Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Medusa is Interrupted



While studying the treasure map, Madame Medusa is suddenly disturbed by loud noise. She pauses for a moment before getting up from her chair to proceed toward the direction the commotion is coming from. (The alligators Nero and Brutus are out of control as they are chasing Bernard and Bianca.)
This terrific story sketch is by Vance Gerry, who boarded a few sequences involving Medusa.
It was Milt Kahl's job to animate this scene. There was no live action footage to help with her walk in perspective toward camera right. A piece of cake for an animator of Milt's stature.
I love the way Medusa pushes herself upward off her chair and transitions immediately into the walk.
Drawing #37 is that transitional drawing, and by itself it looks a bit odd. But in motion everything works absolutely beautifully.
Nothing more enjoyable to watch than Medusa being irritated and angry!






























8 comments:

  1. I'm sure there are some light lines that weren't picked up in the copier, but still his drawing technique was super impressive.
    Did you ever see this, by the way? (linked)
    You might think it's cool or interesting. Richard Williams thought this Medusa scene would look better on ones, so he traced it and inbetweened it himself to see what it would look like
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BLeko7Ghusy/

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  2. I had read somewhere that Milt Kahl based Madame Medusa on his ex-wife. Don't know if that's true or not. I certainly would not have wanted to be in Milt's bad books. :-)
    I am really excited for "Mushka" and I love the design of the little girl so much that I did this short animation based on her. I hope you like it! https://vimeo.com/346398425

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  3. When these drawings were xeroxed on cels how did they remove the numbering and the remarks like "forehead" or "earring" on no.23?

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  4. I cried at the scene where Medusa is removing her makeup

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    1. I cried too and in German Medusa terms Penny as "...so ein kleines häßliches Mädchen(such a little ugly girl)..."

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  5. I love hyperdramatic poses and movements! Specially in combination with special perspectives!!...
    Perhaps Milt Kahl's work is more dramatic than hyperdramatic...I like it! :-)
    Thanks for sharing! :-D

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  6. I know when Marc did Cruella, he had Mary Wickes come in and do those great personality walks and such. Do you know if Milt did the same. Did Geraldine Page do any live action stuff for Milt?

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    Replies
    1. No, Medusa was not based on live action reference. It's all Milt K.

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