Prod. 2074 - Peter Pan (II) - Seq. 02.0 - Wendy Meets Peter

Directed by Wilfred "JAXON" Jackson, laid out by MacLaren Stewart. Assistant director Mike Holoboff, secretary Toby (Tobelmann).
This FINAL draft dated 10/1/52.

The second sequence has a slew of animators working on both Peter and Wendy, with Don Lusk animating one scene. Here we meet Milt Kahl, Eric Larson, Hal Ambro, Harvey Toombs and Don Lusk (Peter Pan and Wendy), Ken O'Brien (Wendy), Marc Davis, Les Clark and effects animator George Rowley (Tinker Bell).

Prod. 2074 - Peter Pan (I) - Seq. 01.0 - Opening - Introduction to family

It's time for another feature film! Although I want to do this at a leisurely pace, as I have been very busy and still am, I start of with a good bunch of pages to get in the mood.Directed by Wilfred "JAXON" Jackson, laid out by MacLaren Stewart. Assistant director Mike Holoboff, secretary Toby (Tobelmann).
This FINAL draft dated 10/30/52.

This first sequence starts after the opening credits and the song "The Second Star to the Right," which ends as we view the London skyline and enter the realm of these draft pages. As always, my "Standard Disclaimer" is in effect, in other words, this is a production document aiming to show the persons responsible for the scenes - it is not a historical document. At least, it wasn't originally. You can read more about this in a lot of earlier postings.

Today we meet Marc Davis (Mother), Milt Kahl and John Lounsbery (Father), Hal King (John, Michael), Harvey Toombs (Wendy), Norm Ferguson (Nana) Eric Larson (Peter Pan), with secondary animation by Art Stevens (parents), [Jack] Campbell and Clair Weeks. Effects by George Rowley. A few of these attributions are a bit simplistic, but check the pages and judge for yourself.

The animation of Nana the nurse-maid-dog is some of the last feature animation by one of the most influential animators of the Disney studios ever, (William) Norman "Fergy" Ferguson (9/2/1902-11/4/1957). In the early 1930s, his influence cannot be overstated, when the studio crawled out of the hole left by the departure of Ub Iwerks in January 1930.

(In case you are wondering, yes, I do actually have an original "Background Morgue" version of this draft, but I found it quite a lot more feasible to scan a xeroxed copy I also have. The info should be the same, though I admit I have as yet not checked.)

Next up: Prod. 2074

A quick heads-up: I haven't forgotten you, folks! I just have been exceedingly busy. But I have Prod. 2074 almost ready to go.
Just think of a wonderful thing - it's the same as having wings!

Frank Thomas - born 100 years ago today

Thinking fondly of my old friend Frank - who would have been 100 today (where I am now), September 5th.

I would like to share a few things, remembering Frank.First, from the Disney Archives, a listing of all the productions that Frank is credited for. This sheet was sent to me in 1984, before Frank and Ollie came to Holland. (I am aware I posted this before).

Second, in my opinion very interesting, a letter sent by Frank to Peter Madsen during production of Valhalla, the film that had me move to Denmark. Valhalla was Peter's baby, he drew the comic strip and later directed the movie, which had its premiere 10/9/1986. We had lots of interesting things going on tracking the scenes, so to help, Frank sent his suggestions, as elaboration on the text in The Illusion of Life. Attached was an annotated copy of a draft page.
"It is the most important document that everyone uses to find out who is responsible for what, and when."

Remember this from an earlier posting?See also this very early posting of mine. And this one.

Let's all raise our glass tonight to one of the greatest artists and actors, animation has ever seen!

Prod. 2242 - Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip

Directed by Gerry Geronimi, assisted by Don Duckwall (the first Disney employee who wrote me back in 1976, by which time he was production manager at the studio). Layout by Jim Carmichael.
Released 10 days before Fantasia, on 11/01/40, this 2nd draft dated 5/16/40.

I suppose by now we all have seen the clip of Walt as Mickey and Billy Bletcher as Pete. It was available on the Disney treasures DVD: Mickey Mouse in Living Color Vol.2. Someone uploaded it to YouTube.


Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip isn't the best of Disney's output, not by a long shot, but it sure put Pomona on the map for me! A great place for antiquing! The short itself is abundantly available on YouTube.

In the draft we meet Andy Engman, Dick Lundy, Chic Otterstrom, Ken Muse, Ed Love, Marvin Woodward, Claude Smith and Nick Nichols.

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Miffy is all finished, folks! Personally I think it is great, but I would have to, wouldn't I? The premiere is in Holland in January. Let's hope the audience likes it as much as I do!

The Other John Dunn...

The draft of the day before yesterday (The Autograph Hound) showed animation done by J. Dunn. But is this the same John Dunn as the genius designer we know from the 50's and 60's?

Maybe not! I found that around 12/01/1936 there was a John J. Dunn at the Disney Studios whose personal data is this: born 12/07/1910, died 10/05/1992 in Ventura, CA.
The "real" John Dunn was John William Dunn, born 12/25/1919, Coatbridge, Scotland, UK, died 01/17/1983 in San Fernando, CA.

At the time of The Autograph Hound there was also a Ed(ward) Dunn at the studio, but the draft clearly states J. Dunn. Since we really have no info on John W Dunn at Disney before the late 40s, and only Ed Dunn was part of the strikers in 1941 (as animator he made a weekly $52,25), that to me strongly suggest that the animator on The Autograph Hound was John J Dunn, the "other" John Dunn.

Anyone out there who can shed a clearer light on this matter?

Show Fanny Whenever Possible

I never thought I would ever write that as title anywhere, but if it is on a Disney model sheet, it must be ok, right? Here is a companion piece to yesterday's draft to The Autograph Hound.
See for yourself!
I found this article about Sonia Henie on a flight between Denmark and Holland, a flight with Norwegian, a budget airline that offers free in-air WiFi internet! We can't even rest on the plane anymore!

Prod. 2225 - The Autograph Hound

Directed by Jack King who picked it up 2/23/39.
Released 9/01/36, this FINAL draft dated 8/14/39.

Animated by Claude Smith, Ray Patin, Lee Morehouse, John Elliotte, Larry Clemmons, Ken Muse, Paul Allen, Dun(bar) Roman, Ed Love, Bob Stokes, Ken Peterson, Ward Kimball, Johnny Cannon, Judge Whitaker, Nick deTolly, Ozzie Evans, Rex Cox, John Dunn, Andy Engman, Emory Hawkins. (No Culhane as per IMDb, though!)

Some of these animators became heavyweights at studios other than Disney's, including obviously Muse and Hawkins. Ray Patin made commercials from the late 40's to the 60's. Others found other jobs within the company, like Ken Peterson who went into middle management, and Larry Clemmons who became a writer - after working on Bing Crosby's radio shows in the 40's and 50's.

A film of mixed drawing quality, but nothing hideously awful, really. Bob Stokes' scenes are especially nice, but Kimball's scenes stick out as the most inventive and over the top. But who could doubt that?

The background for the first scene was for sale recently...

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Still terribly busy! Trying to get all animation for my film done within the next few weeks. So I may not be able to post much, but I will try!

More soon!

Just a quick heads-up - more to follow soon!
I am busy as never before...
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