The Little Broomstick

 

A stunning story sketch by Mel Shaw for the unproduced Disney project The Little Broomstick. The story is based on the 1971 childrens' novel by author Mary Steward. Woolie Reitherman and Mel Shaw worked on a treatment during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Reitherman family gifted me this beautiful piece of art.

When I started at Disney in August of 1980, there were still "broomstick" storyboards floating around the hallways of the animation building. Of course I was very intrigued by the idea for this proposed project. To be honest, anything Mel Shaw sketched stimulated your imagination. 

Here is the Wikipedia link to Mary Steward who died in 2014, aged 97:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Stewart_(novelist)

Geraldine Page inspires Medusa II

Here is one more press photo of actress Geraldine Page from the 1962 film Sweet Bird of Youth. Milt Kahl stated that he actually studied her acting in this movie. In one scene Page kicks Paul Newman in the chest, something Milt applied to Medusa and the character of Penny toward the end of The Rescuers.

It is only my assumption that Milt saw this B&W photo and used a similar pose for the final key drawing of a scene, in which Medusa puts on her coat. She gets ready to travel to Devil's Bayou.

Here are a few cels showing Medusa's eccentric personality as well as Milt's extraordinary draughtsmanship.

Here is part 1 : 

https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2025/04/geraldine-page-inspires-medusa.html

Kley Wild Life

It's always a good day when you discover a new drawing by Heinrich Kley. These fantastic sketches of anthropomorphic elephants, rhinos and hippos were published in an old German magazine offered on Ebay. I should receive the magazine shortly, and I am looking forward to studying additional Kley drawings that are included in this edition.

Just when you think you have seen all of Kley's work in books and online, new amazing art pops up. This was one prolific artist! 

Milt Kahl Pics

I recently discovered this scene from Disney's Hyperion days. Artists taking a break.  Except for one person at the bottom of the photo, and that person has to be Milt Kahl.

Milt at the studio, mid 1950s. Possibly during production of Lady and the Tramp. 

Kids...smoking is bad for you! Milt was not a smoker anymore when I met him in the early 1980s.

Here he is answering questions posed by Mike Bonifer for Disney Chanel's "Disney Family Album."

Around 1983. Milt was the only animator who drew character sketches for his episode. 

This was filmed at his home just north of San Francisco, after he had left Disney.

Just a few years prior, Milt had sketched character designs for The Black Cauldron. Stunning drawings of Princess Eilonwy. 

As I mentioned recently, the oversized book on Milt Kahl is in the works. I got Disney's verbal approval, and I am determined to make this one of the best books on Disney Animation ever.

As Milt said: "You got to have high standards".

The Black Cauldron

 

Next month The Black Cauldron will be 40 years old. It was released on July 24, 1985.

I still remember those wonderful pastel color sketches Mel Shaw produced for the film. An enormous amount of gorgeous storytelling illustrations. Come to think of it, they would make a terrific art book.

The story sketches shown here are by Dave Jonas, who also came up with the drawings over the movie's end credits. (Earlier Dave had done the same for the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks.)

The maquettes are by Ruben Procopio. The background art is by Dave Coleman.

I have said this before, our inexperience as young film makers really shows in the film. Many of us were straight out of art school with little experience in animation. But...I keep meeting young people who are very fond of The Black Cauldron. 

My design marker drawings on the Horned King model sheet. I still prefer my cool color concept over the red tones used for the final version of the character.

I drew these character poses for a limited edition cel set up. 

Mike Ploog created a to of visuel development art.

Character poses by me for this Taran and Eilonwy model sheet. Followed by a cel from one of my scenes.

A Marc Davis Wire Sculpture

Did you know that Marc Davis experimented with sculpting in wire? Long before his best friend Milt Kahl produced a series of ballet poses in wire, Marc created this magnificent bull. I love that he added a few cut out metal "shapes" for variation, which puts it in the realm of cubism. 

What I don't understand is why Marc left out the bull's male anatomy. It would be easy to add it in wire, and Marc had done so in many of his bullfight depictions. 

Be that as it may, this is a magnificent piece of art. 

Thanks to Chris Merritt for the photos. 

Julie Riehm

Julie Riehm Casaletto is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. She was Disneyland's first  ambassador. Walt introduced Julie in 1965 to a television audience during a show called "Disneyland's 10th Anniversary". They both meet various Disney imagineers like Blaine Gibson, Claude Coats, John Hench, Marc Davis and Mary Blair. The conversation is about upcoming attractions at Disneyland.

I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Julie on a few occasions at D23. Since I had watched this TV episode, I asked her what is was like to share scenes with Walt. She laughed and said that to her surprise Walt went off script quite a bit...as the cameras were rolling. She tried her best to keep up with Walt's improvisatory style throughout the shoot. Julie remembered his sincere enthusiasm for what lied ahead at the park. 

I never thought that one day I might be part of the world of Disney Imagineering, but that's what happened. Currently I am an adviser on a couple of amazing upcoming projects. Who knew.....