Let the Match Begin!

Another great Milt Kahl scene from the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

The King is getting rid of his royal coat as he announces the start of the soccer game.

A couple of steps forward and a hop at the end help to punch the dialogue' accents.

And what great treatment on the folds of that coat. The way Milt draws and times its overlapping action gives the coat a real sense of weight. 

Vision Awards 2003

This was one of Frank and Ollie's last public appearances together. On June 28, 2003 they both reveived VISION AWARDS at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. This is an organization that fights blindness, it awards "visionaries" in the fields of entertainment, the arts and technology.
I was lucky to receive an invitation to sit at the Disney table that night. I remember when it was time to honor Frank and Ollie, film clips were screened showing many of their animated accomplishments.
After a standing ovation the host stepped off the stage and approached our table. Talking into a mic Ollie had a few words of gratitude and Frank stated that "Pencil animation still holds a special kind of magic".
These photos were taken during guests' arrival. In the image above Ollie's son Ken shows the way.

Frank enjoys talking to a group of fans, some of them famous like actress Rosanna Arquette on the left. Note the colorful horn on Frank's walker.

Frank with actress Diahann Carroll, a fellow award recipient.

Frank Thomas died in 2004, Ollie Johnston in 2008.

Shere Khan meets Kaa

An original cel set up from The Jungle Book. Iconic! Beautiful background art and Milt Kahl's cutting-edge animation.
A German journalist told me years ago that part of the reason why he adores this film is the fact that you, as the audience, are spending time in the lush Indian Jungle for the duration of the movie.
What could be more soothing on the eyes? I had never thought about it in that way, I just love this movie.

A Weekend Treat

One of those tossed drawings that Milt Kahl actually used to sharpen his brown pencil on.
And God knows who saved it from his trash bin a little while later. What an amazing sketch, full of life and elegance.
I don't know if this is a pose from his own animation, or if it was done for someone else' scene.

Tex Avery Animals

I love these stylized animal designs from Tex Avery's 1954 short film The Farm of Tomorrow.
I don't know who in Avery's unit came up with the designs, but they are terrific caricatures and graphically solid as a rock.
This is what Wikipedia says about the film's plot:

A series of gags showing how much more productive farms would be if farmers started crossbreeding their animals to create weird (but very useful) hybrids. A number of items include,

• a chicken slot machine
• sheep with long underwear-like wool
• corn jumping like Mexican jumping beans
• cow with a beaver tail

In other words...what's possible today!

Busch Lithographs

These are Wilhelm M. Busch lithographs which are currently being offered on Ebay. The first two images are observations during Busch's life drawing classes. Boy, what would I give to have been one of his students way back. If any German reader had that experience, please leave us a comment on what that was like!

I do prefer this approach to drawing the human figure over the popular US style that is being taught in many art schools, which layers flashy shadows and highlights over the body like a special effect.

With Busch (as well as with Kley) the economy of the line rules. 

Being a 2D animator my preference shouldn't surprise you.

This sketch had to be inspired by Heinrich Kley, because of the fantasy aspect. 

A farmer on a wagon that's pulled by a donkey making his way through the the legs of a giant nude woman. I leave any sexual innuendo for you to interpret.

Many years ago...

Another blast from the past. Here I am still working in the original Disney Animation Studio in Burbank. And what I am holding is an early design for the Horned King from The Black Cauldron.
Below is the rough model sheet that was approved by a whole group of people, including myself. (I drew all of these poses, and they kind of hold up after all these years. But they don't reveal any personality, other than this guy being mean...and that's not enough for portraying an interesting villain.) The model sheet is dated March of 1981.

You know, these books by Lloyd Alexander are terrific. Here is one live action re-make I would love to see.

More of my early Cauldron stuff here:
https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2011/11/early-black-cauldron.html