Disney Feature Animation posted this amazing drawing a while back. It reminded me what Milt Kahl told a young animator (not me) : "Don't underestimate the importance and the potential of props for your character!"
And he is absolutely right. Using props can give the character something interesting to do. Medusa's phone is a prop, and she yells into it after she finds out that Snoops has not gotten the diamond yet. Milt said that she treats the phone's receiver as if it were Snoops. She shakes it, before slamming it down. Medusa has another prop, a stick, which she uses later in the film to threaten Snoops.
Before removing her make up, Medusa, being in a bad mood, picks up a stool and repositions it almost violently in front of the mirror. Those kind of props help to punch the dialogue and action Milt said.
Decades ago Cruella smoked, and boy, what a prop a cigarette or a cigar make. Of course that's out of the question today for obvious reasons. But the process of smoking allows for great acting opportunities: The inhale, the exhale, the tipping off the ash etc.
Eye glasses are great as well. Remember Merlin cleaning them using his long mustache? Soo good!
I am trying to think about my own characters regarding props. Jafar had that snake staff. He used it to hypnotize the Sultan. I remember enjoying animating those scenes. "The princess WILL marry me!"
Mama Odie had the snake Juju, which she used as a blind cane occasionally. God...I never forget, I animated a scene where Mama Odie accidentally bangs Juju's head against a ship bell. The following scene was a close up of the snake with its head vibrating. I needed to draw distorted, cartoony images of the head, and let me tell you, that particular day I couldn't for some reason. Luckily Eric Goldberg's office was next door and "Mr Funny Guy" made a couple of hilarious drawings which helped me a lot.
Back to Medusa's props. One of Milt's assistant was Bud Hester, who later became head of the animation union. I remember visiting his union office, and behind Bud hang a Medusa ink drawing showing her as she puts on on lipstick (a situation which is NOT in the movie). The staging was impeccable.
Mark Hester, if you read this, I need a scan of that drawing for my upcoming Milt Kahl book. (Yes, the book is a "thing" now.) :)
