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From Vance Gerry to Milt Kahl
Story artist Vance Gerry boarded Medusa's introduction sequence from The Rescuers.You can see that Vance was still kind of hanging on to her classic depiction, in which her hair mass is actually a...
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Roger Rabbit Problem Solving
This was my first scene that involved a character's eye to pop out a la Tex Avery.I remember paying attention to the technical aspects for the scene. Roger's eye pops and then there needed to be a...
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Big Cat Staging
This story sketch showing how Shere Khan extends his claws in front of Mowgli is by Vance Gerry.Its gets a little tricky when a four legged big cat needs to act human like with its front paws.The pose...
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Gold!
Today by accident I came across a lecture given by animator Chuck Harvey at California State University in 2017. Chuck talked about his own work at Disney and other studios.I was beyond thrilled when...
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Black Cauldron Witches
There were many different design versions drawn for the Witches of Morva in The Black Cauldron.Artists like Milt Kahl, Mel Shaw and Tim Burton all came up with character models that represented their...
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Preston Blair Life Drawings
Preston Blair was an extraordinary animator who worked for Disney, MGM and Hanna-Barbera. His work on Mickey in the Sorcerer's Apprentice, his hippo/alligator dance in The Dance of theHours and Red Hot...
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Dumbo Story Sketches
These charming story sketches are by Bill Peet. (Not 100% sure about the last one.)Peet's work was an animator's dream come true. He worked out story continuity, character relationships, where the...
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Lounsbery Cels
Most Disney animation history buffs agree, John Lounsbery doesn't get enough love.He died in February of 1976 as the first of the Nine Old Men. (Les Clark was the second).Louns was a mild mannered,...
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Progress
So happy and proud to report that progress on MUSHKA has been substantial. We are locking several more sequences in final color, it is a joy watching it all come together. At this pace we should finish...
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Klaus
Treat yourself to a viewing of the animated film Klaus on Netflix.Sergio Pablos and his crew managed to come up with a brand new style for hand drawn animation.Believable motion combined with inventive...
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Frank Thomas on Lady & The Tramp
This is Frank Thomas, probably in 1954. Behind the scenes photos of Disney animators are relatively rare, so I treasure every one I can find. Frank animated scenes with Lady, Tramp, Jock and Trusty....
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MUSHKA Holiday Dinner
What an incredible evening! Last Sunday I hosted a holiday dinner party for our main MUSHKA crew.Animators, background painters, song writers and so on. And Doris, our dog, who sneaked into the set up....
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King Leonidas
The Secretary Bird is nervously conveying to the King that the Royal Star medallion has been stolen by humans. The King reacts: "Ha, Ha, Ha,...don't be ridiculous. What do you think this is?" He grabs...
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Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays and wishes for a wonderful new year from our MUSHKA team to you all!
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Ollie in 2005
I received this holiday greeting card from the Johnston family in 2005. Ollie had just received the National Medal of Arts at a White House ceremony. Other recipients that year included actor Robert...
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More John Lounsbery Animation
The PETER PAN draft says:Sequence 1.0, Scene 44.1Father searching for cufflinks -- turning back covers on John's bed. Michael (o.s.) : "It got lost."Father : "Good Heavens! My shirt front!"This is a...
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Phillip and Samson
Another example of Milt Kahl's powers as a draughtsman, designer and animator.Prince Phillip is taking off on his horse Samson after telling his frustrated father King Hubert that he is going to marry...
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Sir Giles
Reluctant dragon slayer Sir Giles from the 1941 short film The Reluctant Dragon.Beautifully voiced by Claud Allister, his personality reminds me of Merlin from Disney's The Sword in the Stone. Both...
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Preston Blair's Mickey
I love the scenes in the Sorcerer's Apprentice where Mickey Mouse wakes up from his dream, deep in water. He panics and tries to make it over to the fountain where he earlier had instructed a broom to...
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Mowgli Design Sketches
These are obviously by Milt Kahl and predate animation on Jungle Book. It is pretty much the character you see in the film, but this early on Milt is still messing with Mowgli's overall proportions.The...
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