Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Milt Kahl talks Robin Hood


Here is a special treat for you!
Very little footage exists of Walt Disney's animators talking about their craft or even promoting their movies.
Before Robin Hood was released, Woolie Reitherman and Milt Kahl went on tour to talk about the new Disney Feature. This clip shows Milt  answering questions during a TV show in Dallas in 1973.
You've got to admire Milt's patience with the interviewer, who seems to know very little about animation, and who Milt Kahl really was.




On his blog Chris Sobieniak posted some great printed material featuring Milt's visit to Dallas.
Check it out:

http://sobieniak.blogspot.com/2012/11/disneys-robin-hood-golden-press-1973-pt_7.html

27 comments:

  1. He drew that during the interview!! *o*
    My gosh, even whilst having his mind distracted he's able to do beautiful drawings...

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  2. Oh , man :) Never seen this. This is one of the best post from you :D And what the jacket Milt has! He´s so happy mood :) Thank you for this.

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  3. The way Milt took off his glasses made me laugh. Doesn't even bother to completely remove them! I believe in "The Illusion of Life" Frank and Ollie mention how he would sit over the animation disc and just let his glasses slide down his nose and dangle from one ear. In my copy it is on page 397. It was also interesting to hear that he did no work on "Fantasia." Thought he would really want to tackle a chunk of that film.

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  4. When I bought a copy of the big Golden Book edition of "Robin Hood" (art by Burny Mattinson, one of these days I want to get him to sign my copy of the book), inside it, there was several newspaper articles plus a folded handbill of sorts promoting The Circle Gallery's exhibit of artwork from Robin Hood from the same time that Milt toured Dallas. It was pretty sweet to get it, though I wish the book was signed by Milt instead (which also included a bookmark for a shop in Dallas that it was bought in, this guy certainly kept plenty). I ought to scan these in if anyone doesn't mind seeing these!

    The Circle Gallery's card was very interesting in stating other museums that have had animation artwork included in their collections, sighting the one in my hometown (The Toledo Museum of Art), though I don't recall seeing any animation cels on the walls of mine!

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    1. That is a wonderful piece of history you ave Hriatopher, I would love to see those scanned articles.

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    2. Here you go Alfred! I'm sure Deja will love to check these out!
      http://sobieniak.blogspot.com/2012/11/disneys-robin-hood-golden-press-1973-pt_7.html

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    3. Thank you so much Chris, i will check them right now and enjoy them!

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    4. I only wish my copy of the Robin Hood book was either signed or included a sketch from Milt in there. That would've made the deal all that much more sweeter.

      Matter of fact I'd rather get Burny Mattinson to sign it anyway since it's his artwork after all. Just send him the book and a silver Sharpie is all I'm asking!

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  5. Wow. I'd never heard Mr Kahl's voice before! Very interesting to see the great man in motion.

    The interviewer seemed very nervous and/or unprepared. Milt responded well, though he got a lost a bit while trying to explain the roles of the assistant animator and inbetweeners. Haha. ;)

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    1. Julian, well...you'll love this!

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24CWgNWf7eE

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    2. I loved watching this back in the day!

      There's also been a podcast that included a recording of Milt teaching some kids the ropes at CalArts you can listen to here!
      http://animationpodcast.com/archives/2006/02/25/milt-kahl-side-one/
      http://animationpodcast.com/archives/2006/03/03/milt-kahl-side-two/

      Here's another bonus goodie I dug up!
      http://bayfiles.com/file/qMQ7/B9aUSi/Milt_Kahl.rar

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  6. Milt Kahl is recalling his history just back to Pinnochio, but I guess he meant the films where he was a directing animator already, because he's also credited in Snow White as well. I've read somewhere that he was animating the animals there, together with Eric Larson, and that in particular he made the turtle.

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  7. Oh, this is golden! I remember you showed this at CTN right? I'm in Berlin this week - any hidden caches of master drawings I should know about? Heinrich Kley?

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    1. Matt,
      have fun in Berlin, one of my favorite cities.
      I don't know of any Kley works in Berlin, his work can be found in the South of Germany.
      If you like I can put you together with someone who sells Kley originals.

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    2. There's the kathe kollwitz museum, doesn't get a lot more masterful then that if you ask me! First time posting on Andreas' blog even though I visit regularly and just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to make this blog what it is. It's very generous and I'm sure a huge inspiration to many fellow animators . Pure gold!

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  8. YES!! That. was. awesome. Sweet little lady and Milt was cool as Cary Grant.

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  9. Sitting at home, sipping hot chocolate, and watching this sweet interview as the snow falls outside. This post was really the cherry on top. ';)

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  10. That's a fox!!
    Thanks for posting.

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  11. Hello,

    What a great clip. Thanks for posting. I actually found your blog through the Monsters and Dumpling, Ji Hwan Jung's blog. I'm the programmer for REELkids Film Festival and I'm trying to get in touch with someone about screening Monsters and Dumplings at our festival. Can you help. You can reach me at info@reelkids.ca
    Your help would be very much appreciated. Glad I found your blog though, it's great!

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  12. Ha Ha :-)
    ich kenne einen Disneyzeichner, der hat während eines Interviews den Tigger gezeichnet und auch am Ende verschenkt. Die Lady hat damals hat das Blatt bestimmt ihren Kindern gegeben und die haben es ausgemalt.

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  13. Great Clip! What I'd really love to see are the leftovers from all of the Disney Family Album interview sessions. Every time I get a new bluray, there seems to be some new clip from those sessions back in 1983-84.That would be a great Disney Treasure set to get with complete interviews from all of the participating Artists.Does anyone know if Lounsbery ever did an on camera interview?z

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  14. It seems everybody wants to hear Milt's voice. When I was working for him - that's the one thing you didn't want to hear. If Milt didn't yell for you, consider yourself lucky.

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  15. lol It's sad that Milts casual sketch during a 5 minute interview is better then just about anything I've EVER made haha...

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  16. Hi there,

    Just wanted to say a huge thank you for this behind the scenes interview on Robin Hood. I am a current student and for one of my assignments in a Representing Animals class, I chose to write a paper on one of my all time favorite little-known stories: Reynard the Fox. My topic, being the manifestations of Reynard the Fox throughout history, aligned with this story perfectly; however, it was tedious trying to comb through the sparse sources available on what was going on in the minds of the creators! When I found this post as well as the others you have on Robin Hood, I jumped for joy! So, please keep up the great posts and insightful comments. They have applications in areas you may have not considered.

    Sincerely,
    A grateful student, and now regular reader

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  17. I think you all are too critical of the interviewer.

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