Dumbo Story Sketch

What an extraordinary story sketch by Bill Peet. 

The circus ringmaster confronts Mrs. Jumbo, who is protecting her baby son. Every character showing distinctively different emotions. This reminds me of what Frank Thomas once said:

"If you have characters in a scene who all think alike, you have a problem."

I also love the crowd's shadows on the ground. Bill Peet is the man!!

More of his story sketches here:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQn2YTtM_166mSgpMNTsk6ewdwFieWImkqv0Kb0z7SjYesZWVX0IxSVNOcsy0WLIbRSl3N1in3pdrYqUVA-miTjTY1cXS9B2ZlQDxqO6RVk7eVR3MF3XFNNJK2IQoazDDXuVcbT4LOfJk/s1600/DB1.jpg

MUSHKA Seq 14, Sc 60

Here is a frame from the final version of a scene I was animating just recently. 

At the start we watch only Sarah as she pushes the tiger's front part. Then Alex comes in, he pushes the tiger's back end. Obviously each push is separate from the other in terms of timing, so the kids don't end up pushing simultaneously. A little tricky to work out against the tiger's body, but the scene turned out ok.

Regarding effects animation for snow foot prints, I originally had planned for a more icy surface with no foot prints. But we ended up doing the opposite instead. Every step in the snow will have contact animation. And there are quite a few sequences in the snow.

Here is the link to a recent post about roughing out this scene:

http://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2020/05/whats-on-my-animation-desk-right-now.html

Howard Ashman

I am highly recommending a new documentary by Don Hahn, called Howard. It starts streaming today on Disney +.  This is a personal portrait of an artist who had so much to do with what is now called The Renaissance of Disney Animation.It is astounding to see how much original vintage footage Don had available to him to help viewers travel back in time and witness the complex production process of films like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty & the Beast.Howard Ashman was a genius. Lyricist, story artist and all around entertainer. The photo shows him during a recording session with Richard White, who voiced and sang for Gaston,  I did not know Howard well, we had a few brief conversations in the studio's hallways, that's all. I found him serious, smart and very focused on his work. His collaborators were -Alan Menken, of course-, the film's producer and directors, the story artists and Disney management.I remember listening to early song versions for The Little Mermaid, before animation began. I was in awe and beyond inspired by Alan's tunes but also by Howard's lyrics, so witty, rich with personality, always moving the story forward.What a joy to animate Gaston and Lefou waltzing through the pub during the drinking song. All of us animators were absolutely thrilled to work with such outstanding material.So, go watch Don Hahn's Howard. You'll get a front row seat into the mind of this complex, creative genius.