Did you ever want to learn about hand-drawn animation from one of the modern masters of the medium? If you have a few free hours, here’s the opportunity to do just that. Deja View is the blog of former Disney animator Andreas Deja, who was supervising animator on such characters as King Triton from The Little Mermaid, Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, and Lilo from Lilo & Sitich. Deja shares not only his own artwork, but sketches and pencil tests by other Disney animators and inspirational artwork from artists outside the field of animation, all accompanied by his own insightful commentary.
Archive for the ‘animators’ Category
Friday Fun Link – Deja View
Friday, August 26th, 2011
Why I Love Animation: Beauty and the Beast – Part Four
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011This article is part of the series Why I Love Animation: Beauty and the Beast. To jump to any other article in the series, please use the following links.
Part One – Part Two – Part Three – Chip Interlude – Part Four – Part Five
Part One – Part Two – Part Three – Chip Interlude – Part Four – Part Five
Maurice heads off to the fair, passing through breathtaking countryside straight out of Romantic landscape painting. But come nightfall, the lush, colorful landscapes give way to an eerie, mist shrouded forest. Even without the change in the score from a happy hopeful tune to more forbidding, creepy music and Maurice’s dialogue indicating his confusion, the nearly leafless, faintly visible trees against a dull brown sky communicate that Maurice is not on the right path.
Why I Love Animation: Beauty and the Beast – Part One
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011This article is part of the series Why I Love Animation: Beauty and the Beast. To jump to any other article in the series, please use the following links.
Part One – Part Two – Part Three – Chip Interlude – Part Four – Part Five
Part One – Part Two – Part Three – Chip Interlude – Part Four – Part Five
Though I usually hate picking a single favorite anything, I will tell you that Beauty and the Beast is my favorite movie.
This is not a surprise to anyone who knows me and even less of a surprise to anyone who knew me as a teenager. For many years, Beauty and the Beast was my greatest obsession. I saw the film over twenty times in theaters, labored over countless drawings of the characters, purchased all manner of books, toys, posters, t-shirts, and other memorabilia, clipped out newspaper and magazine articles about the film, and dragged my family to the Disney on Ice adaptation. I’m sure that my age had something to do with just how hard I fell for the film. I was thirteen when it came out, exactly the right age to love a movie as wholeheartedly as I ended up loving this one. The film’s message of looking past appearances to the character within was also particularly resonant to an awkward teenager with little confidence in her looks. And yet, when I go back and watch it today, I feel something more than nostalgia. What I’m enjoying is not just the comfortable familiarity of something I loved when I was younger, but the amazing achievement of a dream team of talented filmmakers at the top of their game. To me, this movie remains the Disney fairy tale’s high water mark, the most perfect example of the genre.
Friday Fun Link – Mr. Fun
Friday, March 4th, 2011What could be a more appropriate Friday Fun Link than a site called Mr. Fun? And when Mr. Fun is animator and story artist Floyd Norman, you know you’re in for some juicy stories about the history of animation from someone who was there to see it happen. Floyd Norman has worked at the Disney studios on and off for decades. He was there when Walt Disney and the Nine Old Men were still part of the studio. He has worked on TV shows and specials from Hey, Hey, Hey, It’s Fat Albert to Smurfs to Beverly Hills Teens. He also co-founded the AfroKids animation studio. More recently, he’s been back at Disney and Pixar, storyboarding on a variety of films.
When Floyd Norman writes about animation, it’s well worth reading. He doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of what goes into making animation. His firsthand accounts of life at Disney when the original legends of the studio walked the halls are fascinating. The site is divided into short blog posts, longer stories, and gag drawings poking fun at the animation industry. No matter what kind of take on animation you’re in the mood for, Mr. Fun has something to keep you entertained.
Friday Fun Links – In Memory of Bill Justice
Friday, February 18th, 2011I’m hesitant to call today’s feature “fun links,” since they’re meant to honor someone who passed away. But we’re celebrating the life and work of Bill Justice, who passed away last week at the age of 97. While he may be gone, the joy and wonder and fun that he created over his long career remain with us.
If you already know about Bill Justice and his contributions to DIsney animation and Imagineering, consider this a refresher course. If you don’y know the man, you almost certainly know his work and now is a perfect time to learn exactly who helped bring Thumper to life, made Mary Poppins more magical, and got pirates to sing.
Jutice’s IMDB page gives a general overview of the film work he did at Disney. His Disney Legends page give a more in depth look at his career as an animator and his work for the Disney parks. This L.A. Times obituary includes some quotes from some of Justice’s friends and colleagues.
I had the great pleasure of meeting Bill Justice when he gave a talk at a museum near my home. It was years ago so my memory is a little fuzzy, but I recall him being an enthusiastic and engaging speaker. He explained the reason for the redesign of Mickey’s eyes, revealed some of his tricks from the “Spoonful of Sugar” sequence in Mary Poppins, and quickly corrected a local paper’s assertion that he was one of the Nine Old Men, which he claimed could get him in big trouble. He ended his talk by tossing paper plates that he had drawn Disney characters on into the audience frisbee style, except for the last one, which he handed to a little girl. Everything I’ve read about Bill Justice indicates that he was a man who loved what he did and everything I remember about him confirms that.
Short Takes: The “Tangled” Crew Rocks Out
Thursday, December 23rd, 2010Couldn’t resist posting this before I have to devote my attentions to doing the Christmas thing. The crew of Disney’s Tangled made this video of themselves having a good time to the film’s closing credits song. I don’t doubt that all of these people worked like crazy to make the movie as good as it was, so it’s nice to see them enjoying themselves. Plus it’s a good look at the DIsney Animation Studio building, and my hero Glen Keane is visible playing foosball just after the two minute mark.
Whatever you’re celebrating, may the last days of this year and all of the next bring you fun and joy.
R.I.P. Pres Romanillos
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010I was saddened to hear of the death of animator Pres Romanillos on July 17. An extremely talented artist – some of his work can be seen on his art blog, Romanillos worked on numerous animated films for Disney and Dreamworks. Most recently, he worked on Prince Naveen in The Princess and the Frog. He had been battling leukemia and the cancer ultimately took his life at the unfairly young age of 47.
Cartoon Brew’s obituary for Romanillos includes a number of links to tributes and remembrances by his friends and family. My heart is with them during this sad time.
