Comments on: Eyvind Earle and Sleeping Beauty (1959) http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/ The official blog of the new Chronicle book CARTOON MODERN: STYLE AND DESIGN IN FIFTIES ANIMATION. Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:24:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Joann http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-1167 Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:18:57 +0000 http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-1167 Wauw it is and will always be my favourite fairytale greet Wauw it is and will always be my favourite fairytale greet

]]> by: amber http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-1142 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:03:16 +0100 http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-1142 I agree with you, Peter, that the opinions expressing that Sleeping Beauty was a failure must've come from an animator first, artist second. I've watched Sleeping Beauty more times than any Disney Classic animated film (I have all but 5)!!! I hadn't figured out why I was so addicted to it until I became an adult and watched the special features explaining Earle's method! It's so unfortunate that he left Disney Studios following Sleeping Beauty... I would have LOVED to see what other amazing artwork he would have put to film animation. I'm absolutely glued to the TV when watching Sleeping Beauty because there's so much to soak in every time I see it! I don't think it takes away from the characters at all to have a detailed background (especially how exquisitely Earle made it)! I think by having the characters on such a full, rich background, elevates them to a scale of higher importance since they are gracing that background! In reflecting on Sleeping Beauty: It feels like a rich, delectable meal when I watch it. I'm pleasantly satisfied and will eat it again because it was so amazing. However, when I watch it again, I have to make sure that I'm "hungry", so to speak, because I'm in for quite a meal!!! When it comes to 101 Dalmations... I can see that the argument is about continuity in the animated visual themes, but I think too much continuity in the visual themes isn't for some people who enjoy contrast! Personally, I think 101 Dalmations is a cute movie, but I've lost interest (or fallen asleep during) in it almost every time that I've attempted to watch it. Movies and/or animation without contrast, in any respect (be it storyline, animation and etc.), tend to be less interesting and/or memorable than those with contrast! Although, I must say that if it was another artist painting the backgrounds so full of detail like Earle's work on Sleeping Beauty, then I'm not so sure they could pull it off as a work of art or to fit so well with the characters! A lot of how it worked also had to do with the superiority of the animators doing the characters! (Even if they were fighting Earle on the visual design, it turned out for the best!) I've heard of a band of musicians who would only get together once a year to write songs and do their creative work because they fought too much to spend more than once a year together! Needless to say, they are not together anymore, but they came up with some of the most original and biting music I've ever heard. That's the point of art in the first place, so I've learned, to make a strong impression on the appreciator, not necessarily a positive or a negative one, but to make a STRONG impression. As we see by this blog, Earle and his team of animators certainly accomplished that!!! I agree with you, Peter, that the opinions expressing that Sleeping Beauty was a failure
must’ve come from an animator first, artist second.

I’ve watched Sleeping Beauty more times than any Disney Classic animated film (I have all but 5)!!! I hadn’t figured out why I was so addicted to it until I became an adult and watched the special features explaining Earle’s method! It’s so unfortunate that he left Disney Studios following Sleeping Beauty… I would have LOVED to see what other amazing artwork he would have put to film animation. I’m absolutely glued to the TV when watching Sleeping Beauty because there’s so much to soak in every time I see it! I don’t think it takes away from the characters at all to have a detailed background (especially how exquisitely Earle made it)! I think by having the characters on such a full, rich background, elevates them to a scale of higher importance since they are gracing that background!

In reflecting on Sleeping Beauty: It feels like a rich, delectable meal when I watch it. I’m pleasantly satisfied and will eat it again because it was so amazing. However, when I watch it again, I have to make sure that I’m “hungry”, so to speak, because I’m in for quite a meal!!!

When it comes to 101 Dalmations… I can see that the argument is about continuity in the animated visual themes, but I think too much continuity in the visual themes isn’t for some people who enjoy contrast! Personally, I think 101 Dalmations is a cute movie, but I’ve lost interest (or fallen asleep during) in it almost every time that I’ve attempted to watch it. Movies and/or animation without contrast, in any respect (be it storyline, animation and etc.), tend to be less interesting and/or memorable than those with contrast!

Although, I must say that if it was another artist painting the backgrounds so full of detail like Earle’s work on Sleeping Beauty, then I’m not so sure they could pull it off as a work of art or to fit so well with the characters! A lot of how it worked also had to do with the superiority of the animators doing the characters! (Even if they were fighting Earle on the visual design, it turned out for the best!) I’ve heard of a band of musicians who would only get together once a year to write songs and do their creative work because they fought too much to spend more than once a year together! Needless to say, they are not together anymore, but they came up with some of the most original and biting music I’ve ever heard. That’s the point of art in the first place, so I’ve learned, to make a strong impression on the appreciator, not necessarily a positive or a negative one, but to make a STRONG impression. As we see by this blog, Earle and his team of animators certainly accomplished that!!!

