Rescuers Down Under
Words and Photos care of Mike Gabriel.
Rescuers Down Under Research trip to Australia. We were the first animation crew at Disney to demand we go to the actual country and do the research before making the film. The studio naturally looked at this as an unnecessary boondogle since it had never been done as far as I know. I vowed to pay my own way if I had to. Peter Schneider relented—or should I say Jeffrey Katzenberg must have relented—-or should I say Michael Eisner must have relented— and allowed us two weeks to explore the continent of Australia. A great experience. This is Joe Ranft, Joe’s first head of story opportunity, and Maurice (Pixote Hunt) our art director at Uluru or Ayres Rock in the middle of the outback. Read more
ToonIn to the World of Animation “An Artist First”
A graduate of Cal Arts in the 70’s Mike Giaimo went through the training program at Walt Disney Feature Animation and held many creative positions culminating after his 18 collective years at the studio as Art Director and Production Designer. Join us with Annie Award winner Mike Giaimo while he talks with Tee Bosustow from ToonIn to the World of Animation about being an artist first in this new collaborative podcast series “From the Drawing Board Level”.
Mike Giaimo and Joe Ranft 1983 G Wing at Walt Disney Feature Animation
(Photo Care of George Scribner)
Click below listen to this great interview.
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“Inside UPA is a fantastic time-tripping device! The book’s rare candid and posed photos of the creators of those classic films, at work and at leisure, gave me a feeling of being at the UPA studio in its heyday.” ~John Canemaker
Click here if you are interested in purchasing “Inside UPA” and for more on this and many other artists from the world of animation please visit Toon In to the World of Animation .
From the memoirs of Dorse A. Lanpher “Flyin’ Chunks and Other Things To Duck”
Dorse Lanpher 1975 Walt Disney Animation
(Photo care of Dorse Lanpher)
In1975 I was re-employed by Walt Disney Feature Animation after having spent 12 years living the artist life in the outer world. I had resigned from Disney’s in 1962 thinking animated cartoons just didn’t serve the world. I had an opportunity to go into technical films which I thought would help instruct the world rather than just entertain. Most of the films I worked on in this period were military films which served a wealth of information on how to fight wars, break things and hurt people severely. I eventually came to conclude that contributing art to animated cartoons was a more useful worldly uplifting endeavor. At this time I had become involved in my own company, a partnership with four partners and myself. It was like being married to four people, all guys with too much testosterone. I decided to sell my share in our little concern and seek another job. Fortunately the other guys wanted my shares and Disney’s wanted me back. Well, Disney’s wanted me back after a lengthy interview. At that interview I tried very hard to convince them that I could animate special effects but I had to settle for a position as an assistant animator in the special effects department.
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ToonIn to the World of Animation
“At the Drawing Board Level”
Rubén Procopio has been in the animation industry for over 25 yrs., with scholarships to both Cal Arts and Art Center College of Design. He later trained under Eric Larson, one of Disneys legendary nine old men. A chip off the old block he also was trained by his dad Adolfo Procopio, a 35 yr. veteran sculptor at Walt Disney Imagineering. Rubén was instrumental in bringing back the maquette process to feature animated films in the early ’80’s. Having a wide variety of skills from 2d to the 3d world and as an Artistic Supervisor as well as head of departments he has now opened up his own studio appropriately called for his admiration of the masked heros of yesteryear, Masked Avenger Studios, where father and son have joined forces with a combination of over 50 yrs. of experience to make their talents available to the motion picture, animation, toy and collectables community.
Join us with this second generation Walt Disney Animation artist Ruben Procopio while he talks with Tee Bosustow from ToonIn to the World of Animation about his experiences and insights in this new collaborative podcast series “At the Drawing Board Level”.
Click below listen to this great interview.
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For more on this and many other artists from animation please visit Toon In to the World of Animation.
