Fred Moore's Timothy

Blog reader Eli recently asked if I could post any Fred Moore drawings of Timothy Mouse from Dumbo. Here are copies of key drawings from the moment where Timothy re-appears from inside a wooden tub filled with champagne. This is only the first part of that scene.

I love that one fast, unpredictable move into the last pose. Here is a Youtube link to the the whole sequence:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTv9bTSEzgg

More Freddy Ladies

To continue with Fred Moore art on this blog, here are a few more sketches that show his intuitive approach towards depicting the female form. Fred never spent much time in a life drawing class, in or outside the Disney Studio. He just had a knack for rhythm, balance and weight. 

 

Here is a link to one of my earlier posts on Moore:

https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2011/09/happy-birthday-fred-moore.html

Fred Moore Kids

Everything that Fred Moore drew had appeal and charm. When he started at Disney in 1930 he was just perfect for the studio, and the studio was perfect for him. Here was this kid with a natural, instinctive talent for the kind of drawing that would change the Disney style. He enriched what had been done up to that point. His drawings looked like round little sculptures with super appealing proportions. His characters moved with a fresh squash and stretch approach, and they had real weight. Naturally all animators at Disney were asked to follow his lead. As Marc Davis said: "Fred Moore WAS Disney drawing!"  

Here are a few of his rough drawings depicting kids.

  

  

 These are drawings of Peter from the short film Peter and the Wolf. The actual animation for this scene was by Ollie Johnston. Peter is venting his frustration over Grandpa's strict instruction not to leave the house to pursue the Wolf. Just like Milt Kahl would do drawings for other animators in later years, Fred helped to improve poses and attitudes for anybody who asked for his input. 

 

Fred Moore Studies

 

Donald's Pinata

Three gorgeous rough animation drawings on 12 field paper by the great Fred Moore. In the 1944 film The Three Caballeros Donald Duck is about to find out about the tradition of how to handle a Mexican Pinata. Panchito the rooster blindfolds Donald after handing him a baseball bat. 

While Ward Kimball animated the movie's iconic theme song, Fred Moore animated spectacular scenes featuring Donald, Jose Carioca and Panchito.

 

Embroidered

About five months ago a Lady from Russia (I believe) posted these photos. She had seen this design sketch of the three Witches for The Black Cauldron on this blog, and she used the image as a motif for embroidering a collar. This blows me away. I feel flattered and flabbergasted. 

Edgar stops the Carriage

This scene appears after the opening credits for The Aristocats. The kitten Toulouse has climbed on to the butler's head and is playing with the hat's plume. 

Milt Kahl shows his mastery for how hands articulate an action clearly and beautifully. The first drawing is held for a little while with an eye blink on top. I love how Edgar's right hand reaches for and grabs the kitten. After that the same hand straightens out the hat before moving down to grab the horse's reins. Impeccable staging here. Edgar's head stays in profile pretty much throughout the scene as not to attract attention away from the hand action. And that action is the main thing in this scene for the viewer to follow.

Any animator who knows the mechanics of hands and how to apply those within the acting will always be ahead of the game.