Key Points
- Disney Animation Studios unveils a tribute film, ‘Once Upon a Studio,’ honoring a century of characters and stories.
- The film, directed by Dan Abraham and Trent Correy, features new animations with around 80% being hand-drawn.
- Animation veteran, Eric Goldberg, oversees the hand-drawn segment of the animation process.
- The film brought together an expert team of animators, including Randy Haycock, Mark Henn, Bert Klein, and Alex Kuperschmidt.
- Five alumni from Disney Animation contributed to the film —Ruben Aquino, Tony Bancroft, James Baxter, Will Finn, and Nik Ranieri.
- A hand-picked group of hand-drawn animation apprentices, who were chosen from over 2,000 applicants and underwent a 4-month training program, made their debut in the film.
- Austin Traylor and Tyler Pacana, two of the apprentices, discuss their inspirations and experiences in creating the film.
The Realists Take
In a world where the flashy bells and whistles of CGI often take center stage, Disney sends us a gentle reminder that their roots are ingrained deep in the soil of hand-drawn animations. Trust Disney to orchestrate a century-long class reunion, corralling characters that range from Snow White to Elsa, and putting them all in one frame. The once-in-a-lifetime gathering isn’t just a walk down memory lane; it’s also a cheeky way to introduce fresh pen-and-paper welding wizards into the mix. This hardcore game of ‘where’s Waldo’ comes with a heartwarming message – no matter how the world changes, the charm of classic hand-drawn animations and Disney’s unwavering commitment to preserving its legacy will remain in vogue. Buckle up, purists, the art of the ‘moving drawings’ is still very much alive and sketching!
https://d23.com/meet-two-disney-animation-apprentices-behind-once-upon-a-studio/
