Tag Archives: Hyperion

The Goldfish Story

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Art Babbitt

Perhaps the most well-documented Art Babbitt story is that of the goldfish. In Talking Animals and Other People (pp. 146-7), Disney animator Shamus Culhane wrote: In the mid-thirties, nobody in his right mind drank Los Angeles tap water.  It was … Continue reading →

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The Hyperion Horseflies Story

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Art Babbitt

It’s no secret that Chuck Jones and Art Babbitt were good friends from way back.  But in writing about Disney, Chuck borrowed one of Art’s own stories.  In Chuck Reducks (pp. 95-6) he writes: Disney animators were more likely to … Continue reading →

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The Disney Training Program of the 1930s

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Art Babbitt

Assembled here are some quotations from primary sources about the training program that was in place at Disney’s in the early 1930s.  (Art Babbitt was part of Sharpsteen’s trainee unit from mid-1932 to early 1933.)  “…There were two of us … Continue reading →

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The Second Disney Task

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Art Babbitt

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 →

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Old Disney Studios in 3D

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Art Babbitt

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 →

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Inventing Live-Action Reference for Animation

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Art Babbitt

In the mid-1930’s, Art Babbitt was working at Walt Disney Studios on Hyperion Avenue in Hollywood.  It was an exciting place for a creative, intelligent mind.  It masqueraded itself as a mere animation studio, but is was really  a bunch … Continue reading →

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The Snow White Wrap Party – part 2

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Art Babbitt

As continued from The Snow White Wrap Party – part 1, here are some more pics, courtesy of Disney artist Willie Pyle, from the weekend of June 4, 1938. Young Art Babbitt wasn’t much of a dancer – or a … Continue reading →

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The Snow White Wrap Party – part 1

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Art Babbitt

On the weekend of June 4, 1938, Walt rewarded his hard-working staff with a 2-day party at the Lake Narconian resort hotel near Palm Springs.  It was a thank-you to the overworked artists (their families were invited, too), who had … Continue reading →

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Disney Paperwork: mid-30s

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Art Babbitt

In June 1932 (close to when this picture was taken), Art Babbitt joined the Disney staff on a temporary basis.  They wanted to try him out, see if really was all he made himself out to be.  Art started out … Continue reading →

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Walt Disney Studios on Hyperion Ave

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Art Babbitt

This picture of the entire Disney staff was probably taken some time in late 1933 or early 1934.  The staff is holding boxes of Post Toasties. Walt and his brother Roy had hired Herman “Kay” Kamen to merchandise the Disney … Continue reading →

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