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Animated Energy
These animation roughs by Milt Kahl are from The Martins and the Coys section in the feature "Make Mine Music'" from 1946.I find the exuberance and vitality in these dance poses infectious, when I look...
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Four Mouseketeers
This is the year when some of Animation's Royalty turn one hundred years old.Chuck Jones, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, who will be 100 this Halloween.Marc Davis will hit this mark next year, and...
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Action-Reaction
I don't think I could have found a better drawing than this one to illustrate the point of action and reaction. And this is a one that Milt Kahl trashed, because in his mind something needed to be...
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Just for Fun
Lilo & Stitch ©DisneyI don't think you are ever "done" with the characters you animated. When I finished my last scene with Mama Odie...
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Si and Am
I came across this drawing by Milt Kahl a few years ago, and it is interesting for a variety of reasons.Milt rarely did sketches of Disney characters for fans or friends. This one is dedicated to the...
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Mama Odie Maquette
As supervising animators at Disney we got to keep our character's maquettes.They were produced by very talented sculptors and were meant to help with drawing problems and to keep the character on model...
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Ken Anderson's Robin Hood
When Walt Disney Productions decided to produce an animated film based on the classic tale of Robin Hood, it was Ken Anderson who who got to get to work before anyone else.During conversations with the...
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Crocodile Announcer
I don't have any of Ken Anderson's sketches depicting this character from Robin Hood, but there is no doubt that Milt Kahl's final design is based on Ken's.The crocodile's role in the film is very...
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Early Robin Hood
What a beautiful character line up for a Disney animated feature!This is how Ken Anderson envisioned the cast for Robin Hood. Nice contrasting shapes and silhouettes make for a visually pleasing set...
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More Robin Hood
Those two excited gentlemen in the photo are Phil Harris who voiced Little John in the movie and Andy Devine who did Friar Tuck.Only Robin Hood seems less interested in the storyboards, he is still...
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Happy 100th Birthday, Ollie Johnston
When I think about Ollie, certain things come to mind:Many great conversations, stimulating inspiration and my sincere admiration for him and his art.Ollie's animation touched so many of us. Pinocchio,...
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Maid Marian
Isn't this a beautiful drawing of Maid Marian by Milt Kahl?Look at the care and the dedication in this sketch.Milt came up with this appealing design for Robin Hood's love interest after studying Ken...
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Fred's Flair
I found out that whenever your drawings become stiff and overworked looking, it's a very good idea to take a look at some of Fred Moore's work.Did this man ever struggle? Sure doesn't look like...
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Milt Kahl talks Robin Hood
Here is a special treat for you!Very little footage exists of Walt Disney's animators talking about their craft or even promoting their movies.Before Robin Hood was released, Woolie Reitherman and Milt...
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Liu Jiyou 2
Some more art by fabulous Chinese painter Liu Jiyou.His style evolved over the years from realistically rendered illustrations to bold brush strokes later on in his life. There isn't an animal he...
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Kimball Hooks
Who knows why Ward Kimball is drawing and grimacing Captain Hook, a character animated by Frank Thomas and also Woolie Reitherman. But it would be very interesting to see what his own take on this...
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Sir Ector
Frank and Ollie said in their book "Illusion of Life" that the humans in Sword and the Stone were animated without the benefit of live action reference, and the results are beautiful.For the most part...
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Team Disney
Here is a heck of an assembly of top Disney talent.The photo was taken during the early 1950ies on a soundstage at the studio. Walt Disney is getting his miniature train fired up with animation...
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Ichabod
Happy Thanksgiving to everybody!To post sketches from Disney's 1949 featurette "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" seems appropriate for today. Though the film's theme has more to do with Halloween, but...
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Brom Bones
Singer/Actor Bing Crosby visits Milt Kahl, and he brought his four sons along, Dennis, Phillip, Gary and Lindsay.Crosby narrated the Disney film The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which made up half of the...
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