Category Archives: Disney

The Second Disney Task

After Babbitt completed his first inbetweening test, news of his speed spread across the studio “like wildfire.”  Cartoons were, by their nature, expensive to make, requiring more time to produce six minutes of footage than a live action film required.  … Continue reading

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

The First Disney Task

When Art finally got hired at Disney Studios in July 1932, he, like countless others before and after him, was assigned to inbetween another animator’s drawings. Inbetweening is low on the animation rung, but luckily for Art, the studio had … Continue reading

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Animation, Disney, Film, Hollywood, miscellaneous, music, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Walt Disney Praises his Victor Camera

An original ad, circa 1935, featuring Walt and Art.  From Art Babbitt’s collection.

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Animation, Disney, Film, Hollywood, Mickey Mouse, miscellaneous, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Old Disney Studios in 3D

I used to be a big fan of the “Magic Eye” images, and I’m fascinated by the 19th century stereo photos of historical images.  They were photographed with two lenses, one beside the other, so they could be “stereo-viewed,” either … Continue reading

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, California, Cards, Disney, Hollywood, Photography | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

1936 Lecture part 3: Animation is Study

Art Babbitt’s lecture to the Disney Staff on September 23, 1936 continues here.  Don’t miss parts One and Two.  In this section, Babbitt speaks some motivating words about being sensitive and critical to the world all around.

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Animation, California, Disney, Hollywood, Mickey Mouse, miscellaneous | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

1936 Lecture part 2: Animation is Acting

Babbitt continues his lecture to the Disney creative staff on the 23rd of September, 1936.  Here he talks about the strides they’ve already made and that they continually need to make –  to find inspiration in the most sophisticated cinema … Continue reading

Posted in 1929-1932: Terrytoons, 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Animation, Disney, Film, Mickey Mouse, music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

1936 Lecture: Animation is Music

In the 1930s, Walt Disney moved forward with his in-studio education program.  As was regular office practice at the time, he also had stenographers keeping track of all discussions and notes. A training course lecture series was started to allow … Continue reading

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Animation, California, Disney, Fantasia, Film, music, Photography | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Aldous Huxley on New Years Day

To give you an idea of the scope of Babbitt’s celebrity while working at the Disney Studios, at age 34 he was invited to Aldous Huxley’s home for New Years.  A quote from Babbitt’s journal on Jan 1, 1942: Rang … Continue reading

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, 1941: The Disney Strike, Alice in Wonderland, Animation, California, Disney, Dumbo, Fantasia, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Art’s Group photo labeling

Years after the Disney group photo (with ice cream) was taken, Babbitt identified and labeled each of the artists in the pic.   His labeling is below.  He worked with the animation team as well as the writing team, sitting … Continue reading

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Animation, Disney, Mickey Mouse, miscellaneous, Nine Old Men, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Disney Studio with Ice Cream

I love this photo.  This was taken at the dawn of the Disney Golden Age.  Walt’s brother and business partner Roy had secured licensing deals, and with extra money from Mickey Mouse ice cream, wristwatches, cereal, etc., Walt had the … Continue reading

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Animation, California, Disney, Mickey Mouse, Nine Old Men, Photography, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments