The Sound of Disney in Frankfurt

Even though the title is in English, this remarkable exhibition took place in Frankfurt/Germany. And it's not over yet. After the current lockdown in Germany is lifted, visitors will be able to enjoy a visit to the DFF (German film museum and institute) for a few more weeks to view absolutely amazing original Disney art. With social distancing and masks of course.

The presented animation art comes from private lenders, but a lot of it originates from the Munich City Museum (Münchner Stadtmuseum.) Way back when Disney's Sleeping Beauty opened, several Disney exhibitions toured the world to promote not only the film but also Disney's history of animation. The European exhibit finished in Munich, and Walt just donated the art wherever it ended up. The Asian tour -with different art- ended in Tokyo at a university. A few years ago the Disney Company made a deal with this university to purchase the art back.

This exhibition warms my heart as it chronicles the unusual relationship between Germany and Disney animated films. From early posters announcing Micky Maus (before WWII) to Germany's most visited film of all time The Jungle Book. 

Look at these storyboard panels for The Skeleton Dance, most likely by Ub Iwerks. Amazing!

Never before seen story boards from Sleeping Beauty, my guess by Joe Rinaldi.

Stunning development art by Eyvind Earle mixed in with cel set ups.

Cinderella in German

   

German film posters for Snow White and Fantasia.

The German announcement for the Disney exhibition. 

I used frame grabs from a Youtube video filmed by these two Disney fans. Her name is Dörthe, not sure about his name.

 The Frankfurt Film Museum asked me to answer 22 questions about my career at Disney (in German). Here is the link:

https://www.dff.film/disney-digital-01/

Georges Guyot

 

I had never heard of Georges Guyot. You got to love the internet when you come across incredible artists you never knew.  Guyot was born in Paris in 1885 and he died in 1972. He was a contemporary of other French animal artists like Paul Jouve and Francois Pompon.

All of these sculptors picked quintessential poses for their animals, wrapped in the art deco style of the times. Stunning art that continues to inspire.

Pure Joy!

 

Here are a few items that ease my anxiety and frustration during covid lockdown.

They seemed heaven sent as we all need inspiration these days to get us out of our funk. The two Tex Avery Blu-ray volumes contain fantastic transfers of Avery's best cartoons. Very few animated films make me laugh out loud, these do constantly, no matter how many times I watch them.

My all time favorites: Bad Luck Blackie and King Size-Canary. 

The Sullivant book is finally here!! And is is magnificent...and big. 400 pages that show this master illustrator's work in chronological order. Also included are short essays by a few top cartoonists and scholars. You just have to get this book...end of sentence!

The 6 part book series by Didier Ghez titled They Drew as they Pleased is now complete. Disney's visual development artists finally get their due in these incredibly well researched volumes. Insightful information about their art as well as their lives. Needless to say the illustrations are breathtaking, most of them never been published before.

"Duchess...wherever have you been?"

This is an interesting animation drawing by Milt Kahl of the butler Edgar from The Aristocats. This scene was cut from the movie. It is my guess that Edgar is "welcoming" Duchess and her kittens back home after their long absence. This pose, as a full figure, also appears on the Edgar model sheet. This means that at least two of Milt's scenes were cut.

What ended up in the final film version is this scene. Edgar has just let the cats back inside the house, and in this close up he fakes a sense of relief to see them again. Milt has him overact on purpose, because Edgar is giving a performance here toward the cats.

Great perspective drawings, and that typical, subtle head shake between #45 and #51 (on ones). 

Duchess

DUchess

DucheSS

Wherever

whErever

whereEver

whereVer

wherevEr

hAve

yOU

Been

bEEn

beeN

 

The Tam O'Shanter

Here is another restaurant that was popular with Walt Disney and his artists, the Tam O'Shanter in Los Feliz, a short drive from the Disney Studios. The restaurant opened in the early 1920 and still operates today. These days only for food delivery and pick up until indoor dining will be possible again.

I love the sketch above showing Kimball and Disney dining at the Tam. Probably drawn by Walt Kelly.

Over the years I've had many terrific dinners there with Marc and Alice Davis (who's residence is very close by), Frank and Ollie, members of the Disney family and others. It is a very special place. 

 

2021

 

Marc Davis, Anatomist

I love Marc Davis anatomical studies, because they dissect not only the construction of the body but also its motion range. Marc made these illustrations for a planned book, called The Anatomy of Motion. Unfortunately he did not finish the project. There were more drawings to be added as well as text. The main reason why Marc paused was the fact there was no interest in the publishing world for this book, if you can believe such a thing...

He mentioned that he was aiming toward artists and art students, but also physicians. "I wanted to show how things are put together and how they WORK!" 

When you combine all that knowledge with a superb sense for design and artistic flair, you are looking at an artist who became invaluable to a place like Disney. 

The images are from the 2014 book: Marc Davis, Walt Disney's Renaissance Man

https://www.amazon.com/Marc-Davis-Disneys-Renaissance-Editions/dp/1423184181/ref=pd_ys_sf_s_283155_a2_1_p?ie=UTF8&refRID=1ZH9ZFRS4Y5N2GHK4YZJ

Watch This!!

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CIOn0ENpNVQ/?igshid=cm6u6p7t4lhb