Animation Studies
Fritz ;)
We don't often feature the works of art that are the Disney animated films. And we really should, for they are the basis of many beloved theme park attractions.
My adorable wife recently surprised me with a number of FANTASTIC animation books. From these books we can study various ranges of movement with only a few drawings by some of the old greats. Leaps and bounds above the pencil tests my fellow students and I produced in art school. I did, for a time, work as a character artist at Disney- not in Animation though former animators did train us. I will always remember one Sr. Artist teaching me that we do not draw characters "line to line" but we "feel the shape of the figure and draw accordingly." He was clear that anyone could memorize how one line connected to the next but if you don't "feel it" the character has no volume.
SLEEPING BEAUTY- Samson and Prince Phillip, 1959 by Milt Kahl
PINOCCHIO- Pinocchio by Jack Campbell
THE THREE CABALLEROS- Donald Duck, Panchito, Jose Carioca, 1945 by Clyde Geronimi
SONG OF THE SOUTH- Brer Rabbit, by Milt Kahl
ALICE IN WONDERLAND- Mad Hattter, by Milt Kahl
101 DALMATIONS- Roger Radcliff and Pongo, by Milt Kahl
Andreas Deja
Recently famed animator Andreas Deja left Disney (reasons unknown to me) and started a blog (among other things, no doubt). "Right now I am focusing on my own animated short films, sculpting with wire and this Blog. I might be back at Disney some time.....who knows," says Deja on his blog.
If there was such a thing as a second (or third) set of "Nine Old Men", Andreas Deja would definitely be among them.
HERCULES- Hercules, by Andreas Deja
Related posts:
Walt Disney Studios Post Production Behind-the-Scenes
Original Visions of CalArts
Upcoming Concept: Sword in the Stone Dark Ride
[Image source] Images ©Disney
Reader Comments (6)
I often wonder what the parks would have become if more of the "Nine Old Men" were sent to W.E.D. to design attractions. I do believe Marc Davis was a fantastic choice, if not the BEST choice for such a job. I would have liked to have seen Ward Kimball, that brilliant kook, create at least one attraction.
About the Ward Kimball thing, I AGREED.
I mean I AGREE. :) His style would be great namely in Tomorrowland perhaps.
It's my first time to see sketches of animated cartoon character it looks so alive and moving...very awesome and interesting artwork.
I couldn't agree more, its nice to see some animation works posted here. If you don't dream to be a part of the Imagineering, this got to be your dream job=) Must be cool to work at the very heart of Disney, I've always wanted to draw but it's really not for me.
Ward Kimball wish granted! He worked on The World of Motion.