Disney’s Once Upon A Studio celebrates 100 years of animation
Celebrating their 100th, Disney released a nostalgic 8 minute short featuring characters from across its century of animation. Welcoming back 543 characters from more than 85 Disney feature-length and short films, all interacting with one another, the piece features all-new hand-drawn and CG animation. Written and directed by Dan Abraham and Trent Correy, and produced by Yvett Merino and Bradford Simonsen, Once Upon A Studio was released through Disney+ on 16 October.
The history of Disney is immediately acknowledged as animator Burny Mattinson makes a cameo, who’s 70 year long career saw his directorial efforts on Mickey’s Christmas Carol. During the short clip, viewers are taken through the iconic Walt Disney Animation Studios headquarters in Burbank, California, where the pictures of the fames characters start to come to life. Led by Mickey Mouse, the collective of characters all come together in hopes to take a group phot in front of the building which resembles Mickey’s conical blue hat from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
Across Disney’s 100 years, animation has witnessed significant changes, taken on by the studio during 2005’s Chicken Little use of CG animation. For Once Upon A Studio, that was definitely a challenge for Abrahma and Correy. But the duo, who’s work includes the 2019 Once Upon a Snowman Short for Frozen’s Olaf, were keen to make it happen. Drawing on the experiences of those who had worked with Disney in the past, and relying on the talents of those who were capable to work across different animation styles, like Mario Furmanczyk who worked on both on Flounder and Moana, the project came to fruition.
Bringing back as many of the original voices for the characters was an added bonus to contribute the nostalgia of the project. From Jeremy Irons as Scar, Judy Kuhn singing for Pocahontas and getting permission from Robin William’s estate to hear Genie from Aladdin once again, the project is a testament to a century’s worth of dedication and loyalty to the production company.
Images courtesy of Disney
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