The Nine Old Men

1958 Photo: left to right, Kimball, Larson, Thomas, Davis, Johnston, Clark, Kahl, Lounsbery, Reitherman

Much has been written about the Nine Old Men and their larger-than-life animation achievements. These were not the first talented artists to work for the Disney Studio, yet they certainly became it's creative core for more than 40 years.

Probably the most definitive work on these 'conquistadors' of the Golden Age is John Canemaker's book, Walt Disney's Nine Old Men and the Art of Animation (Disney Editions, 2001, ISBN-10: 0786864966).

Front Cover

Canemaker recounts how Walt jokingly nicknamed this dream team after President Roosevelt's description of his contentious 1937 Supreme Court, "nine old men, all too aged to recognize a new idea."

Newspaper Cartoon, February 9, 1937, Brooklyn Citizen via New Deal Network.

Of course, the animators were neither old nor afraid of new ideas. Quite the opposite, they would be the leaders, taking the art of animation to new heights.

The Nine Old Men were:

• Les Clark (joined Disney February 23, 1927)
• Wolfgang Reitherman (May 21, 1933)
• Eric Larson (June 1, 1933)
• Ward Kimball (April 2, 1934)
• Milt Kahl (June 25, 1934)
• Frank Thomas (September 24, 1934)
• Ollie Johnston (January 21, 1935)
• John Lounsbery (July 2, 1935)
• Marc Davis (December 2, 1935)

1972 Photo: left to right, Kahl, Reitherman, Davis, Clark, Thomas, Kimball, Larson, Lounsbery, Johnston

Animator Les Clark was the first to be hired in early 1927. The rest of the group came in between 1933-35, just as things were heating up for the making of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. From 1935-37, all nine of the very young "old men" would be involved.

Throughout this month, we'll take a closer look at what each contributed to the film and in what capacity they served the animation factory that was the Disney Studio of the late 1930s.

Further reading:

• "2002 Interview with John Canemaker" at The Laughing Place
• "Walt's Nine Old Men" from A Day in Disney History

Spring Bluebells

Good Morning from the dull, misty, cold and basically pretty miserable Fens, but I am keeping positive and hoping for a glimmer of sunshine if for no other reason so I can take some photos of my latest makes. And I keep reminding myself Spring is not so far away, judging by the garden the bulbs certainly think so.

So just a quick couple of shares before I head off for my routine bloods, I'm still pretty immobile and the pain is as fierce as ever at times, in fact I reckon I could move backwards quicker then forwards, so needless to say I can't even contemplate driving and hubby is taking me.

But all is positive on the crafty front.......a girl has to do something to pass the time and I do find like so many of you that it helps absorb the mind and the pain seem less evident. Both my cards are made with Ruth's wonderful artwork which you can grab for yourself at A Passion for Stamps. Ruth has drawn some lovely new Spring crocuses which I will be sharing with you shortly and also some very sweet love birds which I need to put to use this week.

My card up top uses the beautiful bluebells, printed onto Fabriano watercolour card, heat embossed with detail clear.....you know my method of throwing the powder on as it comes through the printer and coloured with Aquamarkers. The DP is Nitwits, the roses cut with a Marianne die and the swirl is a Memory Box die, aren't they just so delicate.

My second card is Ruth's columbine printed onto acetate, then placed on one side of a piece of double sided sticky sheet. The reverse is a piece of white tissue paper scrunched up and inked with TH broken china, old paper and stormy sky, then stuck to the reverse side of the sticky sheet. The flower is then coloured with Copics from the reverse through the tissue, this technique never fails to fascinate me. The sentiment is a really old PB wood mounted stamp. I picked a couple of laurel leaves to place in front of my card when I did the photo, but they do look like they have measles in the picture don't they ?

Have a good Tuesday everyone, thanks for popping in and I hope you see a bit of sunshine today.

WDCC Snow White Figurine (70th Anniversary - 2007)

We wrap up our look at the 70th anniversary commemorative items with this open edition Snow White and Dopey figurine entitled A Sweet Send Off. It was introduced by the Walt Disney Classics Collection in July 2007. Sculpted by artist Kent Melton, the figure stands 6.375" tall. Along with the usual bottom impressions, (the first year production mark was Captain Hook's hook), the piece also bears a 70th anniversary stamp. Original retail price $199 (USD).

Item Number: 4006685

Stock photo copyright Disney. Box image via mole314. 

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Update: February 6, 2012...

It was just over a week ago that I posted the above info on the Sweet Send Off figurine. Now news comes to us via Duckman's Blog that the 5 year old WDCC piece is being retired. It had a nice run.

Makes one wonder if a 75th Anniversary sculpt might be in the works. Special thanks to Disney Showcase Key for the tip about the retirement.

Love is in the air

Helene is our host at Allsorts this week and preparing us for Valentines day as she would like us to use one or more hears on our work. I do hope you will be able to join in, just pop over the the challenge blog to find out more and see what's on offer for this weeks prize.

My first DT make is using one of the new stamps from Hero Arts S5601 Newspaper Background, it's quite a biggie but stamps out beautifully.......I used Versafine black to pick up all the fine detail. I stamped it twice, once for the background piece which I tore down one side and mounted onto a piece of heat embossed red satin cardstock and from the second piece and more of the red, I cut out four hearts with Nestabilites and matted them up. I tied some red cord and bakers twice down the side and added a heart button.

