Section 4: Towards New Dimensions
Being an animator is really like being the actor in the movie.
Rob Minkoff, Co-Director, The Lion King (1994)
In the 1990s, Walt Disney Animation Studios released some of their most beloved films of all time. They started with evocative stories, created vibrant characters and worlds and added rich musical scores. In fact, Beauty and the Beast (1991) and The Lion King (1994) have gone on to inspire hugely successful Broadway musicals and have been remade in the twenty-first century for new audiences.
The films in this section also mark Disney Animation's entry into the digital age and the development of a new set of tools for animators to explore. Computer graphics improved with each new film, later becoming the primary method for the production of animation.
The Little Mermaid (1989) saw the beginning of this process with characters and backgrounds being digitally combined in combined in the next-to-last scene of the film.
By the time of Mulan's (1998) production, the artists were able to use new techniques for computer-produced graphics to create a huge battle with over 2,000 warriors on horseback, each with individual movements.
Yet, while the technology was changing, the fundamentals remained the same. If an artist couldn't draw an appealing character, no amount of computer-produced special effects would help.
1. The films featured in this section are: The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), The Lion King (1994), Pocahontas (1995) and Mulan (1998). As a class, choose one of these films as your research focus. Building on what you learned when visiting Disney: The Magic of Animation at ACMI, see how much you can find out about the production process and the innovative digital technologies used.
Connecting through colour
Colour is used in filmmaking to communicate information about character, mood, and emotion. This is particularly the case in animation which allows for a more imaginative and stylised use of colour. The films featured in Towards New Dimensions have very distinctive colour palettes. Colour palette refers to the range of colours chosen as part of the production design – specific characters may have their own colour palette and the film as a whole will work with a particular range of colours. The thoughtful use of colour adds meaning to the story, while colours can also express emotions and feelings.
2. Look at the colour palettes (below) to learn more about the distinct range of colours used in each Disney animated film. Focus on the colours used in one of these three films and discuss with a partner what these colours mean to you. Now watch the trailer from the movie and think about the use of colour.
3. Design a film poster for your chosen film, using its colour palette.
Walt Disney Animation Studios Colour Palettes ©Disney
Glen Keane: animating characters for a new generation
Ariel from The Little Mermaid is one of the most beloved Disney characters of all time. As a sea creature who becomes entranced by human existence, Ariel has a special quality that comes from being between two worlds.
From the earliest days of Disney Animation, animators took up the challenge of animating water – Pinocchio and 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' from Fantasia are great examples. Decades later, Ariel presented a new challenge for animator Glen Keane. Audiences need to believe in her watery world and her magical nature as a mermaid but also respond to her love for a human prince.
Keane recognised that the key to Ariel's character was the fluid movement of her long hair and the curves of her tail. Making her hair move gracefully underwater was a big challenge, but Keane solved the problem by observing how the long hair of real-life astronaut Sally Ride floated in the zero gravity of space.
The Little Mermaid (1989) Glen Keane, Rough animation drawing; graphite on paper © Disney
4. What do you notice about this animation drawing of Ariel?​​ What is Glen Keane communicating about the character?​​ Explain how you know this.
5. Did you know that Walt Disney Animation Studios presents 'how to draw' videos on their YouTube channel? In the video (below), find out how to draw Ariel from Mark Henn, Directing Animator on The Little Mermaid.
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#DrawWithDisneyAnimation by Walt Disney Animation Studios
'Draw with Disney: Mark Henn' (2020) Walt Disney Animation Studios
Music: Building character, story and world
Disney's animated films have always used music and songs to help tell the story and explore themes. Music adds emotion and drama, and the songs communicate the thoughts and feelings of the characters.
The music also works in time with the movement of the animated characters, so that in a song like The Little Mermaid's 'Under the Sea', it adds fun and energy. And in 'Colours of the Wind' in Pocahontas, the song combines with what we see to bring the beauty of nature to life.
In The Lion King, the songs and the music build the world of the story as well as connecting with the dramatic events. The music was such an important part of the film that the first trailer released was of the film's opening with the song 'Circle of Life' communicating the style and mood of the film. You can find out more about this opening scene here .
6. The song 'Under the Sea' in The Little Mermaid is a great example of how the rhythm of the music can add energy to the animation. Compare the animation in this scene to Steamboat Willie. What is different and what has stayed the same?
7. Watch the opening of The Lion King. As a class discuss what the song adds to the visuals. Try watching the scene without the music to help you understand what is added by the music.
8. What is your favourite Disney Animation song? Explain why you like it so much and what it adds to the story of the movie. Use the Music worksheet to help you with your answer.
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Section 5: Bringing People Together
"We have a choice. We can tear each other apart or we can come together and build a better world. It's not too late."
Chief Benja, Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
Walt Disney Animation Studios have moved away from hand-produced art to computer graphics but remain dedicated to telling vivid and original stories and creating unique characters and imaginative worlds. Focused on innovation from the very beginning of their long history, Disney Animation have always been on the lookout for new ideas to enhance the animation process and add greater depth and interest to character, world and story. It is all about the and exploring new ways to draw viewers into the story and connect them with the experiences of the characters.
