Most of you are familiar with the Genie from the movie Aladdin, superbly animated by Eric Goldberg.
You might not know that there is another Genie, who came before, also superbly animated, this time by John Lounsbery. In 1957 Walt Disney introduced an educational TV show called "Our Friend The Atom", which described the benefits of nuclear power - with a cautious but optimistic look toward the future.
The show is mostly live action, but it did feature a few animated segments.
The discovery of atomic energy is compared to a fable, in which a fisherman finds a bottle. He opens it, and a giant Genie appears.
Cliff Nordberg animated the fisherman, and as mentioned Lounsbery did the scenes with the Genie, this time portrayed in purple.
Below are a few key drawings (clean up over the roughs) from a scene where the Genie threatens the fisherman: "Know that presently thou will have to die!"
At least that's what I think he says, it is a bit hard to understand from the DVD.
The drawing style of the animation is 50ies graphic, but Lounsbery is able to get a nice sense of scale and dimension in this up shot.
A couple of pages from the book Our Friend the Atom, which was published around the time of the TV show.
This genie haunted me for years, and it was such a disappointment seeing Aladdin's genie after having this one in my head for so many years. Especially, Lounsberry's character. That genie is so beautifully dark and rich.
ReplyDeleteJust watched the clip on Youtube. Albeit brief, but great animation from both Lounsbery and Cliff Nordberg.
ReplyDeleteYet another wonderful piece of Disney animation gold you've share with us, Andreas...thanks!
You can watch the sequence here, around 4:45
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByZ1AyDEGSk
Very interesting Deja, this genie looks more feared.
ReplyDeleteI'm so used to Eric Goldberg and Robin Williams, this genie was a great quake-with-fear surprise. :D
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, I worked on this stuff back in 1956. Of course, I was just a kid. A lowly apprentice inbetweener. Still it was an honor to work on such great stuff.
ReplyDeleteGosh, when Jafar turned into a genie he was very reminiscent of this guy!
ReplyDeleteSome impressive work right there. His facial expressions are fierce!! The intensity in frame 97 is great. Love it (also thanks for the link Christian. Great animation)...
ReplyDeleteI can't see this without thinking of a third Genie: Djnn, as portrayed by Rex Ingram in "The Thief of Bagdad". That genie movie had wonderful matte paintings by Peter Ellenshaw (10 years before he joined the Disney Company with "Treasure Island", and 24 years before Mary Poppins, he was assisting matte painter Wally Veevers back then). When I saw The Thief of Bagdad for the first time I was surprised by seein how much Mr. Ingram's interpretation, both comical and threatening, helped to the creation of Mr. Lounsebry's genie and Mr. Goldberg's one, as a reminder that art and fairytales never limit themself to one generation of artists(The Thief of Bagdad was a Technicolor remake of an homonymous silent movie made in 1924, starring Douglas Fairbanks).
ReplyDeleteThat's a great Genie! Thanks for the drawings Andreas. I have to say my favorite animated Genie is from "A Lad In His Lamp" with Bugs. Jim Backus voicing the genie was inspired.
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