Friday, July 20, 2012

How Does a Dalmatian Gulp?




That's the question Frank Thomas asked himself when he analyzed certain expressions for a scene with Pongo. 
The following drawings are pre-animation exploratory sketches. As usual Frank researched every aspect of the scene in detail.
The acting called for something that dogs don't do, a gulp. Pongo is gathering some courage here, he has spotted Perdita in the park. Now he is determined to meet her and also have Roger meet Anita.
Putting such a subtle human gesture on to a dog's face is not an easy task. 
But this is the kind of acting Frank excels at, and the end result is completely believable as well as entertaining. 









10 comments:

  1. This is certainly what animation excels best in I feel! Giving an animal a single human gesture is only one of the many unique ways of making the impossible plausible in just a few drawings.

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  2. I always loved the flexibility the animators acheived, by almost morphing the dogs' chins into lower lips whenever they were frowning, like in the 3rd drawing. Awesome post, Andreas!

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  3. Perfectly beautiful. It makes me want to watch my dog and expect him to gulp sometime! It looks so real.

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  4. That is quite some subtle squash and stretch!

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  5. Makes something like this so believable ';)

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  6. Mr. Thomas conveyed it so clearly; anyone of any age or language can look at those few drawings and know exactly what's happening. Great photo, too! :)

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  7. I recognize Ken Anderson's office in B-wing on Animation's third floor.

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  8. It never gits old seeing this art work.

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  9. I've always loved this part, really makes you feel for the poor dog! :)

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