The last time I posted some of my early Yzma designs was in 2011. I had a blast exploring the possibilities for this character. I was trying for 100% Eartha Kitt. Sultry, sensuous, vain, with a hunger for her lost youth. A total diva. Dale Baer did a fabulous job when he took over the character. But it goes to show you that in traditional animation you will get a very different result depending on who the animator is.
Here is another sketch from my batch of experimental designs for Yzma.
The earlier post with more drawings is here:
I’m curious what you mean when you say, “in traditional animation you will get a very different result depending on who the animator is.” Are there forms of animation where that isn’t the case?
ReplyDeleteDrawn animation makes the most personal statements, in my view.
DeleteYour take on the character looks more ethnically accurate to me, while Dale Baer's version looks like she's one of those older women who show signs of having had lots of plastic surgery procedures done in their lifetime. So either way, both work with the type of character that she is.
ReplyDeleteFabulous work.
Even though I love "The Emperor's New Groove" and consider it one of Disney's funniest, I've always kind of wanted to see the "Kingdom Of The Sun" version, as like a work print combining rough animation with story boards, after seeing some of the footage on "The Sweatbox", to see how it compared. It looked like there was some good work done on that early version as well before it became what it was. Also, Yzma's "Snuff Out The Light" was an awesome villain song that showed Eartha Kitt really strutting her stuff vocally, so while it's a shame it didn't make it into the final movie, I'm glad it was included on the soundtrack.
ReplyDelete"in traditional animation you will get a very different result depending on who the animator is"
ReplyDeleteSo how was your version different from what we saw on screen?
Take a look and compare.
DeleteI remember Dale Baer mentioning in The Making of The Emperor's New Groove that when you start to see Eartha Kitt's face and the expression she makes, you hope you can translate that into the animation.
ReplyDeleteI can only applaud the extraordinary work involved — from Eartha Kitt's powerful performance to the brilliant animation brought to life by you and Dale Baer. Together, you created a truly unforgettable character, and I deeply admire the artistry behind it.
I love the final version of Groove and what the late, great Dale did with Yzma. Most of the cast acts fairly stoic, despite the cartoony antics, so her big poses and short fuse provide a great counterpoint to them.
ReplyDeleteBut then again, there are rich acting opportunities with a diva trying desperately to reclaim her youth. Just look at The Substance.
Interestingly enough, Mr. Deja, both you and the late greater than great Dale Baer worked on Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Of course, you worked with the late greater than great Richard Williams and his unit while Baer supervised his own unit.
ReplyDeleteSo good to know you're still here!
ReplyDeleteI think both you and Dale did a great work on doing Yzma, despite I love the final version, I wonder how could've been Roger's Kingdom Of The Sun would've been like.
ReplyDeleteEspecially with Yzma's song, Snuff Out The Light.
please share HQ pencil tests
ReplyDeleteI like Emperor's New Groove but it breaks my heart knowing the story behind "Kingdom of the Sun." Yzma in the original draft seemed a lot more... profound. I can't imagine animating a character for years and then watching as they're oversimplified. I wish we could've gotten to see a workprint of the original, with the full sequence of her song finished.
ReplyDelete