From Magic to Animation

From Magic to Animation

I remember one spring afternoon riding with my sister in the back seat of my parents 1968 black Thunderbird.  We were out for a drive having fun watching the trees go by and wondering where we were headed.  But it really didn’t matter as it was warm and sunny.  The windows were down and the rush of air was comfortable on us as we traveled along the interstate somewhere near our home in Florida.  

Just as I was looking to my right out the window, my sister and I noticed a sign that read, “Disneyworld Next Two Exits.”  We looked at each other and experienced a thrill that we have never forgotten.  Just reading the sign and knowing that we were so close to such a magical place was enough to get us excited.  A place that I had seen on TV and all the wonderful things my own imagination had dreamt about.   To my surprise my parents were braving the trip to treat my sister and I to a fun-packed weekend for my birthday.  It was May 1972, I was turning six and the park had just opened months before.   

The magical experience I had at such a young age has had a lasting impression on my life.  It has influenced my creative thinking, given me a passion for discovery and driven me to find the childlike sensibility in everyday experiences.  My first memory of an animated film was seeing the initial release of the Aristocats in 1970 with my mother.  It wasn’t until after I had seen my first animated feature as an adult that I discovered a love for animation art.  

With this blog I look to share  my personal stories discovering my love of art, what it means and how it makes me feel through the medium of  animation.  Each week I plan to share my insights, learnings and fun aspects of what I have found along this journey.  There has been many interesting people along the way, and some unique insights and experiences itself that I don't think I would have ever found from just looking at the face value of the art.   Hopefully, this blog will allow you to reminisce into my world of animation art that reveals my never-ending sense of discovery, passion for story telling art and the personal experience that "makes" the magic real.

So I start with two very different pieces of art on this initial posting:  my title which is a very simple effects drawing from Snow White where the Queen is transforming into the old Hag.  This is actually a 16 field animation drawing done in colored pencil that really captures the energy, color and physical way I look at animation.  I think it serves well for the title of the blog (as well as the cover of my book).  As I share stories, the title image will be updated to share the sense of being "drawn to animation."  

The second is an inspirational sketch I did many years ago of one my favorite places, Cinderella's Castle at Walt Disney World.  I made this sketch for my own enjoyment over 20 years ago ago after trip to park with friends.  It makes me feel good just looking at it and remembering when I saw it for the first time in May of 1972.  

Cinderella's Castle, Walt Disney World, Drawing by Sean Monico, circa 1991