ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Autumn Leaves

I thought this background from ALICE IN WONDERLAND had a decidedly Autumnal feel to it, as well as the strong influence of the brilliant Mary Blair. It's from the "A E I O U" song sequence. I hope you enjoy it!

This is the last day of November. I've been waiting for months for December 1st, so I could post Holiday related artwork. I've prepared lots of wonderful treats for good boys and girls. Be sure and check back tomorrow...

:)

DONALD AND THE WHEEL (1961)

This re-created pan background is from the rather obscure Disney film "DONALD AND THE WHEEL."

To be absolutely precise, this is just the "Roman" section of an incredibly long pan B/G which takes us through several eras in history. The Egyptian section which precedes this is a hoot, I'll re-create it one day.

This was one of the B/Gs that took far longer than anticipated. Since Donald was flying across the landscape in a chariot with two horses, I could only grab small sections at a time. But it's a B/G worth a good look. The design is lean but very stylish.

Et tu, Donald!

THE ARISTOCATS: Boudoir Part Two

THE ARISTOCATS (1970): Madame Bonfamille's Boudoir

THE ARISTOCATS backgrounds are rich with sumptuous detail. (This re-created pan B/G is from the scene in which Madame Bonfamille does the tango with her lawyer.)

CHIP AND DALE: Winter Approaches!

As Fall fades into Winter, I thought these backgrounds from "Working For Peanuts" seemed an appropriate choice. Time for apple cider!

You can almost feel the wintery chill in this artwork.

Coming soon, in December... holiday backgrounds from classic Disney films. Can't wait!!!

A Word About ENCHANTED...

This blog pretty much always "stays the course" with its subject matter. However, the theatrical opening of ENCHANTED deserves, no, requires mention this weekend.

The Walt Disney Company has triumphed. The opening segment, in full-blown classic 2D animation is more than a joy, it is a masterpiece. It was created for Disney by former Disney animator James Baxter and his crew at James Baxter Animation. And it ranks among the best, most beautiful animation ever created.

Actually, the whole movie is a long-awaited return to the essence of what we've always loved about Disney: sweetness, humor, heart, imagination, dazzling visuals, irresistable music, and a happy ending!

And for those misanthropes who proclaimed 2D animation dead, I am happy to say you are completely and utterly clueless. At the El Capitan theatre in Hollywood (where I perform), I have watched the faces of guests light up with delight. There always was, and always will be something absolutely magical about drawings that move, these living illustrations with personality and feeling.

In this age of world-wide turmoil, how wonderful it is to spend a couple of hours with a movie that leaves you smiling, uplifted, and inspired.

Congratulations to everyone involved in this wonderful movie.

Run, don't walk to the theatre to see, and be, ENCHANTED.

DUMBO (1941)

Our Italian correspondent Andrea Giglio has sent more incredible backgrounds.

His generosity will enrich this blog for months to come. Here, a beautiful B/G from DUMBO.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Rabbit House

From Italy: CINDERELLA!

Passion for animation art is an international phenomenon. Today I received an email from Rome, Italy! The writer was a very gracious gentleman named Andrea Giglio. Andrea sent several CINDERELLA backgrounds he digitally re-created to share with the guests visiting my blog.

Thank you Andrea! Sharing these is incredibly generous. The B/Gs are bella. Grazie!

MIM'S COTTAGE (The Sword and the Stone)

Re-created pan background...

SLEEPING BEAUTY: Castle Staircase

CINDERELLA: Pan Background

Here's a re-created pan B/G from CINDERELLA. Beautiful blue color palette, with lots of lovely detail. This is the scene seconds before the Fairy Godmother arrives...

THE SWORD IN THE STONE: Merlin's front yard!

SLEEPING BEAUTY: Malificent's Veranda

ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Corridor

101 DALMATIANS: Dinsford

ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Bread & Butter-flies

This ALICE IN WONDERLAND background is a marvelous example of economy of detail and subtlety, yet brimming with style. Great colors, too, don't you think?

THE SWORD IN THE STONE: Merlin's Entrance at Mim's

Merlin makes a magical entrance in THE SWORD IN THE STONE through this doorway at Madam Mim's cottage. With the sparkly whirlwind, it's easy to miss the background within a BG, including a very spooky tree trunk reminiscent of the SNOW WHITE scary forest scene. Here, all the details appear together, unobstructed.

Disney's RATTLED BY RATS (1925)

Disney represents the pinnacle in sophisticated animation. It's easy to forget that the art form was completely re-invented by Disney artists during the decade prior to SNOW WHITE (1937).

These backgrounds are from Disney's RATTLED BY RATS (1925). It is downright amazing to think animation art this primitive paved the way for the studio's future brilliance.

But Walt was innovating even in his silent films, combining live action with animation, which ultimately led to classics like MARY POPPINS.

"The old Maestro" actually animated the first six Alice comedies himself. Their modest success allowed him to hire more artists.

I'm not sure exactly when Walt quit animating, but it's not impossible that Walt himself might have drawn one or more of these BGs!

JUNGLE BOOK: Lush Underbrush

From the JUNGLE BOOK scene where Mowgli searches for a better look at the little girl, here is the re-created pan background. Gorgeous! The lush tropical landscape is beautifully executed. Note: the three large leaves in the right foreground (which were effecively animated using the multiplane camera layers).

THE LEGEND OF COYOTE ROCK (1945)

One wonders if the Warner Brother's cartoon artists looked at Disney backgrounds like this, while doing pre-production design for the Road Runner cartoons...

THE SWORD IN THE STONE: The Village Inn

THE SWORD IN THE STONE: Castle Corridors

Chip and Dale: WORKING FOR PEANUTS (1953)

This shows how modern Disney could get in the 1950s. Very clean graphics... refreshing and stylistic.

GOOFY: LION DOWN

Here are three very different backgrounds from the GOOFY short LION DOWN; a backyard patio, an aerial view, and a bedroom.

THE SWORD IN THE STONE

This elaborate recreated B/G from THE SWORD IN THE STONE is fairly busrting with detail and a very eye-pleasing color palette.

BIRDS IN THE SPRING (1933)

From BIRDS IN THE SPRING (1933), here's a re-created pan background and (different) secondary shot of the "mother hen's" bird nest.

Pests Of The West (1950)

These wonderful desert backgrounds were the settings for the antics of Pluto, and coyotes Bent Tail (and Bent Tail Jr.).

FLOWERS FROM WONDERLAND

Another floral fantasy background from ALICE IN WONDERLAND!

THE GRASSHOPPER and the ANTS (1934)

In these re-created backgrounds, we see again the incredible beauty imbued in Disney's Silly Symphony series.

Pests of the West (1950)

This Pluto cartoon featured the antics of "Bent Tail" and "Bent Tail Jr." the coyotes.

Re-created here, the opening pan background. Yippee oh Kay ay!