MUSHKA Model Sheets

 

These are key animation drawings from individual scenes, arranged for model sheets.

Fabrizio Mancinelli

 

Fabrizio wrote the score for MUSHKA. It is a magnificent score! Here you see him with Richard M Sherman during a musical "brainstorm", a few years ago. This pic was taken at my home. I do own a piano, but I don't play myself. So it is always a special occasion when Richard or Fabrizio (or both) stop by to fill the house with beautiful music. 

It was magic witnessing these two magnificent talents coming together to produce the emotional musical landscape for our film. Richard started out by writing a beautiful lullaby (Mushka's lullaby). Fabrizio picked up this theme and incorporated it throughout the overall score. 

I remember when Fabrizio had finished writing his first piece of music for a montage sequence. He sent the file to Richard to listen to and to get his input. It turned out that Richard left a phone message full of praise and affection. It was beautiful! Now everyone was on the same page as far as the musical direction.

Fabrizio has written scores for numerous feature films as well as shorts. Go to his website to find out more about his many accomplishments:

https://fabriziomancinelli.us/

I love this photo of him with Diane Disney Miller, who was very fond of Fabrizio and his passion for Disney.

Fabrizio with the one and only Ennio Morricone.

With MUSHKA singer Holly Sedillos after recently winning the Hollywood Music in Media Award for best song in a short film (Mushka's Lullaby).

I encourage you all to listen to Mushka's Lullaby (featuring Holly Sedillos) here:

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

I cannot overstate how grateful I am to this young composer who contributed so much to our film with a musical score that exceeded my wildest expectations. Thank you, Fabi!

Take a look at a conversation between Fabrizio and Richard Sherman here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAA6HwV6FkY

Heinrich Kley, Silberhochzeit

 

A beautiful Heinrich Kley ink drawing, with the translated title Silver Wedding Anniversary. It is currently for sale here:

https://kunkelfineart.de/artwork/die-silberhochzeit/

The thing with Kley is that his work doesn't get old. It is timeless because of his astounding draughtsmanship and his sense for comedy. He really should have worked for Walt Disney. 

ASIFA Screening, Monday 12/4

 

Members can find more info in the latest ASIFA Weekly. To become a Member and RSVP for this screening, please email info@asifa-hollywood.org.

Maid Marion

This is Maid Marion's response to Robin Hood's marriage proposal.

"Marion. my love, will you marry me?", "Oh darling, I thought you'd never (ask me)." Milt Kahl animated this close up scene. As usual every drawing is gorgeous. Milt has such graphic control over the her head movements. There are some potentially tricky perspective changes, but Milt is right at home here. He always incorporated the most beautiful head angles for his dialogue scenes. This goes for all of the characters he ever animated.

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