I love this one. My dad put everything on the screen and didn't talk to us much about his childhood and early life. It's wonderful to be able to get to know him better and see his work this way. Thanks to all involved. - Michele (Babbitt) Kane
wonderful documentary, I never knew Art Babbitt animated so many characters from those classic Disney films. I just feel so bad for what happened to the Thief and the Cobbler. Babbitt died the year Calvert's horrid version of it that was released in 1993. I wonder how Babbit felt about William's film never being finished the way it had intended to be, it truly is a shame.
I love how the cells from some of the animations seen here (especially the horse at 38:30) were reproduced in Richard Williams' Animator's Survival Kit
You have no idea how sick I am of 3d features. I think 3d works fine when used as a tool, like in Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin. I'm in animation school now and I would like to work on 2d features and I hope by the time I'm done school there would be some opportunity to it.
I perfectly understand DreamfactoryZero. The 3D tools are great but it was such a big deal when it came into the animation industry that (almost) everyone abandoned 2D because every big studio used 3D now. It seemed like 3D was how animation should be done from then on and a lot of people just discarded the art of 2D animation. The worst is that I've read people who comment on these things and say that 3D animation is so great for those who don't know how to draw. But that's just an excuse because everyone can learn how to draw and especially in animation (whether it's 2D or 3D) you NEED to be able to draw! By drawing by hand you can understand things, AND TELL things, in a much simpler way than if you push around a virtual doll in a 3D environment. It's truly a shame that the art of animation seems to be pushed under the bus by the 3D tools and people who want to animate fast and as effortless as possible. Richard Williams talks in his book "The Animator's Survival Kit" that animation is hard work and if you don't want to do a lot of hard work, then you shouldn't be in the animation industry at all. I've heard animators in interviews talk about how you can do all sorts of things in 2D animation (some that give extra personality to characters for example) that you just can't do in 3D animation.
Maybe it's possible, but animators have to be the pioneers of that, not producers, since by giving too much importance to money that would probably not happen :(
+David Resoluth I love some CGI cartoons. But there is a magic and true art behind hand drawn 2D animation that can never be topped or replaced. I too, wish we would get a lot of 2D theatrical animation again.
thank you so very much indeed i am so surprised to have seen this documentary that is so complete in detail of heart and soul of Art and Richard and the others which freely without reservation shared the golden understanding experience which cannot be found elsewhere. I will try to share this with others.
I know the cancellation of the thief and the cobbler was a bit of a let down and all, but you have to remember richard williams said it himself that he's always been a bit artsy fartsy. Other animators always told him to keep it simple stupid but he lost himself in this project. As much as the animation is breath taking in the point of view of us animation nerds, i wouldnt say it looks like somethinh the general broad audience would really like and producing the movie wouldve been a big loss for the company(especially considering how expensive animators are)
Great and very interesting video. I had no clue watching The Thief And The Cobbler that the person animating King Nod and Zig Zag's vulture had also animated characters in some of my childhood favorite movies such as Snow White or Pinocchio. It's also interesting to know a bit about "behind the scene" stories of the Disney classics and shorts. Keep up the good work.
Hopefully one day it will be revived. If i ever get to a decision making position in the industry I am going to hunt it down and get it made how Williams would have wanted it.
Our versatile and great at pushing his subjects animation is awesome to dive deeper into with Mr. Williams with his expertise and experience. Along with the fascinating look into the early days of the animators we know and admire at the first studio.✏🎥🐶🌠 Stay safe everyone!
for anyone who thinks that 2D animation is the way to go and 3D (CGI) animation sucks, I would like to say this as an example of why 3D animation is good: I am VERY interested in animation. I have always wanted to animate. Unfortunately, however, I am really bad at drawing. 3D animation does not require drawing, thus giving me (and many others like me) an opportunity.
Yeah but instead of both seeing an opportunity, one has been completely killed off. Youre also making the assumption that you cant learn to draw, you just don't want to put in the effort. Do you really think that people are just born being able to draw like this?
It's too bad that you feel that way, because most of the bigger studios actually do want CG animators who know how to draw. If you know how to animate with your own hands and eyes and brain, then your CG animation will be better. I'm sure my CG friends at Blue Sky, Dreamworks, Disney, and Pixar will back me up on that one.
My now ex husband who was my boyfriend at the time (we parted amicably) was working for Dick Williams when this came out, so it was made in '86, and shown on Channel Four in '87. I got to sit in on some of those "walking man" lessons at the Hollywood studio.
I love this one. My dad put everything on the screen and didn't talk to us much about his childhood and early life. It's wonderful to be able to get to know him better and see his work this way. Thanks to all involved. - Michele (Babbitt) Kane
I just found an autograph I got from your dad around 1984 on a program of animation films shown at the LACMA.
hi Michele
Hi Michele :) your dad was/is awesome
Amazing to know more about and to see you!
Your dad has been an inspiration to many :)
wonderful documentary, I never knew Art Babbitt animated so many characters from those classic Disney films. I just feel so bad for what happened to the Thief and the Cobbler. Babbitt died the year Calvert's horrid version of it that was released in 1993. I wonder how Babbit felt about William's film never being finished the way it had intended to be, it truly is a shame.
We all miss you Richard Williams, Greatest Animator of All Time. And Babbitt also too, great animator.
The Evil Queen was the first Disney villain from Snow White. She was animated by Art Babbitt and voiced by Lucille La Verne in her final film role.
This man is such an inspiration and a True Legend to every aspiring 2d animator. Much Respect
I love how the cells from some of the animations seen here (especially the horse at 38:30) were reproduced in Richard Williams' Animator's Survival Kit
Wonderful documentary! I really hope traditional animation will get more popular and reach a high peak once more, and I sure hope to be a part of it!
