Category Archives: Animation

This Year’s Books and Docs on Disney’s Golden Age

Posted on December 24, 2015 by Art Babbitt

This year alone has seen the release of so many great works on Disney history.  Let’s take a look at some of the standouts! Behind the Magic: Snow White, produced for ABC How could I not start with this?  Besides … Continue reading →

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, 1941: The Disney Strike, Animation, Disney, Pinocchio, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Leave a comment

How Babbitt Changed Animation Methodology – Pt 4 of 4

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Art Babbitt

LIVE ACTION REFERENCE We’ve discussed how Babbitt contributed to the development of animation and Disney’s golden age in many hugely significant ways.  The last method I’ll touch upon here is his use of Live Action reference. I’ve talked about it … Continue reading →

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Alice in Wonderland, Animation, California, Pinocchio, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Tagged , | 1 Comment

How Babbitt Changed Animation Methodology – Pt 3 of 4

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Art Babbitt

Cartoon Character Analysis Hollywood cartoon characters up to 1934 lacked a certain luster.  In the early 1930s, live-action actors were happily pigeon-holed into roles: Douglas Fairbanks was the hero, Charley Chaplin was the tramp.  But these stars were exceptional. They … Continue reading →

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Animation, New York | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

How Babbitt Changed Animation Methodology – Pt 2 of 4

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Art Babbitt

The Animation Technique of Breaking the Joints You must have noticed that if you wag a pencil in just the right way, it appears to be made of rubber.  It’s an optical illusion that makes a rigid object appear to move … Continue reading →

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Animation, Mickey Mouse | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Saving Mr. Banks

Posted on December 22, 2013 by Art Babbitt

I just saw Saving Mr. Banks, a dramatic re-enactment of author P. L. Travers and Walt Disney’s head-to-head on the making of 1964’s Mary Poppins. I loved it. Probably due to the Sherman brothers. As a Disney historian, there were … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, California, miscellaneous | Leave a comment

Wicked Queen Gif

Posted on September 21, 2013 by Art Babbitt

Here’s a brief Snow White GIF of some Babbitt animation. This is Sequence 7A, shot 20A, as the Queen says, “Now begin thy magic spell.” As these thirteen images play on a loop, imagine Babbitt flipping the graphite drawings in his … Continue reading →

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Animation, Disney, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Tagged | 1 Comment

Feature Films and Screen Credits

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Art Babbitt

Last fall and winter, I had the pleasure of helping out the storyboard department on the feature film Epic for Blue Sky Studios.  I was only on the project for a few months, but it was the first mainstream feature … Continue reading →

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1931 Disney Staff Caricatures & Profiles – pt 8

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Art Babbitt

In this, the final installment of snippets from the June 20, 1931 issue of Motion Picture Daily, I had to composite some various images together to doctor a complete caricature of Walt and Frank Churchill.  Enjoy this glimpse at Walt … Continue reading →

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1931 Disney Staff Caricatures & Profiles – pt 2

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Art Babbitt

Johnny Cannon loves sex, Hazell Sewell makes no bones about her job, and Frenchy de Tremaudan self-depricates.

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1931 Disney Staff Caricatures & Profiles – pt 1

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Art Babbitt

Half by accident, half by definite purpose, I stumbled upon an auction of Disney memorabilia and in it was included a page of a magazine called Motion Picture Daily.  It had caricatures of Disney staffers from the early ’30s.  After … Continue reading →

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Animation, Disney, Illustration, Mickey Mouse, Nine Old Men | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment