It's becoming sort of the popular thing to dislike Disney. Many see fit to mock the Disney's wholesome image... sometimes because they want to be "the cool kid". But others, like John K., are making valid artistic analysis and making people see that maybe some of the things we love aren't as good as we thought they were(I know I can't watch The Little Mermaid anymore without seeing various construction errors and thinking of how much cooler it would be if they had more extreme emotions). I see all the points being made... I can understand them... but I can't join in the total denouncing of Disney animation.
Did Disney's domination make other studios excellent and more cartoony work get overlooked? Yes. Did Disney have a limiting system to work under? Somewhat, depending on who you ask. Did Disney's notion for keeping characters "on-model" and not going to extremes keep some of the best animators in history from making more distinct works and getting further recognition for their talents? It's quite possible.
So why would I defend a company that seems to limit artists so much?
For God's sake just look at the artists work they produced under these "limitations"!
The motion! The colors! The music! The timing! The fun cartoon gags! The unadulterated skill seen in this short leaves me in awe. Above all things, the Disney crew DID know how to entertain. Watch Donald and Jose dance and tell me you don't feel absolutely overjoyed to be alive! Sure there are definitely some bland things about it(mostly generic expressions more than anything), but it's still so entertaining. I contest that there is a "Disney Magic" and this clip embodies it.
This and many other Disney animations have made so many people happy. How can one hate them for that? Do you people not have souls?
Yes, I'll agree that limitations upon artists are NEVER a good thing. It's true that the Warner Bros. and Fliesher Bros. studios did more to show what cartoons can do that other mediums can't. I love Bob Clampett cartoons more than anything. The artist in me would love to see more specific expressions... more distinctive characters... but there is so much to enjoy already, I just can't bring myself to hate them.
Other than that I just want to swear in The Three Cabelleros/Blame it on the Samba as my favorite pieces of Disney animation.
Of all the Disney stuff, this had some of the most character. Granted, they had latin american culture to fall back on from the start, but I say they did quite a lot with it. The music is wonderful and catchy, lots of surreal colors and gags... it's just so much fun! I must have watched this thing like 50 times when I was I kid.
Wow look at this! This is way more trippy than most of Disney's work... I'm somewhat surprised it got by. Mind you it's not quite as characteristic as like say the Flieshers' animation, but it's really cool in it's own right. The colors are just wonderful. So many shades and hues...
Take note that Disney's no stranger to surreal. I mean just give Pink Elephants on Parade a look-see!
I'm told this still gives some people nightmares. I just thought it was awesome. Crazy as all get out. I mean come on, Dumbo was freakin' drunk and woke up on a tree limb!
But anyway I find The Three Cabelleros to be a fantastic piece of work despite Disney's stated limitations. I see something new every time I watch(and hear something new everytime I listen!).
Y'know it seems Disney dabbled in latin american culture quite a bit. Quick! Can anyone find me a video of that cartoon where Donald is in Mexico serenading Daisy with a Spanish guitar? I'll love you forever if you can find it.
There's your bit to chew on for today. 'Til next time!
Oh and check out this awesome new animation you can see at the end of Disney World's "Gran Fiesta" ride!
If I had to guess I'd say Eric Goldberg(lead animator on Genie in Aladdin) animated this stuff. It's definitely Disney at the core but has that urban Warner Bros. feel that Goldberg has openly stated he prefers. You know he's apparently going to be heading up the new series of theatrical shorts Disney Studios is working on. If this short clip is any indication of the quality we'll be seeing I'd say that's good news!
2 comments:
Many of my professors are ex-disney animators. I really loved the 2D work they made in their film studios... but my professors did tell me some things about how they treated their artists. For one thing, yes, Disney animators had lots of limitations when it came to their artistic visions. For example, Koda in brother bear exists only because the marketing department wanted him to... the director originally had no intention of using a character like that. Additionally, the big shots got to choose musicians and voice actors (*cough*phil collins*cough*) which also limited the directors.
Still, even with these hamperments, the studio made many amazing films...Until Disney closed its own studio. Darn you, Disney.
Oh well, at least I get to learn from some very talented animators, so I can't complain about the studio closure that much :D
Ah, yes some good old three caballeros. I think the basis of this interest in South America is due to a lot of Disney animators had a good will trip to south America during and after the second World War if I recall.
But yeah Disney stuff did suffer from "convention" but I still enjoy the stuff, but I doubt most people know this movie exists. So it's a moot point.
Oh well, at least there's always Fantasia.
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