Disney Animation Book + Drawings

 

Last night I was able to finally read through alot of the pages from the Disney Animation Illusion Of Life Book and it was really exciting because I always wondered what went behind the scenes into making the classic Disney movies. The animation felt like magic and almost impossible to do today.

I got this book on Christmas day last year. It was huge, definitely hard to carry. Has half a thousand pages. It was really exicting once I finally flipped through the pages. 

I've been a classic Disney fanatic for about a year now. I collected various toys, and those books from the 70s-80s let me tell you some of these book covers aged poorly in terms of the illustrations. 

I was expecting for the book to obviously have the original model sheets for the characters, and some interesting information about each principle. I was right. 

When I looked into it, 500 pages may sound useless for a book about animation but I do understand why there is so many pages. The first page I stumbled across was this one.

To me this was really comforting to read through. You can tell that the artists and animators back then were realist individuals. They expressed and explored their feelings and creativity with media as much as I do. I love how practical and observant these people are and how minor details and expression help guide their careers in the real world.

Back then I didn't knew what to expect with Disney, were they funny? Were they as jam-packed as Looney Tunes and MGM was? 

Were there any good cartoons?

I had to get used to these cartoons for about a few months and then I started to appreciate and praise alot of them. 

This was at a time where I was faced with new classic comedy groups like The Three Stooges. I loved their slapstick and I think that was what Disney was trying to do with their cartoons. Imagine someone's first experience with the Disney shorts were those educational shorts from the 60s.

I'm stunned that many of the animators especially the ones who are into the old stuff doesn't like Disney that much. They say it's not too cartoony enough. It kinda bugs me as to why they say that. I'm not really into cartoony stuff anymore. I mean I love Tex Avery and Bob Clampett but I'm not obsessed with too much cartoons. Most of them feel either redundant or unwatchable. I never really grew up with Walter Lantz, Popeye and Casper so I can't really discuss too much on those since I'm just not a fan of the characters and actions. 

 

Some of my favorite animation studios use what they call, "storyboards" it's where a person directs and shows the scenes in order to show to the animators. It isn't just only a script. They would have a variety of distinct images and would have a selection of model sheets to draw the characters in a more polished and fine approach. 

Seeing a character burnt out and frustrated is comprehensively funny but it's not entirely funny. Donald for example has alot of cartoons where he's known for having his short-temper much like in Cured Duck (1945) he goes insanely mad and wrecks Daisy's house, but it's fast, it's sharp, it has deep and mature emotion. 

Every animation studio was trying to add a little tint of seriousness sometimes and ey it's how life is too. You'll have fun moments but also difficult challenges. Not everything in a cartoon means funny business. It was considered to be stated as far as early cinema goes. Everyone was distracted by what was happening. But they didn't always laugh, they wanted to see more action and character development.

I always loved these textured model sheets back when Disney was making their golden age movies. You can see alot of balance of shading and shadowing in one of these. 

It stopped once it reached the war-time era and so on. I think these are more appealing because they feel completed and motivated. 

These characters had alot of impact for a good reason. They were just lovable and relatable and had such lively designs. 

I swear everytime I read a page I learn something new. I love the creative writing in this one. It's also important too. Thinking before your drawing something can be difficult. But it'll be easier if it's somewhat competent and worth your style.

I remember I kept this magazine for a few months now. I finally got a chance to check it out. This I believe came out in 1998 sensing that the Disney company started in 1923 and that was 75 years ago then. 

Man, the 90s sure had alot of fun stuff. Nowadays magazines is loaded with too much popular modern trends and I think that sucks. 

Had the phone numbers censored. Sorry people.

People like this were the coolest. Alexander Ross, I appreciate your enthusiasm with these legendary classics. I'm sure people found your gallery great. 

Look at the solid colors, the beautiful pictures including the Mary Poppins one. So stylish and stunning for only one page. 

Finally, I'll end it off with my recent drawings. 

This was a test study of a knock-off Brer Fox wannabe mixed in with The Hungry Wolf. 

Next is some Pixie Elf models. I loved drawing this creature. He's very easy to draw and memorable too.

I tried tracing my models and make them look like cel animated frames. Adding grain, and effects. 

A Love For Old Music - The Merry Macs

 

Here's musicians that are perfectly great for obvious reasons. These group of people are called The Merry Macs. Ever since I listened to their first song that being the iconic Mairzy Doats, I immediately loved their singing style. 

Their songs fit into the genre of "novelty" music. They were the best back in the 40s. I listened to some of their songs today and I loved all of them. It's pretty rare footage so I hope you enjoy these clips. 

You can tell that was a quick one, but I can't help to say it rocks. These people look normal, confident and a pleasure to be singing with a packed audience. Their abilities to pull off something that quickly but sharp and groovy makes it the whole thing entertaining. I also like how they have one girl instead of being the titular male quartet or female group much like The Andrews Sisters even though their amazing. 

These type of people are so fascinating and captivating to the soul that it actually makes you feel good and not feel depressed. It just sounds sweet and engaging.

