera.

Inspired by the beloved book Heart Mountain, co-producers of the film announced the international premiere of the animated short film Hello Maggie! at this year’s Pilgrimage. Willie Ito was joined onstage by Tony Tarantini, the film's director, following the screening to discuss this artistic project, which had been in the making for nearly five years. 

Under the direction of Tarantini and in collaboration with Ito, students from Accademia Nemo in Florence, Italy, and Sheridan College in Toronto, Canada, Heart Mountain staff, and industry professionals have contributed to this project, producing a compelling retelling of the story in animated form.

“Although life for Japanese Americans forced into internment camps during World War II was very difficult, your recollection of life in the recreation center, during this dark period in American history, is both sensitive and informative.”

Daniel K. Inouye
United States Senator