Happy Birthday, Richard M. Sherman!

 

Last night I had the pleasure to join a group of friends, singers and the family of Richard Sherman to celebrate his 95th birthday. The venue was a small cabaret type theatre, but the mood in the room was filled with great affection and love for this man. Who does not know a Sherman Brothers song?

Everybody visiting a Disney Theme Park is familiar with what has become the most played song of all time "It's a Small World". Richard is amused by the fact that some people love this tune, and others are annoyed by it because they can't get it out of their head. It is an ear worm for sure. Once in a while, at parties or other gatherings,  Richard plays "It's a Small World" in a slow tempo. It is then when you realize how meaningful the lyrics actually are. This is an anthem for peace.

So many great songs over the years. We even got to listen to some that were outtakes, as well as songs written for never performed stage musicals. 

I can't say enough about Richard's talent, his enthusiasm and curiosity (for life), his generosity and kindness. The fact that we have a Sherman song in MUSHKA is because Richard offered to write one...not because I asked him to. That just didn't cross my mind way back, after all...this is Richard Sherman. He was so collaborative with composer Fabrizio Mancinelli and me, always encouraging about storytelling and music. I remember telling him about the ending of the film, mentioning that there is an A and a B version. He immediately shouted: "It's version B, you've got to do version B!" Version B was the more emotional ending, and of course that became the final version.

It was so much fun growing up with Sherman Brothers songs, and I still pinch myself today as I realize that I got to work with the great Richard M. Sherman.

That's of course his wife Elizabeth with him in the photo. And who offered them this specific kind of beverage?? Elizabeth is equally wonderful, she can tell stories in a way that will have you rolling on the floor, she is that funny. I love the way they are holding hands. The two of them got married the year I was born.

By the way, in the far back right, you see me talking to Maestro Mancinelli.

To finish off this post, here are those lyrics for "It's a Small World":

It's a world of laughter
A world of tears
It's a world of hopes
And a world of fears
There's so much that we share
That it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all

It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world

There is just one moon
And one golden sun
And a smile means
Friendship to ev'ryone
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It's a small world after all

It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small, small world

Bernard Garbutt Cows

Cows are a lot of fun to draw. It is fascinating to watch their "boney" anatomical structure in motion. The hip bones alone are so unique and great to analyze. These wonderful sketches are are by Bernard Garbutt, who worked at Disney as a an animal drawing instructor for a few years during the Golden Age of Animation. I love these pages from his sketchbook because of the loose quality combined with astute observation.

Makes me want to visit a farm and do my own cow life drawings.

 

Here's a link to a previous post on Garbutt's art:

https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2012/02/bernard-garbutt.html

Palm Springs ShortFest

 

https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/06/41-animated-films-selected-for-palm-springs-shortfest/

Go here to get tickets for the screening:

https://psfilmfest.org/shortfest-2023/film-finder/mushka

Tom Oreb's Graphic Influence

There are some interesting Tom Oreb drawings currently being offered at Howard Lowery Auctions.

https://auction.howardlowery.com/AuctionHelp.taf?page=1&s=N&r=2&c=2&m=3&sort=1&st=1

You have to admit that his design for Roger Radcliff from 101 Dalmatians very much resembles the final version which was crafted by Milt Kahl. The overall proportions, facial features and definitions of cloths' fabric were set in Oreb's graphic approach. Milt just refined all of this to his liking and to his animation style.

 

I've posted about the design for Nanny before, and I still believe that something got lost in the final version. Oreb's sketches here show more distinctive features, particularly her face. In the film she looks a bit like the 4th Good Fairy from Sleeping Beauty.

I have not seen any of Oreb's designs for Anita anywhere. I am sure he gave that character as much thought as Roger. And again, Milt's final version is a triumph. An appealing leading lady who doesn't look like the Disney heroines that came before her.

I grabbed this montage of beautiful drawings from someone's post.

All these beautiful shapes and lines appear within the characters as well as the backgrounds. I feel like audiences were not only presented with a great animated movie, they also got a lesson in modern art. 

King Triton Today

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I am most certainly ok with this interpretation of King Triton for live action. It's kind of funny though to realize that our animated  characters were allowed to show much more skin than their life counterparts. Aladdin, Princess Jasmine, Gaston, Triton....

MUSHKA in Animation Magazine

 

With my sincere thanks to Jeff Spry for the nice write up.

Be sure to watch the trailer on Youtube, and leave a comment if you like.

https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/05/disney-legend-andreas-deja-discusses-his-directorial-debut-the-2d-fable-mushka/

Here is another still from the film.

