Sunday, March 3, 2013

Experimental Yzma



As I mentioned in a previous post about the character of Yzma I had something to to with her early development, when the movie was called "Kingdom in the Sun".
The one and only Eartha Kitt had been chosen as her voice, but at that time I didn't have any recordings yet.
So I picked a line from one of Eartha's last movies, Boomerang, in which she played opposite Eddie Murphy.
I tried to find a piece of dialogue that would epitomize Eartha Kitt's sultry image and …just have fun with it.
Actually I thought I had lost this footage, but recently a tape with the scene resurfaced.
The character design was still in progress, but I needed too move Yzma around, just to see what I had at that point.
So here is the lost experimental scene, Yzma is responding to the Inka figure Pacha, who just let her know that she is "over the hill".



22 comments:

  1. Cool.
    I think I've actually seen that piece of animation before...
    Not that I've been watching any secret movie that I'm not supposed to be able to watch.

    Always cool to see the pencil work.

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    1. So you haven't seen 'The Sweatbox' then, the film Disney tries to deny exists?

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    2. Saw it a long time ago. I guess, I forgot that this scene is in it.

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  2. So great expressions, when she inhale after laugh.

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  3. Very nice acting (and execution) my friend!

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  4. great site!
    greetings from Poland :)

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  5. I was waiting for you to revisit Yzma! You mentioned back in 2011 you might still have some pencil tests on tape - is there any chance we may see them (if you found any in your collection obviously)? Seeing the complete footage (not just the snippets from The Sweatbox) for Snuff out the Light would be the best thing ever.

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    1. I would love to see that entire song in pencil test.

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    2. I would love to see that entire song in pencil test.

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  6. Your Yzma is fabulous. I'd love to see Kingdom in the Sun as it was originally supposed to be.

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  7. I really think Izma is one of the best Disney characters ever. Indeed, nowadays I'm developing a character that has a little bit inspiration in Izma.

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  8. Hello! I just wanted to ask if you have a fanmail address of any sorts? I would love to send you a letter! :)

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  9. I think Disney failed on Kingdom in the Sun because they wanted to success so hard they forgot success can't come if that's the only goal and reason to create something.

    Nice anim and outsanding drawing skills! I miss a little a last glance back to Pacha at the end though.

    Man she could definately pop out someone's eye with those hips!

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  10. I love this test of yours Andreas. The accent with her eyes and the hip action working with her dialogue works so well.
    I personally would had loved to see your version. It was a sad day for us on the crew when we heard you had asked to be taken off the film.

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  11. Man I would've loved for Disney to go through with the Kingdom in the Sun idea. The name alone sounds epic. Your Yzma test is full of sass. The little shoulder shrug at the end is a nice touch.

    I never saw Emperors New Groove (i'll probably rent it soon on youtube) but I get the sense Kingdom in the Sun would've been a richer and more successful film even though from what I hear New Groove is an entertaining film.

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  12. Amazing, the hand motion closing over each other is great, very subtle life like expressions, its incredible because when you watch this you can see hints of Scar and Jafar in the acting in the eyes.

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  13. Incredible pencil test. The swivel of the hip reminded me a bit of Ken Duncan's Megara from Hercules.

    Great & inspiring as always, Andreas. Thanks!

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  14. Woah I knew about Kingdom of the Sun but i didn't know you were suppose to animate Yzma Andrea. I hear the development of the film was rough, but thats typical for most films. Wish i known you did drawings of her before I posted on my blog some drawings I did based off your characters. I love how expressive you made her by the way.

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  15. In my opinion, "Snuff Out the Light" is absolutely the best song from that movie's soundtrack, even though it wasn't actually in the final film. Eartha Kitt's performance in it is so rich and "meaty" that it would be so much fun to animate! I actually didn't know "Snuff Out the Light" existed until I saw "The Sweatbox." I love your pencil tests of Yzma, especially those for the song! A few of them are in that documentary. As much as I love "Emperor's New Groove," I think I would've preferred "Kingdom of the Sun."

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  16. I watched 'The Sweatbox' last night.....and I felt really sorry for Disney animators...it seems like creative freedom is only for the two twats sitting at the highest pecking order. Andreas I think your talent is better spent working on your own shorts!

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  17. I loved Kingdom of the Sun. The early version is cool, not The Emperor's New Groove is bad, The Emperor's New Groove is cool, too, but Kingdom of the Sun was best!

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  18. Genau mein Humor! Ich liebe es! Danke fürs posten und dass sie diese Szene dafür wählten! Der Hüftschwung ist sagenhaft!

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