Walt Disney
Walt Disney (1901-1966) was a giant in the animation industry, and his name is still renowned the world over. He began his animation career with short cartoons, first with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in 1927, which evolved into Mickey Mouse in 1928; probably the most recognised cartoon character of all time (and the mascot for the Disney brand).
The success of these cartoons pushed Walt Disney to produce more ambitious shorts. His Silly Symphony series pushed the boundaries of what was possible at the time, introducing some landmark technical achievements.
'The Old Mill' was the first short to demonstrate the newly developed multiplane camera, allowing for more depth within animated scenes. Drawings could be placed further apart from each other on panes of glass, giving the illusion of a camera pushing through the scene. Watching these first shorts, it's clear how much potential Disney would have seen in looking forward to the possibility of feature films.
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
The Old Mill (1937)
This remains a brilliant piece of animation and an inspiring study of nature through mood and atmosphere, with incredible sense of light and texture.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The ambition of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' is still staggering to contemplate. Disney was attempting a complete animated feature- something never achieved on this scale. Lotte Reiniger is often credited with the first animated feature with 'The Adventures of Prince Achmed' (using paper cutouts), but Disney set the standard by using lush, fully realised drawn animation. Snow White was a four-year undertaking and a massive gamble for Disney, risking the bankruptcy of his company should the project fail. However, he was right to see the appeal of animated features, and Snow White was a huge success.
This original run of feature films, the golden age, is what I tend to think of when I look to Walt Disney for inspiration: Snow White (1937), Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940), Dumbo (1941) and Bambi (1942).
You can feel the excitement of creative discovery when you watch these original films, always pushing to invent new techniques to tell a good story. Even when it doesn't quite work, I admire the bold swing at something untried before. Fantasia exemplifies that risk-taking spirit, featuring several short pieces put to classical music, and when it works it really sings. The Sorcerer's Apprentice, bringing back Mickey Mouse, is a brilliant short (originally a Silly Symphony, but then inspiring the feature project), and Night on Bald Mountain is a particular favourite of mine. Disney was showing how much animation was not just for kids but warranted the respect of a more mature audience, and there are parts of these films that stand on their own as pieces of fine art.
Fantasia (1940)
(The Sorcerer's Apprentice)
Fantasia (1940)
(Night on Bald Mountain)
Walt Disney is a figure of relentless ambition. The decades that followed saw the continued production of feature films and the expansion of the Disney brand into television and theme parks.
The body of work that Disney was left behind is unrivalled in its longevity and consistent quality. Even the weaker movies have so much to study from, as there have been master animators at work in Disney's studios from the very beginning.
Shere Khan pencil test by Milt Kahl
I continually return to 'The Jungle Book' (1967) for inspiration. It was the one Disney movie I completely loved as a boy and it remains one of my favourite films. There are so many elements at play, I think what gives it the edge over other movies for me is the sense of humour matched with character design. The study of how the animal characters move is incredible, and very specific to each animal. Baloo the bear has a roundness to his body, it bounces around while having a definite heft to it, fitting his character perfectly. Shere Khan the tiger has a slender elegance to him, carrying himself with a confidence that he knows he is feared by the other animals. There are several shots where you can feel the shifting of Shere Khan's shoulder blades, and it is truly amazing to consider these are merely drawings strung together.
The Jungle Book was the last animated movie production Disney was personally involved in. He leaves a legacy of bringing joy to generations of children, making us all believe in magic.
Baloo in The Jungle Book (1967)