Here are a couple of examples that show the graphic influence T.S. Sullivant had on the design of certain Disney animal characters.
The first one is the brown cow from the 1950 short film The Brave Engineer. The train had to come to a sudden and abrupt stop because the cow happened to stand on the railroad tracks. With a nonchalant attitude she turns away and moves on. Milt Kahl animated this scene with all the comedy you can get out of a Sullivant design. Oversized muzzle, and hip bones that stick out for days.
This sketch by story artist James Bodrero depicts a young Gauchito on a horse. The final 1945 short film The Flying Gauchito includes a flying donkey instead.
There is a certain size and shape Sullivant applies to a horse's head, and you can clearly see the influence when compared to Bodrero's beautiful sketch.
Most artists working in the animation industry during its golden age just loved Sullivant's work.
There really is nobody like him.
Now who is going to publish that coffee table book on his work?!
