Category Archives: Film

Merry Christmas from Bill and Art

What luck that Art Babbitt saved this terrific Christmas card that he and Bill Tytla devised. The two were living together in a sprawling bachelor pad on Tuxedo Terrace.  They were also working together as top animators at the Walt … Continue reading

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

Mushrooms can Dance!

When Michael Culhane was ten years old, he interviewed Art Babbitt in his family’s home, about how Art animated Fantasia’s Mushroom Dance, and he little protagonist, Hop Low. “Where did Hop Low come from?” I asked him. Mr. Babbitt told … Continue reading

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Animation, Dance, Disney, Fantasia, Film, music | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dopey Scamble

Here’s closer look at an Art Babbitt scene from the “Spooks” sequence of Snow White.  If there were ever a chance to identify the style of animator, here is one.  This crazy scramble when Dopey thinks there’s a ghost in … Continue reading

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

“Spooks” Scene from Snow White

Happy Halloween, animation fans! The “Spooks” Sequence of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs contained some beautiful Dwarf animation by Babbitt. Along with the Wicked Queen, Dopey was Babbitt’s other main character in the film. . Watching these scenes two … Continue reading

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Animation, Disney, Film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Babbitt Birthday Brunch

  Happy birthday Art Babbitt, you ol’ so-an’-so!  You’ve lied about your age before, but I’m afraid there’s no arguing that today you’re 105 years old. In around 1940 you and your lovely wife Marge hosted a brunch at your … Continue reading

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Film, Nine Old Men, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Happy Anniversary Disney Union and Occupy Movement

Just about a week ago, we had 2 labor milestones: The one-year anniverary of the Occupy Movement (starting in Wall Street, New York) and the completion of the 70th full year of Disney’s company union (on Sept 21). Ok, it’s … Continue reading

Posted in 1941: The Disney Strike, Animation, California, Disney, FDR, Film, Labor, miscellaneous, OWS, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Organized Labor vs Steamboat Willie

Sure, Art Babbitt and Walt Disney fought on opposite sides of the union during the Disney Strike, … but Walt Disney had a run-in with union unrest before Mickey Mouse ever premiered in his first film, Steamboat Willie! In late … Continue reading

Posted in 1924-1929: Illustrator in NYC, Animation, Disney, Film, Illustration, Labor, New York, Skeleton Dance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More Babbitt Walk Cycles

In 1948, Art Babbitt was in Paris working with Lou Bunin on his stop-motion Alice in Wonderland film.  Babbitt’s walk cycles were used as pre-production reference for the animators.  Four of them have been previously published and I’ve already scanned … Continue reading

Posted in 1946-1970s: Later Years, Alice in Wonderland, Animation, Film, Illustration | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Les Clark, of Disney’s Supreme Court

In honor of the recent landmark healthcare decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court, I’m going to talk about one of my favorite past members of the Supreme Court. Disney animator Les Clark. I use “Supreme Court” loosely, but by … Continue reading

Posted in 1932-1941: Disney Glory Days, Disney, FDR, Film, Labor, Nine Old Men, politics, Skeleton Dance, Supreme Court | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

New York 1936 on Film

Though he worked and lived a Hollywood life in the 1930s, Art Babbitt would visit New York often.  He had lived and worked in New York from the ages of 16 to 24.  For a kid whose “higher education” was … Continue reading

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