Tytla Speaks on Forms vs. Forces (II) --Action Analysis Class of June 28st, 1937

The second half of this most fascinating Action Analysis Class.

Geiss, Magro, Klein and Culhane speak up just as they did the week before. We also hear [whom I suspect to be layout man Dave] Rose [(1910-2006)] and Tytla's First Assistant, Bill Shull (1902-1989).

In this part we not only hear more about the subject at hand, we also get an insight in Tytla's days in animation at Paul Terry's studio on the East Coast before he came to Disney. When Tytla elaborates on the many possibilities Walt Disney provided for his artists, we learn that Paul Terry made money and not pencil tests, and that Tytla and Art Babbitt were derided when they tried to do model drawing, as "anyone who goes to art school is a homo, Bolshevik"...¹(¹For good measure let me mention that this last bit about the model class attempt is also found on page 176 of Neil Gabler's less-than-great book, as a quote from an article about Tytla written by John Canemaker. No mention of this Action Analysis Class.)

Anticipation & Overlapping Action --General Review - Action Analysis Class of March 12th, 1936

Don Graham introduces this Thursday evening Action Analysis Class as the "last class for a while," and it seems that the next classes were held in July, some four months later.

In this class he discusses "the work covered to date," concentrating on anticipation and overlapping action, with examples from Alpine Climbers, and referencing Dave Hand's lecture two weeks earlier.

Johnny Cannon pantomimes overlapping actions, and we hear from George Goepper, Jack Hannah, Jack Campbell, Paul Allen, Riley Thompson, Jim Algar and Bill Shull.
Is Paul Allen questioning Fergie's animation?I remember the discussions while animation on Vahalla in the 80's, on overlapping actions and follow-thru. They were especially mixed up as the term "overlap" had been used to mean follow-thru. It took years to rid folks of this bad habit, and some never could get used to it...

Action Analysis Class - Feb. 22nd, 1937 (I)

Here is the first part of Izzie Ellis' copy of the transcription of Don Graham's Action Analysis Class of February 22nd, 1937: "Introduction to Study of Action: Primary Actions". A class that was suggested by Walt, for as Don Graham writes: "Walt has been very much concerned..." It may very well be the most important document on my blog to date - if not the most important EVER.

"All primary actions are the result of thought processes..."

How often have we not seen characters be moved as if by an invisible hand... And it is getting worse, folks! I have had a sneak peek at several CG features in progress in different Burbank and Glendale studios, and this was exactly what struck me most!
The old Ollie sign "What is the character thinking and why does he feel that way?" should be above EVERY drawing desk and computer screen!!! (Continued tomorrow...)

Action Analysis Class - July 19th, 1937 (III)

The last part of this Action Analysis Class adds Bruce Bushman and John Elliotte to the discussion, and we get to the Shot Put action. Tomorrow we continue with the following week's class...

Tytla Speaks on Forms vs. Forces (I) --Action Analysis Class of June 28st, 1937

A week after the previous Action Analysis Class, the one I posted two days ago which dealt with drawing forms vs. drawing forces, Don Graham invited the master himself, Bill Tytla, to comment on the previous Monday's lecture notes.

Here is the first half of the notes to this very exciting class, which should be part of any animation school's required reading. I wish I had these notes back in the 70's and 80's when I began sharpening my teeth on the medium. On the other hand - would I have fully understood them then?It doesn't get much better than this!
Comments are welcome as usual...

Action Analysis Class - July 19th, 1937 (I)

Over the next days, I will be showing a few Action Analysis Classes held by Don Graham in 1937, which really are just that, Classes in Action Analysis. But Don Graham gets around, and in the final installment, we get his views on rotoscoping, views that can be translated directly to the MoCap discussions of late.
Here are the first pages, a discussion on the Hammer Throw action. Stan Quackenbush comments...