Prod. UM39 - Orphan's Picnic

Directed by Ben Sharpsteen.
Released 2/15/36, this FINAL draft dated 11/26/35.

Animation by Milt Kahl, Ham Luske, Don Towsley, George Drake, Fred Spencer, Paul Hopkins, Bernie Wolf, Frank Thomas, Eddie Strickland, Paul Allen, Al Eugster, Shamus Culhane, Hardie Gramatky, Marvin Woodward, Frank Kelling and Roy Williams.

There are a few things to note in this list. Though obscured by a typo, this may be the first scene of Frank Thomas' to reach the screen, under taskmaster George Drake's supervision. Frank mentioned to me that his first scenes were in Mickey's Circus, which was released half a year later. George Drake was himself head of the Inbetween department since 1932. Paul Hopkins was listed in Camera around 1933, in Personnel in 1935 - here he his animating.

The film is discussed in the Action Analysis Class of Jan. 6th, 1936, the transcript of which can be read elsewhere on this blog.

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Really busy, folks! I will try to not be a stranger here, though!

Prod. UM1 - Mickey's Nightmare

Directed by Burt Gillett.
Released 8/13/32, this draft dated 4/20/32. Nearly four months!? Could it be because this film was the first Mickey in the United Artists series?

Animation by Norm Ferguson, Jack King, Tom Palmer, Johnny Cannon, Gilles Armand "Frenchy" de Trémaudan, Ben Sharpsteen,
Les Clark, Hardy Gramatky and Dave Hand.

Another classic with the animators unknown - until now!

Prod. UM19 - Giantland

Originally called "Mickey and the Giant," the short Giantland was directed by Burt Gillett, released 11/25/1933. Animation by Les Clark, Cy Young, Johnny Cannon, Dick Huemer, Ham Luske (one scene with Dick W[illiams]), Bill Roberts, Fred Moore, Gerry Geronimi, Gilles Armand "Frenchy" de Trémaudan, Ben Sharpsteen, Ugo D'Orsy.

Through the magic of eBay, I was able to get the following modelsheet of the giant, originally the one that Burt Gillett himself had used (see my archives for more on the Burt Gillett "stash").
For those of you following my blog, I am sorry I have had VERY little time to update these past months! I am more busy than ever, directing my stop-motion film, and that takes most all of my time.
I will return here once in a while with more fun things, I promise!

Prod. UM3 - The Whoopie Party

One of my favorite fun Mickey shorts is the abundantly musical The Whoopee Party, released 09/17/32. Directed by Wilfred "Jaxon" Jackson, it was animated by Hardie Gramatky, Eddie Donnelly, Les Clark, Dave Hand, Johnny Cannon, Norm "Fergy" Ferguson, "Frenchy" de Trémaudan, Ben Sharpsteen (and unnamed crew of trainees), Tom Palmer, Jack King and Dick Lundy.

IMDb mentions Maude Nugent as composer of "Sweet Rosie O'Grady" as part of the score in this upbeat short, which can be found on the 2002 Treasures DVD set Mickey Mouse in Black and White...Happy Fourth of July to all who celebrate it!

Prod. UM51 - Mickey's Amateurs

According to IMDb, Mickey's Amateurs was directed by Pinto Colvig (the clarinet-playing clown who was the voice of Goofy), story man Erdman "Ed" Penner and Walt Pfeiffer (Walt Disney's childhood friend who became management and who was manager of Disney's Penthouse Club for many years until after Walt Disney passed away).

Animated by Stan Quackenbush, Ralph J. Somerville, Ed Love, Marvin Woodward, Al Eugster, Les Clark, [Art] Palmer and Art Babbitt. Music by Ollie Wallace. Can be viewed on the 2001 Walt Disney Treasures DVD - Mickey Mouse in Living Color.
Released 04/17/37, this 4th semi-final draft of 1/12/37...

Prod. UM30 - Mickey's Service Station

One of my favorites, and one of the last Mickeys in Black and White, Mickey's Service Station has a great score by Leigh Harline. It was directed by Ben Sharpsteen, and premiered 3/16/35.

We meet a great cast of animators! Milt Kahl, Eddie Strickland, Art Babbitt, Dick Lundy, Fred Spencer, Don Towsley, Jack Kinney, Archie Robin, Bill Tytla, Paul Allen, Eric Larson, Leonard Sebring, Nick George, Ferdinand Horvath and Woolie Reitherman in a role we see him in so often later: action scenes at the end of the film!

Prod. UM-11, Mickey's Mellerdrama

Known as Mickey's Mellerdrammer, this short directed by Wilfred "Jaxon" Jackson was released on 03/18/33. Though not all the scenes were assigned on this draft, we do find as animators: Paul Fennell, Ham Luske, Les Clark, Frenchy de Trémaudan, Chuck Couch, Eddy Donnelly, Bill Roberts, Johnny Cannon, Gerry Geronimi, Tom Palmer, Fred Moore, Marvin Woodward, Ben Sharpsteen, Roy "Big Mooseketeer" Williams, Harry Reeves and Ed Love. Interestingly, this draft mentions a whole slew of changes to be done, from new camera movements to new action and additions to the backgrounds.

In the words of my old mentor Børge Ring: Mickey's Mellerdrama is one of Walt Disney's alltime best. It must have cost a lot in all departments. The atmosphere of backstage amateur-theater is tops. The animation is 10 years ahead of 1933. it is controlled and fine-tuned like in his later features. I bet it went wildly over budget."

It can be found, with disclaimer by Leonard Maltin, on the Treasures DVD: Mickey Mouse in Black and White Volume 2, disc 2...Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving! I was pleasantly surprised that this blog surpassed the 100,000 hits!

Prod. UM-21 - Mickey Shanghied

To further celebrate Mickey's birthday, I thought it fitting to show another animation draft for one of his earlier achievements.
Released on 1/13/34 as Shanghaied, and directed by Burt Gillett, most all of the first part of this short was animated by Norm Ferguson, with scenes by Cy Young (effects), Dick Lundy, Johnnie Cannon, Roy Williams, Hardie Gramatky, Ed Love, Ben Sharpsteen and "Jerry," whom I suspect to be Gerry Geronimi. Five of the scenes have no assignments...