My second make is an engagement card I made for some friends earlier this month using the prospective brides favourite colours. Unusually for me there is no stamping involved and the card was quite a quick and easy one to make. I cut the hears from bazzil and Kasier DP, tied some ribbon across the centre and added three rosebuds. I embossed the background cardstock with a Sizzix harlequin folder and added tiny pearls. The sentiment is computer generated. 

Have a good weekend everyone and thanks for popping by.

Gold Coin Set (70th Anniversary - 2007)

This commemorative 24kt gold coin overlay set consists of 9 pieces--Snow White, all Seven Dwarfs, and a 70th anniversary logo. Individually numbered on the side of each coin, the collection is limited to 1937. The backs read: "Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 70th Anniversary December 21, 1937 © Disney." They measure approximately 1.5" in diameter.

Housed in a handsome wooden box (7.625" x 7.25") with a see-thru window, each coin is encased in it's own protective plastic covering. Certificate of Authenticity included. Original retail price $175 (USD).

Images via timefinder, 1670.caz752 and Walt Disney Event Services.

Cast Member Trinket Box (70th Anniversary - 2007)

Created in 2007 exclusively for Disney cast, crew and imagineers, this Snow White 70th Anniversary trinket/jewelry box is made of antiqued fine porcelain. The covered dish displays artwork on nearly every surface. Measures approximately 5" across and 1.5" tall.

The six side panels all contain illustrations. Pictured below are Snow White and the Prince on one and the Seven Dwarfs on another. Not shown is panel three with Snow kissing Dopey's head, panel four with the Evil Queen, panel five presents half the Dwarfs holding pickaxes, and panel six with the remaining three Dwarfs heading home from work, Doc in lead.

The inside lid reads, "Celebrating 70 Years of magic with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."

The dish interior features Snow White at the Wishing Well and with a bird in her hand. The text says, "Disney Family Holiday Celebration" and "Because of you, dreams come true."

On the bottom is signed "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" with a heart on either side. Also "©Disney  Made in Thailand."

Bradford Editions Figurine Collection (70th Anniversary - 2007)

This 2007 porcelain collection of 70th anniversary figurines designed by The Bradford Editions featured Snow White and the Dwarfs in their "Silly Song" scene. The pieces were released at intervals, the first included both Happy and Dopey. Snow White came next followed by the rest of the dwarfs, each in a separate issue.

The Snow White figurine stands 7" tall (17.8 cm) and plays the "Heigh-Ho" song. Her skirt features artwork from the movie and the rest of her is accented with 22K gold and Swarovski crystals. Hand-painted. Certificates of Authenticity included.

Snow White images via Collectibles Javcom.

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Also from The Bradford Editions in 2007 was this Evil Queen figurine, the premiere issue in the Disney's Divas of Darkness Collection. The piece measures approximately 6" high (15.2 cm) and was limited to 95 casting days. Artwork on the cape depicts the Witch offering the poison apple to Snow with castle in background. Accents include a sparkling simulated ruby pendant and 22K-gold crown. COA included.

Stock images copyright Disney.

A walk in the Country

So how's everyone doing today ?

I'm a happy camper this morning, last night my boys in red made it through to the Wembley final and now I can't want for February 26th when Stevie lead the lads out onto the pitch. They all did a great job and played with real belief and conviction and Craig Bellamy, the best 'free' ever, got a well deserved Man of the Match award. Well done boys.

I know, how sad am I that I love footie almost as much as crafting, but I think the brayer's still got the edge. Although I sponged all the colour onto this one which I made recently for Sir Stampalot using a mixture of Art Impression stamps, Stampscapes plus a few others thrown in for good measure, a masked sun and Adirondack dye inks. The fences are part stamped and part hard drawn.

Thought I would enter another one into Create a Scene challenge as it's so my kind of thing.

Have a god Thursday and thank for visiting.

Commemorative Pins (70th Anniversary - 2007)

Snow White's 70th was well represented in the pin department. These two spinners, of Snow and the Dwarfs, are both limited editions of 1000 and were released during at the November 16th DCA event. Original retail price $12.95 (USD) each.

Snow...

Snow White Spinner via of Tiggerandpals and TheToyMart.

Dwarfs...

Dwarf Spinner from personal collection.

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A 70th Anniversary event-only pin was also released. Limited edition of 500. Original retail price $8.95.

Image courtesy of Disney Pins and Charms. Used with permission.

Concept Art for pin.

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Again from Disneyland Resort, this limited edition set of 1000 was also released November 16, 2007. Original price $75.00.

Set images courtesy of Pete over at pjlmbk. Used with permission.

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This Disneyland Resort cast member pin reads: "70th Anniversary Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." The back has the official pin trading logo and is stamped with "Cast Exclusive Limited Edition 500 ©Disney China." Original retail price $8.00.

The pin came on a card printed with the film title on the left side and the 70th Anniversary shield in the center. Below it reads:

Created in celebration of the 70th anniversary of Walt Disney's landmark masterpiece "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," this Cast Member exclusive pin was inspired by an original movie poster by B. Laney used for the French release of the film in 1938.

Concept Art

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Walt Disney World released this limited edition pin of 1500 on the actual anniversary date of the film, December 21st. It has the usual back-stamp markings. Artwork for this pin was created by Disney Design Group Artist Rachael Sur. Original retail price $8.95.

Images from personal collection.

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This 3" jumbo was sold through the Disney Store. Released November 19, 2007, the pin was limited to just 500. Original retail price $14.95.

Image via Pin Pics.