A Recent Mushka/Sarah Sketch

 

I still draw characters from my film MUSHKA occasionally. In order to show my gratitude to certain artists who contributed so generously, a special sketch seems appropriate.

There recently has been another mention regarding MUSHKA in Variety magazine. In the article I talk about my fabulous experience at ANIMAYO, the animation film festival in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. It was truly an honor to head up the voting committee for the best animated short films.

https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/animayo-oscars-animation-andreas-deja-disney-1235615346

Mushka interview, Cartoonbrew

https://www.cartoonbrew.com/animators/andreas-deja-mushka-interview-228583.html

Mushka at Animayo/Spain

https://twitter.com/mushkafilm/status/1653468529184886784?s=42&t=9O5kFQmD3TDXbQlM3S3SRw

 https://twitter.com/festivalanimayo/status/1652387262489935873?s=42&t=9O5kFQmD3TDXbQlM3S3SRw

Mushka in Stuttgart this Saturday

 https://twitter.com/itfs/status/1649442144036220929?s=42&t=9O5kFQmD3TDXbQlM3S3SRw

Milt Kahl in 3D

Milt Kahl's designs work in 2 dimensions. They are flat and graphic in the most sophisticated way imaginable. His drawings always show a magnificent tension between straight and curved lines. Inventive shapes and lines based on a lifelong research of realistic animals and humans. You might think that his aesthetics could not be faithfully translated into 3 dimensions.

Think again! Sculptor Andrea Blasich totally nails Milt's extraordinary style in 3 D. His work is a great tribute to one of the most important artists of the 20th century. The looseness of his sculptures reflect Milt Kahl's rough drawings, full of life and appeal.

One of these days I am going to break down and order a whole bunch of these wonderful maquettes.

Andrea's website includes characters from other studios as well as private work:

https://andreablasichsculpture.square.site

Spring Parade

 

 

That's the title of this Heinrich Kley illustration. A couple of women observing a parade of men carrying spring branches. One of them is holding a weighty woman. And the ladies sit on top of an aging centaur who might be touching one of his legs because of rheumatism. What does it all mean? Any connection to WW I ? Who knows. It sure is a fantastic drawing! 

 

Lucille Martin

 

Here is a photo from 1965 with Walt Disney and his secretarial staff. From left to right: Eunice Combs, Lucille Hoey (later Martin), Walt and Tommie Wilck.

I had the good fortune to get to know Lucille Martin. After Walt's passing, Lucille worked for Ron Miller and then Michael Eisner. I recall a few occasions when Lucille would call me up to ask if I could provide a certain character drawing for Michael Eisner. These drawings ended up being gifts for executives and Disney business partners. 

Lucille was a wonderful person. She loved and respected animation - after all, her former boss was the king of the medium. I never forget her elegance and grace. One time a friend of mine and I took her out to lunch (the restaurant was Ca Del Sole in Studio City). Lucille was more than happy to share her memories of Walt and what he was like. I found it fascinating that she had worked for several Disney CEOs. Somehow I had to ask: "The stories you know...wouldn't you like to write a book?" Her answer: " Andreas, those stories are not for publication." In other words, they were private to her. 

In 1994 I was working on the Mickey short Runaway Brain with a great French animation crew in Paris. I thought wouldn't it be nice if my German family could come and meet me at Disneyland Paris for three days? To make a long story short, Lucille and her staff arranged everything for this "Christmas Holiday Deja Family Reunion". And we were a large group, 10 persons. Hotel bookings, restaurants, shows etc. It turned out to be a once in a lifetime get together with my family. 

This is how I remember Lucille. Warm, generous...and always so elegant. She passed away in 2012 at age 90.

Old Milt Kahl

 

A great photo of Milt working on The Aristocats, sometime in 1969 or 1970. Afterwards he would work on two more animated features before leaving Disney, Robin Hood and The Rescuers.

Madame Bonfamille is a unique character in terms of her realistic design and illustrative look. I remember seeing the film for the first time, and I was thinking: She is different, she looks like a beautiful magazine illustration come to life. I wondered who mastered such a unique challenge.

In the pic Milt is re-working the first drawing from one of her opening scenes, in which she inspects her appearance in a mirror in anticipation of her lawyer George Hautecoure's visit.

Here is the link to an earlier post about this scene:

https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2015/05/animated-elegance.html

And a relating post:

https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2012/05/madame-bonfamille.html

Here are copies of Milt's rough animation drawings from Madame Bonfamille's first close up scene. What delicate drawings!