If you -like me- ever wondered how on earth Walt Disney's artists reached such astronomical artistic heights, you will find some answers to that question in this new book.
The short and feature films during Disney's Golden Age didn't just happen because the staff was talented and could draw and paint well. At that time there was a serious program in place which involved drawing classes as well as lectures with topics such as acting, architecture, color theory, caricature and anatomy to name just a few.
The best authorities and teachers in these fields stopped by the studio to give an insightful talk or they were put on staff and taught on an ongoing basis.
Luckily these lectures were transcribed back then, and thanks to Don Hahn and Tracey Miller-Zarneke, who spent a considerable amount of time searching for these treasured documents, we now can all relive and learn from Walt Disney's art training program.
This is a big book, 448 pages full of photos, sketches and reproductions of those vintage pages, which reveal words of wisdom by in-house artists like Bill Tytla, Don Graham, Ham Luske and many others.
Visiting artists include architect Frank Lloyd Wright, painter Jean Charlot and color expert Faber Birren.
I think I am going to tattoo that Walt Disney quote on my arm, it is so true!
One of the most important and and inspiring books on animation ever published:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1484710819/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=1QC90QBHM6G035M7APS9&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2253014322&pf_rd_i=desktop
So many great animation books released recently inc. your own!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matt!
DeleteOver the years Hans Perk and Michael Sporn published several of the lectures on their blogs. On http://www.dix-project.net/lectures you'll find references to these 40 lectures.
ReplyDelete(I didn't know how to contact you for suggestions, so I'll just do that here)
ReplyDeleteHi! I love the blog and read it all the time. I love your insight into Disney animation. :)
I was wondering, though, if you would be able to offer any opinions or thoughts on animation from other studios, and specifically from other countries? I would especially be interested in your thoughts on the Studio Ghibli films from Miyazaki and Takahata, since their directorial careers are coming to an end. I know a lot of animators adore and admire those films, and I was wondering what your thoughts on them were. Obviously, it would be more difficult to offer specific analysis with production drawings and such, but I'd still be interested in your thoughts regardless.
Also, there are also a lot of incredible French animated films that it would be interesting to hear you comment on (the animation of Sylvain Chomet comes to mind).
Anyways, thanks for the amazing blog. It's super fun to read. :)
I'd be interested to see where you'd tattoo that long quote, Andreas! :) On your drawing arm?
ReplyDeleteBut I recall Glen Keane saying that when he first wanted to work for Disney we was told to draw more from life and then come back. I believe he went down the beach as often as possible to sketch, and eventually... Well, the rest is history!
Another book!
I'd be interested to see where you'd tattoo that long quote, Andreas! :) On your drawing arm?
ReplyDeleteBut I recall Glen Keane saying that when he first wanted to work for Disney we was told to draw more from life and then come back. I believe he went down the beach as often as possible to sketch, and eventually... Well, the rest is history!
Another book!