The Art of Disney: Vibrant Reality Meets Vivid Imagination
Disney Springs, a quaint little “town” perched on the edge of a beautifully bubbling spring, is a vision brought to life by Walt Disney Imaginers. It has four distinct districts, each specializing in decadent dining, dazzling entertainment, and delightful souvenirs. Located in the Marketplace district is a fan favorite which many visitors claim to be the best shop in Disney Springs – The Art of Disney.
(Photo: MouseEars TV Creative Team)
Showcased pieces of artwork have been painted, sketched, and sculpted by renowned Disney artists and are available for purchase (or, if you have real self-control, just a bit of magical window shopping). Each piece of artwork is limited edition and entirely unique, yet a common thread ties them all together. . .
But to figure out what it is, we need to untangle the history behind the art of Disney!
Out Popped A Mouse
“Now, to tell you the truth, I was never a good artist.”1
Would you believe Walt Disney uttered those words? One can almost picture him, hands in pockets, wearing a sheepish grin, as he makes his confession. And yet the confession must fall on deaf ears because who in their right mind can say Walt wasn’t an artist? Even animation critic and historian Charles Solomon said, “The rumor that he couldn’t draw isn’t true.”2
While Walt’s estimation of himself was certainly humble, indeed, he wasn’t always the artist behind the iconic characters who now adorn our favorite merch. In fact, Walt didn’t even make the first drawing of his most famous cartoon character.3
In 1928, Walt was busy brainstorming a new character with his best friend and business partner, Ub Iwerks. This character was going to be a replacement for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, who Walt’s distributor had stolen at Universal, Charles Mintz.4
Ub began sketching a pear-shaped body, round ears, string-thin tail. . .and soon the men were greeted by a sweet, smiling mouse.5 (That was Mickey, of course!)
While Ub provided the animation, Walt imbued Mickey with a personality, even lending his own, high-pitched voice to the mouse in those early cartoons. The secret behind Mickey’s success was a bond of friendship and mutual respect between creators.
“When you put Walt and Ub together, they were able to do just about anything,” said Disney author Jeff Ryan.6
Working together in a grand partnership, Walt, Ub, and a team of animators would refine their style until anyone could point to a picture and say, “now that’s gotta be from the Walt Disney Company!”
That Signature Disney Style
From Princess Anna to Aladdin – and from Arendelle to Agrabah – there’s a distinct “Disney aesthetic” that defines each character and every setting. So, just what is the style behind the art of Disney?
The art of Disney usually begins with a careful study in reality, then incorporates elements of culturally significant artwork from around the world. The studied realism keeps characters believable and relatable, while the unique influence of other artwork is what sets them each apart.
An early example of this method, led by Walt himself, is Bambi.
When production began, Walt had his animators take a class in animal anatomy so they’d know exactly how to make baby Bambi walk like a real fawn. Going one step further, Walt even had a live deer brought into the studio for artistic reference.
It was important that Bambi be “a caricature with a certain little humanized touch,” Walt explained, “but still believable as [a] deer.”7
Similarly, great care was taken with the backgrounds in Bambi, but the inspiration for them came from an unexpected place. “Tyrus Wong was a Chinese-born American artist who worked as the principal designer of Bambi and introduced stylistic elements from Chinese landscape paintings.”8 Using works from the ancient Song dynasty as his guide, Wong created misty backgrounds and detailed foregrounds for Bambi and his friends to romp through.
The result of all this hard work was a family film destined to become a classic. And that same method has been applied to all of Disney’s works. For example, a special computer program was created to master the movement of Rapunzel’s hair in Tangled, while backgrounds for the movie were modeled after famous rococo painting, The Swing.9
The vitality that shines through from the careful study of life combined with aspects of artistic movements throughout the centuries is at the heart of the art of Disney.10
And it is this heart that makes us wish (upon a star) to live in those carefully crafted worlds. With a trip to the Art of Disney in Disney Springs, you can at least bring a piece of that heart into your own world!
Shopping and Sketching
Enter the most magical art gallery on earth as you walk through the front doors of The Art of Disney in Disney Springs!
Here you can take your time to browse a vast collection of prints, paintings, figurines, animation cels, and postcards. Each fantastic piece is inspired by a Disney character (or several) and reflective of that signature Disney style!
The elegantly framed prints are all limited edition and often carry the signature of the artist. But even cooler than a pre-signed print is nabbing the autograph from the artist yourself! The Art of Disney frequently schedules awesome artist meet-and-greets so you can meet the masters behind the masterpieces.
And on really special days, a Disney artist will be in the shop, sketching in real-time for all to see (and purchase)! On those days, it’s really tempting to just hang out at The Art of Disney all day and watch the creative process go down.
Observing these animators at work is like getting a tiny glimpse into the studio with Walt and Ub all those years ago when Mickey was also nothing more than a sketch on a pad. . .
As you pass by the paintings on sale, it’s hard to decide – do you get a Stitch canvas for the kitchen or a vintage Steamboat Willie poster for the den? Or maybe a pop-art-inspired figurine of Belle dancing with Beast to set on the mantle? Honestly, the best answer is probably to get them all and turn your own home into a Disney art gallery!
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a friend, The Art of Disney is the perfect place to find a gift in Disney Springs. Everyone’s favorite character is sure to star in at least one work of art, from a Goofy sketch to a Genie sculpture. (Let me know if you see a giant painting of Pascal the chameleon, please!)
Every piece in The Art of Disney gallery is brimming with magic, ready to bring a pop of inspiration and a burst of life into your home. And that’s what the art of Disney is all about!
More than character design or artistic influence, the Art of Disney is about the heart behind the animation, and that heart is beating with a desire to add beauty and light to our world, then inspire all who encounter it to do the same.
Do you have any awesome Art of Disney artwork in your home? Let us know in the comments below!
Stay colorful!
Cover Image
Photo: Pixabay
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