This coming Sunday, March 22, is Milt Kahl's birthday.
He doesn't seem too happy in the photo with the way things are going on the film The Aristocats.
In the end he didn't like the movie very much, though he enjoyed animating Edgar, the butler and George Hautecourt, the old lawyer, less so Madame Bonfamille and the horse Frou Frou.
To me ALL of his work on the film is outstanding. Milt was way too professional to let a weak story line stand in the way of his creativity.
Here is his first major character for a Disney feature, followed by his last.
Hi Andreas! I was wondering if you could tell me how much Milt tidied his drawings before sending them off to be cleaned up? Is that pinocchio drawing a rough or a tie down? Thanks! Dan
ReplyDeleteThat's a rough.
Deleteit's beautiful!
DeleteI loved the Aristocats. My favorite scenes were of Napoleon and Lafayette. Those dogs always made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteOkay I have something to ask you regarding pantomimes. You see I am working on another speech for my college public speaking class and my topic is on the pantomimes that Disney used for references on their characters. I am struggling to figure out the right pantomime sequences to present to my class. So far I am thinking of Kathy Beaumont's sequences from Alice in Wonderland and the actress dancing in a Aurora costume to help the animators with the Once Upon a Dream sequence. If you have any recommendations of good sequences I can look into please let me know.
Thank you.
Hi Andreas
ReplyDeleteWondering if you are still seeking LA based animators for Mushka? I probably got lost in the deluge. Here is my latest project unfolding in episodes on Instagram: https://instagram.com/darkheartnyc/
Anyway, to say I would be thrilled to work/learn from you is an understatement. Here is my email should you still be looking: sciezata@gmail.com
Best,
Sascha
Milt was kind enough to reply to a fan letter I wrote him when I was fourteen. The letter contained great advice, never forgotten, as I will never forget his kindness. Thanks for all your fabulous posts Andreas.
ReplyDeletewhat kind of advice?
Deletewhat kind of advice?
DeleteI was in secondary school, I didn't think my art teachers were any help in guiding me and improving my drawing. I asked if I should copy favourite illustrators. Milt wrote back saying no, draw from memory and from life. Draw what you know. Do all the drawing you possibly can. Don't copy anything. There was more about what his role was in the studio and that he was leaving the studio after the Rescuers, which he was working on at the time.
DeleteThanks for sharing your story. When Milt saw that someone was serious about animation, he was very generous with his time and giving advice.
DeleteThese words remind me of a recent lecture I had at the School of Arts on mimesi. We discussed extensively on the art and imitation, '' copy '', according to Plato's ideas.
DeleteHello Mr. Deja
ReplyDeleteMy name is Lincoln McMeen and I would love to help you on your film. I'm a 2D animator and I would love to help out as an animator or an inbetweener for FREE. I just want the experience and to learn from others. I'm a recent graduate of Morehouse College and I created the first animated film at Morehouse.
my email: mcmeenlincoln@yahoo.com
my portfolio: mcmeenlincoln.wix.com/lincolncartoons
Thank you and have a blessed day!
Andreas, I was thrilled to hear from him, it made my year. The letter was really encouraging. I know you collect such things, so. If you're interested I could send you a copy of it. I did send a copy to Dick Williams years ago when he was talking of doing a book about Milt, alas, it never happened.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see Milt's letter to you. Would you mind leaving your email here?
DeleteOh, yes...rather important! here it is.
Deletesimonwardhorner@hotmail.com
Andreas! Keith Mahne here of DisneyAvenue.com and host of the Disney Avenue Podcast. I have really always wanted to get you on our show. In fact we are interviewing Floyd Norman tomorrow. I hope we can set something up with you really soon! My email is keith@disneyavenue.com. Looking forward to hearing from you and hopefully going over your wonderful career for the listeners of the show. Thanks for your time!
ReplyDeleteKeith Mahne
The amount of sagging in that Medusa still is really amazing. That's evidence of a deep understanding of anatomy. Those wide mouth shots are mysterious to me. The jaw seems dislocated, yet, they work. He was such a balanced animator.
ReplyDeleteThat goes to show you the talent that Milt Kahl was. He simply elevated the material by his involvement. I still like The Aristocats because of the work of those master animators. Not a great story, but well worth watching for the sheer entertainment value in those sequences.
ReplyDeleteMadame Medusa was such a marvellous character a great and very memorable Disney villain , I love the scene where she's talking to Penny and slowly removing the make up from her wicked face! Wonderful stuff!
ReplyDeleteExtraordinaire le dessinateur de mes rêves ^^ It is a great artiste !
ReplyDelete