The stories that Disney Animation choose to tell in the twenty-first century contain strong messages about human connection, the diversity of experience and responsibility towards others and the environment. Female characters such as Rapunzel, Elsa, Moana, Raya have become independent leaders who take action in the face of challenges, while male leads come in a variety of guises – gentle souls like Kristoff and Hiro and rough diamonds like Maui, Nick Wilde and Flynn Rider.
Tangled (2010): a new kind of fairy tale
"Rapunzel's hair is like a superpower."
– Year 3/4 student, St Albans Heights Primary School
Tangled is Disney's first fairytale adaptation using computer animated characters. It may be another Disney fairytale, but in this movie, the princess is brave and powerful. It is a fractured fairytale where a lot of the story elements we would normally expect are turned upside down. Brave prince? No, not really. Scary villains? Many of them have a heart of gold. The evil female villain Mother Gothel is the one familiar fairytale character in the film who doesn't surprise us.
Tangled is a new and different version of the traditional Rapunzel fairytale, but her very long hair remains an important part of the story. Disney Animation experimented with innovative CGI technologies to bring the hair to life. You can find out more about this here .
In the digital age, storyboards remain an important tool in helping animators visually map out each scene. It is fascinating to see the original sketches lined up alongside the completed film. Watch the beautiful 'I See the Light' scene (below) to discover how it was planned out by the Tangled animation team using storyboards.
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Tangled Side by Side | Disney by Disney
View here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhWwGxVEDgI
'Tangled Side by Side' (2020) Walt Disney Animation Studios
1. In Tangled, Rapunzel's hair is an important part of who she is and plays an unforgettable role in the story. How would you describe the way Rapunzel's hair moves and acts to someone who hadn't seen the movie?
2. Do you know the traditional Rapunzel fairytale? Find out more about this story and compare it with the Disney Animation version. What is the same? What is different?
3. Tangled is a fractured fairytale. It takes the old fairytale story and changes it. This can be surprising and funny. It also makes us think about the values of the traditional fairytale. Which fairytale would you like to update and why?
4. Use the Fractured Fairytale worksheet to plan your own story.
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Independent female heroes
It has been many years since a female hero (protagonist) has needed a handsome prince to save her in a Disney film! The independence and energy of characters like Mulan and Rapunzel can also be found in Anna and Elsa (Frozen, 2013 and Frozen 2, 2019), Moana (Moana, 2016), Judy Hopps (Zootopia, 2016) and Raya (Raya and the Last Dragon, 2021).
The stories that are told about these complex female heroes have changed so that the most important thing is their actions and deeds, rather than whether they fall in love. They are faced with the challenge of achieving their goals and learning more about their place in their world.
5. Use the worksheet (below) to explore the character design and development of the Disney hero characters in the Bringing People Together section of Disney: The Magic of Animation exhibition.
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Concept artwork: Building character, story and world
The connection between characters and their worlds is at the heart of good storytelling, and in animated films much of this relates to visual storytelling. In films such as Moana, Frozen, Zootopia, Frozen 2 and Raya and the Last Dragon, concept artists create artworks that inspire the animation and production teams and help them bring their characters and story worlds to life.
Moana (2016); Lisa Keene; Concept art; digital painting; © Disney
6. This beautiful concept artwork (above) represents an important moment at the beginning of Moana and looks forward to the film's climax. How do the colours of Moana's world help tell her and her people's story? Download the Artwork Response worksheet to guide your response to this remarkable artwork.
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Zootopia (2016); Cory Loftis; Concept art; digital painting; © Disney
7. Look carefully and you will find Judy Hopps, Zootopia's tiny hero character, in the artwork (above). This work communicates so much about Judy's world and her place in it. But, despite her tiny size, we can also see her cheerful optimism. Use the Artwork Response worksheet to guide your response to this unique artwork.
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Frozen 2 (2019); Lisa Keene; Concept art; digital painting; © Disney
8. Elsa's strength and isolation can be seen in this beautiful concept artwork (above) created for Frozen 2. Use the Artwork Response worksheet to guide your response to this powerful image.
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Raya and the Last Dragon (2021); Paul Felix; Concept art; digital painting; © Disney
9. Raya and Tuk Tuk grow up together and travel the world on a quest to bring Raya's father and land back to life. If you look carefully at this artwork, you will see many special story and character elements. Use the Artwork Response worksheet to guide your response to this powerful image.
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Heart plus innovation in Big Hero 6 (2014)
"My favourite movie is Big Hero 6. I like it because of the characters. It has cool actions and details. And I'm up for a sad movie."
– Year 3/4 student, St Albans Heights Primary School
One of the most loveable Disney characters ever created is Baymax from Big Hero 6, a white blob with black eyes. He has been described as a huggable robot. To make him such an adorable character the Disney Animation team emphasised his soft shape as well as the contrast in size and shape between him and Hiro. Baymax's slow and jerky movements, particularly the way he leans forward and walks, suggests the innocence of a baby – in fact, Baymax's walking movements are inspired by the way a toddler walks when wearing a diaper. Other very important parts of the creation of Baymax's character are his voice and the sound of his vinyl body.