It's so weird to see that this is all still early for cinema and sound editing in particular. People had a strong bonding with creativity and art back then.  The Merry Macs fits into that music genre I like best. They have rhythm, yet it's not too fast neither slow it's average without being too unlikeable. 

I feel that way with songs like Red Foley's Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy, there's alot of smooth beats and natural singing involved. 

Here's another one of their live performing hits. 

Merry Macs is what I like in music. I'm easily invested in music like this because it sounds energetic, normal and casual. Nobody is shouting a bunch of trashy swear words. It's all fun and pleasent. If you found any of the songs I listed sound good and mesmerizing to you, go ahead and check out their other stuff. They are an amazing group.

Nostalgic Appeal - Looney Tunes & Disney Films

 

We had times where in part of our childhoods or just upon our nostalgia, we had a vibe we were going with at the time. 

I'm a Gen Z-er. My parents had loads of stuff like this similar to the Gameboy advance game you see here. You feelin' old yet?

Now I never played any of these games. I chose these because they fit my childhood really well. The colors are all moderate. Not too dark or too bright.

I used to have a lava lamp in my room when I was little, it was orange yellowish colors and I would sometimes look at the sunset. This painting summarizes everything I said. 

This is precious. Painting is called River At Ascutney made by Maxfield Parrish, 1942.

While I discovered some shots of the early Hanna Barbera episodes, I immediately was drawn to them. There's something about that simple charm to these that needs to rise back.

The solid dark yellow is really gorgeous. The natural colors to Yogi and the wolf fit the mood.

A few weeks ago I mentioned The Rescuers scenes involving Oliver, Bernard and Bianca flying and the yellow reminds me of the color palette they used in the classic Yogi Bear episodes. 

It also reminds me of the original 1941 Curious George drawings. 

While I really like natural colors, I do like a little bit of pinks, purples and blues here and there. 

These hit differently than the other color palettes. It gives off more personality and vibrancy to the whole thing. 

Fantasia has alot of great segments like The Sorcerer's Apprentice and The Rite Of Spring. I adore the colors to the Pastoral Symphony the best. Look at the pinks, and magentas. 

Like I was saying most of these colors feel like their too colorful and in your face. At least with so much colors there are in this scene, it's necessary. That's the problem with most of the content you see today. This pitches the right amount of brightness effect.

The neon colors never truly interest me that much. I know some people out there like it but here's a way I could edit it out for all of you.

ORIGINAL

Now I'll go deeper into films I actually find pleasent that fit my nostalgic vision very well. 

I always thought the best thing about the Sylvester and Tweety cartoons were the backgrounds. Especially in the early 50s. Tweety's S.O.S has some massive backgrounds. In my personal opinion, when Friz was making too much Sylvester and Tweety's the more shorts he made the less interesting the backgrounds looked.

My favorite besides Tweety's S.O.S is Tweet Tweet Tweety (1951). Not only does this have sweet and outgoing scenery to the whole thing but Carl Stalling's music is perfect especially with the scene involving people taking pictures of Tweety. 

The early 50s was always a good year for Looney Tunes and it's beautiful scenery. I wonder who did all of these.

Absolutely beautiful. Makes these cartoons a little bit better. 

When I was little I always liked Disney stuff even though the movies barely aired on my usual channels. I liked Disney Jr. though and had a bunch of toys. I even had Winnie The Pooh books that I still remember with all my heart. 

I lost my love for Disney when I was beginning to be a bigger kid but then I loved it again because it represents wholesomeness, joy, and creativity. 

Bambi is the most ambitious Disney movie I ever seen. I admire alot of the characters including the owl. He's hilarious, his movements and acting is marvelous and where he's living in seems so peaceful and laid-back.

Just like with Bambi, I have alot to say about Peter Pan. It's a really cute movie with an amusing story and memorable characters. One of the scenes I like are the forest scenes. The color palette to this is just BEAUTIFUL.

The trees, the green grass everything about this is really appealing. 

Audiences would mostly get distracted by the characters the most in the film, and I agree. But that's because I had to focus on what was happening. Usually at second viewing, I can examine more of the details.

My favorite colors to Dumbo are the scenes involving the crows. The blue yellowish skies are amazing. I also love the olive colored grass. It's simple without being too sensitive. The crows themselves are natural and witty characters and they fit really well with this atmosphere.

Every color is brashing with personality. I really miss when cartoon characters let loose, dance and sing, it just feels right for cinema to do that. 

Lady And The Tramp isn't one of my favorites, but it's not bad in the slightest. I just find most of it not my style but not the visuals. I still like alot of the backgrounds and interactions with the two main leads. 

This movie barely had any breaks so when they do that, it's truly one of the better scenes in the movie. Tramp stares at Lady sleeping with a cute smile. 

Here's a great opening shot of Jiminy Cricket laying on a lily pad in Fun and Fancy Free (1947), really underrated movie.

I could imagine what people could do with their own art if it was inspired by their more simpler time experiences.