Way back on the original Winnie The Pooh shorts, Tigger was the last character to be translated from a book illustration into an animation design. His transformation was more substantial than any of the other personalities. Luckily it was Milt Kahl who was in charge of Tigger’s final appearance in the Disney films.
Illustrator Ernest H. Shepard’s original concept looked like this.
A cel from one of Milt’s scenes.
Milt just went to town with this assignment. Pooh and most of the other characters behave in subtle ways, and their acting is underplayed. Tigger adds a much needed contrast with Paul Winchell’s voice and Milt’s energetic, boisterous performances.
Here are a few of his original, first-pass roughs, which were tossed out because a pose or an expression needed to be altered. They are from a variety of scenes.
Shepard drew this charming sketch in which Tigger is contemplating about helping himself to some of Pooh’s honey.
Milt’s Tigger bursts into the scene and grabs a honey pot with a lot of gusto.
Just looking at these drawings in sequence makes me insanely happy!
Beautiful
ReplyDeleteGreat post Andreas!!! Can I ask something? Did Milt usually animated like you do? First drawing with a ruff very quickly, then check the moviment and after all, make the tie down?
ReplyDeleteMost pencil animators work that way, blocking out a pattern first, then refining it.
DeleteThank you for your feedback Andreas!!! That's why I'm your fan number 1, cause you're a very talentous Animator, and a very kind person!!! Thank you!!!
DeleteTHANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANDREAS!!!!!!! I've been dying for an all-tigger post of Milt's work!!!!!
ReplyDeleteTigger was always my favorite of Milt's characters. He has such an organic design, strong poses in every drawing, makes use of all of the elements of animation, and this kinda proved the range that Milt really had- To think he animated Shere Kahn, then he went straight to a character like Tigger! You'd honestly expect a guy like Ward Kimball to do Tigger, but this shows that Milt truly could go into anybody!
I was always an avid fan of A.A. Milne as a child but never warmed to Tigger until I saw the Disney films and he immediately became my favourite. Milt really made the character his own and is such a joy to watch! I particularly love the beginning sketches of Tigger's expressions, thank you so much for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteSo much joy! Andreas, Are the pencil scribbles Milt sharpening his pencil for a perfect tip?
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what they are. Those sheets were "saved" from Milt's trash bin by coworkers.
DeleteThanks Andreas!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome post, man. Tigger was always my favorite Pooh character, so energetic, boisterous, and funny. It's cool to know that Milt Kahl did him, since it demonstrates what a surprising range he had as an animator and a draftsman. It would have been nice if he had done more cartoon-oriented animation, though.
ReplyDeleteHere's a Cartoon Brew post analyzing one of his sequences: http://www.cartoonbrew.com/disney/analyzing-my-favorite-piece-of-animation-tigger-by-milt-kahl-79715.html
Seeing all this Tigger love makes me smile :D
ReplyDeleteSuch a underrated Kahl character. Granted, Shere Khan and Medusa were definitely Milt's most top notch work but, Tigger is right up there in that category for me. I can't think of any greater privilege than animating on a character established by your hero. Speaking of which, your performance on Tigger was extremely faithful to Milt's. If it wouldn't be too much trouble, I do have a question I'd like to ask about getting a book I have signed by you. I can be reached at: moochin2it@gmail.com if this is even a remote possibility.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post, Andreas!
I have to say Milt did a "tiggerific" job on Tigger. I loved his animation when Pooh meets Tigger on the Blustery day. I can't help but laugh every single time when the musical effect of Tigger pouncing on Pooh. However as I recall you worked on Tigger for the Winnie the Pooh movie in 2011.
ReplyDelete.Andreas would you or your fellow animators be touring across the country? The reason why I asked is I am looking for an animator to train me on how to do hand drawn animation the traditional way. So far my skills are creating concept art and drawing characters. I don't know if I am on the right track or not to become an animator. I'm still at my community college for another year till I can take on animation courses at another college. If it is possible I'd love to be an apprentice of a famous Disney animator to help me with my skills.
Thank you for this incredible post Andreas!
It's amazing to see these old guys go back to (relatively)simpler and broader characters after years of doing complex figures and animals. To see simpler stuff done with such a highly-informed sophistication is stunning.
ReplyDeleteI think the same thing happened years earlier when they were doing Song of the South and the 'Package features' after working on Bambi.
I might have mentioned it on a previous Tigger post of yours, but you really did a fantastic job with Tigger yourself. If anybody in the world is going to be animating one of Milt's characters, it's gotta be you!
Milt might have had a reputation as a grouchy guy but there's no way he could have drawn this stuff without sincerely enjoying it
Andreas when you were ready to do your animation on tigger did u study Milt's tigger? Because yours is so much like his in terms of analyzing and thinking in how he would portray and I love it especially cuz Tigger is one my favorite characters
ReplyDeleteOh yes. I studied Milt's Tigger like crazy. Loved doing the research and loved animating the character.
DeleteAndreas i really love those drawings of Tigger. Milt Kahl did a great job at doing these.
ReplyDeleteSuperb!
ReplyDelete