Watch this clip from the movie – it's where Hiro and Baymax meet – and think about the techniques used to introduce the audience to Baymax and to make him so appealing.
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"Discovery" Clip - Big Hero 6 by Walt Disney Animation Studios
View here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEeBXUUOBiI
'Discovery' Clip – Big Hero 6 (2014) Walt Disney Animation Studios
10. After watching the clip, discuss with a partner everything you noticed about Baymax – how he looks, moves, sounds and talks. Write down or draw all the things you and your partner noticed. Now share these ideas with the rest of the class and see how many features and techniques you can list.
11. Animators often act out scenes so as to work out the best way to recreate movements and emotions in animation. Try acting out the scene where Hiro meets Baymax. Does this teach you anything new about the characters or the animation process?
12. Dig deeper into the scene and learn more about how to read a film by downloading the Scene Response worksheet.
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As with all of Disney Studio's animated films, Big Hero 6 is part of a long tradition of drawing and animation that places the most importance on the emotional connection the audience forms with the characters in the story. Technological innovations are therefore about creating a better and more relatable story. As with the CGI breakthrough that gives Rapunzel's hair so much personality, revolutionary software helped the Big Hero 6 team bring the characters and stories to life. For instance, light is used to great effect in Baymax's character design and this is owed to Disney's Hyperion rendering software.
You can find out about this and other innovations that helped bring the characters and world of Big Hero 6 to life in this short video.
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The  Innovative New Technology Used in Big Hero 6 | Disney by Disney
'The Innovative New Technology Used in "Big Hero 6"' (2014) Walt Disney Animation Studios
Bringing people together: Raya and the Last Dragon
With a focus on trust and diversity, Disney's most recent animated film sends a message about the importance of working together to solve problems. With the goal of restoring a dying world, the film's hero Raya perseveres against the odds, gradually bringing together a group of characters from other lands. They are very different from each other but share a common purpose.
The ideas explored in Raya and the Last Dragon are complex ones relevant to real-world issues. Raya's team is made up of people who should be enemies but discover, that if they work together their differences become a shared strength. This is also a great lesson about the value of collaboration.
The ideal of trusting others comes with the knowledge that this trust might not always be rewarded. The message is not that people should learn to be wary of deceit but, instead, be prepared to keep showing trust in the face of disappointment. Eventually, it might just pay off.
Watch the trailer to be reminded of the different characters Raya meets and the lands she travels to as she searches for the pieces of the dragon gem.
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Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon | Official Trailer by Walt Disney Animation Studios
'Raya and the Last Dragon Official Trailer'(2021) Walt Disney Animation Studios
13. Describe the characters who join Raya to bring the world together.
14. As well as showing the strength that comes from difference and diversity, the contrast in the characters' appearance, age and size is funny and interesting. Which of these companion characters is your favourite? Explain why.
15. Despite their differences, the characters in Raya's team also have several similarities. In what ways are they similar? What qualities do they share?
16. What are some of the things you notice about the different worlds and settings? Pause the video and look carefully at each different setting. What do you notice? What stands out about each of the different lands?
17. Do you agree that if someone you trust lets you down, you should give them another chance?
18. Although Raya and the Last Dragon is a fantasy, the message it teaches can be applied to the world we live in. If we learned to accept difference, trust others and work together towards a shared goal, what are some of the things we could achieve and change?
Disney's 'plus' factor: the creative power of collaboration
Raya and the Last Dragon's message about the power of working together and building strength through difference can be applied to the collaborative process of making animated feature films and is celebrated and promoted at Walt Disney Animation Studios. Next time you watch an animated film created by Disney Animation, take the time to watch the credits to see how many people contribute to making the film a success.
As you leave the gallery after visiting Disney: The Magic of Animation at ACMI, you will hear from many of the people working at Disney and learn about the different roles involved in making an animated film and running a production studio. Disney Animation's recognition of the many ways people contribute and the different talents and skills they bring to a project links with the Studios' belief that the creative process is about building ideas collaboratively – 'plussing'.
In the final production stage of Raya and the Last Dragon, the production team had to work together remotely because of COVID-19. To bring such an extraordinary and richly imagined story to life is a credit to the power of Disney Animation's collaborative processes and creative teamwork. You can learn more about how this worked in the video (below).
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Untold With The Filmmakers of Raya and the Last Dragon | Disney by Disney
View here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adP4cXSiYss
'Untold With The Filmmakers of Raya and the Last Dragon' (2021) Walt Disney Animation Studios
19.  What extra collaborative skills do you think the Raya and the Last Dragon production team needed to be able to finish the movie while social distancing because of COVID-19?
20. Visit the Walt Disney Animation Studios website to learn more about the people who work there and what they do: https://www.disneyanimation.com/
Start creating!
Now it's time for you to start collaborating on your own animated movie. You can either work in teams or work together as a whole class. Remember how much can be achieved when collaborating with others and using each person's different skills and talents to achieve a great outcome.
Why not get started with ACMI's simple guide to Stop Motion animation !
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