Thanksgiving

 

The Art of Walt Disney, Signed and Illustrated

 

Books on Disney animation are a real treasure. And Christopher Finch's 1973 edition of "The Art of Walt Disney" is no exception. This was the first Disney book I owned way back. I had to have the German bookstore order it from the US, it took forever to get there.

Heritage Auctions is currently offering a lovely edition full of signatures and drawings. The original owner was a Disney cameraman who had worked at the studio from Snow White on.

There is a Marc Davis Thumper, an Eric Larson Roquefort and a Milt Kahl Medusa.

Talking about Medusa, I am trying to locate a special Milt drawing of her, in which she puts on lipstick. Rendered in felt pen and grey markers I remember seeing it many years ago. It is one of those Kahl masterpieces in staging and draughtsmanship. As soon as I find it I will post it here.

MUSHKA's Lullaby Wins

 

...best song in a short film! 

MUSHKA Score Release

Go to Animation Magazine for more exciting infos about our MUSHKA film score release:

https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/11/mushka-original-score-debuts-friday-exclusive-track/

Listen to a sample of Fabrizio Mancinelli's magnificent score, played by the Synchron Stage Vienna Orchestra:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjVbWxEt0oI

Robin Hood at 50

Despite being criticized for its story treatment and its re-use of animation, Robin Hood's popularity seems to have grown over the years. The film inspired projects like Zootopia, Sing and many other movies that feature anthropomorphic animals. 

Milt Kahl's and Ollie Johnston's animation shine in this production. Well worth studying frame by frame. The overall animal universe was created by Ken Anderson.

I still find myself re-watching certain sequences and really enjoying them. Milt's scenes with Lady Kluck are on another level, and Prince John's opening sequence is excellent.

Early animation by John Lounsbery.

Also a Lounsbery Scene.

This next three are by Milt.

Most images Heritage Auctions.

Sword in the Stone Storybook Art

These incredible storybook illustrations are by Al White, who contributed to many Golden Books for Disney as well as other companies. Just look at these gorgeous colors!

MUSHKA at Lightbox

 

After a whirlwind trip to Turin/Italy, London and New York, we had a terrific response to our MUSHKA presentation at Lightbox in Pasadena last weekend. It ended with a standing ovation...how about that?!

MUSHKA in San Jose

 

The San Jose International Short Film Festival will screen MUSHKA this Saturday 10/14 at 11 am. If you are in the area, get your tickets here:

https://sjsff.com/2023-screening-schedule-at-a-glance/

King Triton Maquette

 

Here is a pic from a few decades ago. After having returned from London and Roger Rabbit (you can see the framed movie poster behind me) I am at work on The Little Mermaid, animating King Triton. And look...there is an actual maquette of the character. Ruben Procopio sculpted all of the characters for this film. And in accurate size proportions with Ariel, Ursula and the others.

Since Triton turned out to be the largest sculpt by far, I was told that he would be too expensive to get cast and reproduced. Only this original sculpture  exists....somewhere. After we finished the movie I never saw the Triton maquette again. 

I do own maquettes for every character I animated at Disney...except for King Triton.

Disney's Cats & Dogs

Currently showing at the Walt Disney Family Museum is an exhibition about Disney's felines and canines. I had the opportunity to visit recently, and I want to recommend this show to all of you. Here are a few pics I took that include a variety of visuals on display.

The opening photos depict animation artists studying real animals before animating them. And that is one key reason why Disney Animation is so convincing. You believe that those characters have real bones and muscles.

That's Eric Larson on the left.

The incomparable Mary Blair.

Bill Peet's story sketches still rock. A master of drawing, staging and storytelling.

A pieceful iconic moment in the film. Here's how Milt Kahl interpreted this Peet story sketch:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JBMAnwbjlU9zHuMVkb-tdBf6efpI2psCy7V5QuO7QRV4vYtUMNQsAllGmc5op3tGq_-l7oI81PNDLueRumV7pHZgkmkVF-ybrDTxRlxJMEtz2rrEXWMrI9OaNiz8T-ofuF3Wrf9VYC0/s1600/PSB-5.jpg

A couple of Ken Anderson's designs for character and staging.

A Vance Gerry story sketch.

The first rough model sheet of Lucifer, made up of story sketches from the film. Perhaps Bill Peet.

Mary Blair again.

Joe Rinaldi, Bill Peet ?

A beautiful clean up drawing over a Norm Ferguson rough.

Russ Edmond's dog Max from The Little Mermaid. Gorgeous animation.

Here are specific infos about this exhibition:

https://www.waltdisney.org/cats-and-dogs