I am VERY surprised that sc.16 doesn't have an effects animator assigned to it on the draft. Things like leaves, rake, basket and whirlwind etc. would normally never be done by the animator other than indicated (as on the modelsheet ruffs), and then be finished by effects. I would be very surprised if Freddie's own assistant did these...
I was told years ago that it was Kimball, not Fred Moore, who actually drew these sheets; certainly it's Kimball's style and sense of humor to apply the seemingly unrelated words cut out from magazines that surround the poses--but as Mark identifies the animation from these poses as largely Fred's, it's a certainty then, that Fred did this? I always thought it must be.
At our studio we often made modelsheets from other animator's drawings if the need arose - so it is very possible--plausible, even--that Kimball took Freddie's animation (which was to be followed) and made these sheets of them. (Now you say so, I also seem to recall being told many years ago (by my old mentor Ring) that it was Kimball who did this cut'n'paste job.)
Those model sheet drawings are definitely from two of Moore's scenes in the film, so if Kimball had anything to do with those sheets, it probably was compiling them. I can't conceive that Kimball was doing keys for Moore.
I'm also surprised about no effects animator being listed for scene 16 and assume it was an oversight. As Jack Boyd did the scenes immediately before and after, it's likely that he did 16 as well.
But this brings up a lot of questions about what effects animators (if they should be called that here) actually did. Certainly some things -- the tornadoes, the water, the blast of air from Mickey yelling, the aroma from the cake, the flour -- should be handled by an effects animator. But the marching leaves? And the cake? There are many shots here with two or three animators listed and it's hard to figure out how the work would be divided.
Should some of these animators be referred to as junior animators or animating assistants if what they're doing -- like the cake -- is not really an effect?
Was great to see the other model sheets from this short. I actually own the original of sheet no. 3 from this cartoon. Hangs on my dinning room wall. Always gets comments - even from people not into cartoons. Love that cartoon! Michael
Michael, when you say you have the original, do you mean that you have the version that is physically pasted up from Moore's drawings and magazine clippings? Or do you have an original photostat model sheet from Disney? Just curious.
Sorry - I should have been more specific. I have the an original photostat model sheet from Disney of sheet no. 3
I have some original sheets though of Mickey and Bambi from the 40's which are the actual cut up and pasted drawings as well from other cartoons and artists.
Enjoy your blog too by the way - always an interesting read. Just started up mine if you get a chance to take a look. thanks! Michael
June 29, 2006 12:25 AM
[Image] [Image] [Image] [Image]I suspect that many of you have copies of these model sheets (possibly better copies than those above). But if you are unfamiliar with these, they're drawings by Moore from scenes 16 and 18 of The Little Whirlwind.
They're not in the order that they appear in the cartoon. And it's interesting to see how loosely Moore treats the pile of leaves in the upper left corner of the second sheet. Whoever his assistant was on this film, he had to meticulously draw the individual leaves. While that doesn't sound like fun, I'll bet there were assistants who would have gladly done it for the opportunity to work on Moore's drawings.
posted by Mark Mayerson at 9:51 AM on Jun 21, 2006
"Fred Moore Drawings from The Little Whirlwind"
7 Comments -
I am VERY surprised that sc.16 doesn't have an effects animator assigned to it on the draft. Things like leaves, rake, basket and whirlwind etc. would normally never be done by the animator other than indicated (as on the modelsheet ruffs), and then be finished by effects. I would be very surprised if Freddie's own assistant did these...
June 21, 2006 5:38 PM
I was told years ago that it was Kimball, not Fred Moore, who actually drew these sheets; certainly it's Kimball's style and sense of humor to apply the seemingly unrelated words cut out from magazines that surround the poses--but as Mark identifies the animation from these poses as largely Fred's, it's a certainty then, that Fred did this? I always thought it must be.
June 21, 2006 6:06 PM
At our studio we often made modelsheets from other animator's drawings if the need arose - so it is very possible--plausible, even--that Kimball took Freddie's animation (which was to be followed) and made these sheets of them. (Now you say so, I also seem to recall being told many years ago (by my old mentor Ring) that it was Kimball who did this cut'n'paste job.)
June 21, 2006 7:17 PM
Those model sheet drawings are definitely from two of Moore's scenes in the film, so if Kimball had anything to do with those sheets, it probably was compiling them. I can't conceive that Kimball was doing keys for Moore.
I'm also surprised about no effects animator being listed for scene 16 and assume it was an oversight. As Jack Boyd did the scenes immediately before and after, it's likely that he did 16 as well.
But this brings up a lot of questions about what effects animators (if they should be called that here) actually did. Certainly some things -- the tornadoes, the water, the blast of air from Mickey yelling, the aroma from the cake, the flour -- should be handled by an effects animator. But the marching leaves? And the cake? There are many shots here with two or three animators listed and it's hard to figure out how the work would be divided.
Should some of these animators be referred to as junior animators or animating assistants if what they're doing -- like the cake -- is not really an effect?
June 21, 2006 8:50 PM
Was great to see the other model sheets from this short. I actually own the original of sheet no. 3 from this cartoon. Hangs on my dinning room wall. Always gets comments - even from people not into cartoons.
Love that cartoon!
Michael
June 27, 2006 9:01 PM
Michael, when you say you have the original, do you mean that you have the version that is physically pasted up from Moore's drawings and magazine clippings? Or do you have an original photostat model sheet from Disney? Just curious.
June 27, 2006 9:06 PM
Hey Mark,
Sorry - I should have been more specific. I have the an original photostat model sheet from Disney of sheet no. 3
I have some original sheets though of Mickey and Bambi from the 40's which are the actual cut up and pasted drawings as well from other cartoons and artists.
Enjoy your blog too by the way - always an interesting read. Just started up mine if you get a chance to take a look.
thanks! Michael
June 29, 2006 12:25 AM