You have no idea how sick I am of 3d features. I think 3d works fine when used as a tool, like in Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin. I'm in animation school now and I would like to work on 2d features and I hope by the time I'm done school there would be some opportunity to it.
I perfectly understand DreamfactoryZero. The 3D tools are great but it was such a big deal when it came into the animation industry that (almost) everyone abandoned 2D because every big studio used 3D now. It seemed like 3D was how animation should be done from then on and a lot of people just discarded the art of 2D animation. The worst is that I've read people who comment on these things and say that 3D animation is so great for those who don't know how to draw. But that's just an excuse because everyone can learn how to draw and especially in animation (whether it's 2D or 3D) you NEED to be able to draw! By drawing by hand you can understand things, AND TELL things, in a much simpler way than if you push around a virtual doll in a 3D environment.
It's truly a shame that the art of animation seems to be pushed under the bus by the 3D tools and people who want to animate fast and as effortless as possible. Richard Williams talks in his book "The Animator's Survival Kit" that animation is hard work and if you don't want to do a lot of hard work, then you shouldn't be in the animation industry at all. I've heard animators in interviews talk about how you can do all sorts of things in 2D animation (some that give extra personality to characters for example) that you just can't do in 3D animation.
Maybe it's possible, but animators have to be the pioneers of that, not producers, since by giving too much importance to money that would probably not happen :(
+David Resoluth: You are so right: Drawing from life forms the basics of great animation, even today.
+David Resoluth I love some CGI cartoons. But there is a magic and true art behind hand drawn 2D animation that can never be topped or replaced. I too, wish we would get a lot of 2D theatrical animation again.
Yet another reason why theif and the cobbler not being finished properly is an Injustice
His work on the Queen in Snow White is phenomenal. The first great animated character in film history.
This is still my dream.. to work with and contribute, to be with and produce with, and just be with, this form of art
thank you so very much indeed i am so surprised to have seen this documentary that is so complete in detail of heart and soul of Art and Richard and the others which freely without reservation shared the golden understanding experience which cannot be found elsewhere. I will try to share this with others.
That was wonderful. Thanks for sharing this.
I know the cancellation of the thief and the cobbler was a bit of a let down and all, but you have to remember richard williams said it himself that he's always been a bit artsy fartsy. Other animators always told him to keep it simple stupid but he lost himself in this project. As much as the animation is breath taking in the point of view of us animation nerds, i wouldnt say it looks like somethinh the general broad audience would really like and producing the movie wouldve been a big loss for the company(especially considering how expensive animators are)
The Fantasia segments use the Irwin Kostal score recorded digitally for Fantasia's 1982 reissue
I love his animation in The Country Cousin and Dumbo. Great characters too! 😊😊
Wow...I'd totally forgotten that P&O ad. It suddenly filled my head with all kinds of memories! It was worth watching the video just for that :)
Art was a absolutely talented man. 👍
Great and very interesting video. I had no clue watching The Thief And The Cobbler that the person animating King Nod and Zig Zag's vulture had also animated characters in some of my childhood favorite movies such as Snow White or Pinocchio. It's also interesting to know a bit about "behind the scene" stories of the Disney classics and shorts.
Keep up the good work.
Great video quality! THANKS!
R.I.P. Art Babbitt
Hopefully one day it will be revived. If i ever get to a decision making position in the industry I am going to hunt it down and get it made how Williams would have wanted it.
Happy birthday dear Jumbo Junior. 🎂💋
I admire how BABBITT rhymes with RABBIT- it's a crazy world ain't it!
And then Shel Silverstein wrote a story called "Runny Babbit". Coincidence?
Thank you so much for sharing this.
Someone recently posted a comment about wishing there were a book about my dad, Art Babbitt. There is one written by Jake Friedman.
R.I.P. The Magic of Disney Animation (1989-2015)
Atrasado.
Amazing
Animation has gone into other genres and Japan represents very well while American animation remain in one genre forever.
Wasn't Richard Williams doing the animated segments of Who Framed Roger Rabbit during this time as well ?
Kyle Chang Depends on when this documentary was made. Who framed Roger Rabbit was released on June 22,1988.
This was done around '86, so Dick was just starting the Roger Rabbit gig.
Our versatile and great at pushing his subjects animation is awesome to dive deeper into with Mr. Williams with his expertise and experience. Along with the fascinating look into the early days of the animators we know and admire at the first studio.✏🎥🐶🌠 Stay safe everyone!
for anyone who thinks that 2D animation is the way to go and 3D (CGI) animation sucks, I would like to say this as an example of why 3D animation is good: I am VERY interested in animation. I have always wanted to animate. Unfortunately, however, I am really bad at drawing. 3D animation does not require drawing, thus giving me (and many others like me) an opportunity.
Yeah but instead of both seeing an opportunity, one has been completely killed off. Youre also making the assumption that you cant learn to draw, you just don't want to put in the effort. Do you really think that people are just born being able to draw like this?
It's too bad that you feel that way, because most of the bigger studios actually do want CG animators who know how to draw. If you know how to animate with your own hands and eyes and brain, then your CG animation will be better. I'm sure my CG friends at Blue Sky, Dreamworks, Disney, and Pixar will back me up on that one.
Is that P&O advert a Williams commercial?
Anybody knows when this documentary was made?
My now ex husband who was my boyfriend at the time (we parted amicably) was working for Dick Williams when this came out, so it was made in '86, and shown on Channel Four in '87. I got to sit in on some of those "walking man" lessons at the Hollywood studio.
amazing
@BroadwayRULZ And what about the cereal commercial after it?
You are not bad at drawing, you are a lazy artist. Your work, be it 2D or 3D will improve vastly when you resolve to learn to draw.
😢😢😢😢
Yes
it's true, I AM very lazy! :P
8:54 Who can relate? 🤚