]]> by: Peter http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-1048 Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:43:55 +0100 http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-1048 When I saw this movie as child I thought it was the greatest Disney film ever made. Now as an adult and seeing the film again all I can say is “I was right” . Earle was awesome! He made that film. As far as 101 Dalmations ...Sorry, It doesn’t hold. I have 4 small children (3 boys, 1 girl) they all love Sleeping Beauty and the only 101 Dalmations they love is the remake. I’m glad Earle stuck to his guns and didn’t compromise is artistic vision otherwise the movie would have been another (animation first/backgrounds second) film... Seen it, done it! This movie is a work of art. I can’t say that for any recent Disney movie. This article seems like it was written by an animator first, artist second. Earle was an artist first...Thank God! When I saw this movie as child I thought it was the greatest Disney film ever made. Now as an adult and seeing the film again all I can say is “I was right” . Earle was awesome! He made that film. As far as 101 Dalmations …Sorry, It doesn’t hold. I have 4 small children (3 boys, 1 girl) they all love Sleeping Beauty and the only 101 Dalmations they love is the remake. I’m glad Earle stuck to his guns and didn’t compromise is artistic vision otherwise the movie would have been another (animation first/backgrounds second) film… Seen it, done it! This movie is a work of art. I can’t say that for any recent Disney movie. This article seems like it was written by an animator first, artist second. Earle was an artist first…Thank God!

]]> by: drazen http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-654 Fri, 07 Apr 2006 05:47:00 +0100 http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-654 Dalmations and Beauty are my two favourite disney [maybe animated feature] films as well [with Dumbo and Jungle Book close behind for different reasons] Triplets of Belleville is probably the only animated movie [not including stop motion stuff] that gives me the same feeling as these and some of the reasons for the faults of the movie are probably why I like it. It has the feel of singular guiding hand and not a giant committe, even tho obviously animation is a collaborative effort. Dalmations and Beauty are my two favourite disney [maybe animated feature] films as well [with Dumbo and Jungle Book close behind for different reasons] Triplets of Belleville is probably the only animated movie
[not including stop motion stuff] that gives me the same feeling as these and some of the reasons for the faults of the movie are probably why I like it. It has the feel of singular guiding hand and not a giant committe,
even tho obviously animation is a collaborative effort.

]]> by: Amid http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-644 Mon, 03 Apr 2006 03:58:54 +0100 http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-644 Floyd - Thanks for commenting. There's no doubt that the film is a classic. You should certainly be proud to have worked on it. Floyd - Thanks for commenting. There’s no doubt that the film is a classic. You should certainly be proud to have worked on it.

]]> by: Floyd Norman http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-643 Sun, 02 Apr 2006 21:38:46 +0100 http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-643 Clash of the Titans, to be sure. Still, it was a fascinating time to be working at Disney. I'm proud to have worked on what I still consider a Disney classic. Clash of the Titans, to be sure. Still, it was a fascinating time to be working at Disney. I’m proud to have worked on what I still consider a Disney classic.

]]> by: Ernesto Melo http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-640 Sun, 02 Apr 2006 15:44:56 +0100 http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-640 Hi Amid, Van Eaton has uploaded some new Earle's material, THE TRUTH ABOUT MOTHER GOOSE - 1957, PAUL BUNYAN (plus Mary Blair's LITTLE HOUSE and Kimball's MARS AND BEYOND/MAN AND THE MOON). Here's the <a HREF="http://www.vegalleries.com/disopd4.html">link for Van Eaton</a>. Saludos! Hi Amid, Van Eaton has uploaded some new Earle’s material, THE TRUTH ABOUT MOTHER GOOSE - 1957, PAUL BUNYAN (plus Mary Blair’s LITTLE HOUSE and Kimball’s MARS AND BEYOND/MAN AND THE MOON). Here’s the link for Van Eaton.
Saludos!

]]> by: Jenny http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-636 Sat, 01 Apr 2006 13:27:50 +0100 http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-636 Great discussion here--I find I agree with everybody! And my impression too is that while it's easy (and feels good, to an artist) to defend Earle as a lone maverick against guys who were clueless as to his superior, unique vision, it's also my impression--from Earle's own words--that, as Amid points out, he was pretty much of an intolerant so and so about the hard facts of feature production, and a major pain to have to "collaborate" with. I can just feel the frustration the animators must have had...funny, someone as "maverick" and individually daring as Maurice Noble used to say again and again that the background stylings <i>must</i> be a stage for the characters; if they dominated to the detriment of the character action or focus, they were a failure--and he included his own work in that view, citing experiments where he felt he'd not acheived what was most important (I think one such title of his he put in this category was "Nelly's Folly"). <i>He</i> had some pretty interesting things to say about Eyvind! ; ) But taken all in all, I love "Sleeping Beauty" for several reasons; as an art piece, as a grand effort, and corny as it is, to watch "Once upon a Dream" in 70mm is something that always just floors me--that long shot by the lake. Wow. Great discussion here–I find I agree with everybody!
And my impression too is that while it’s easy (and feels good, to an artist) to defend Earle as a lone maverick against guys who were clueless as to his superior, unique vision, it’s also my impression–from Earle’s own words–that, as Amid points out, he was pretty much of an intolerant so and so about the hard facts of feature production, and a major pain to have to “collaborate” with. I can just feel the frustration the animators must have had…funny, someone as “maverick” and individually daring as Maurice Noble used to say again and again that the background stylings must be a stage for the characters; if they dominated to the detriment of the character action or focus, they were a failure–and he included his own work in that view, citing experiments where he felt he’d not acheived what was most important (I think one such title of his he put in this category was “Nelly’s Folly”). He had some pretty interesting things to say about Eyvind! ; )
But taken all in all, I love “Sleeping Beauty” for several reasons; as an art piece, as a grand effort, and corny as it is, to watch “Once upon a Dream” in 70mm is something that always just floors me–that long shot by the lake. Wow.

]]> by: hans bacher http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-633 Fri, 31 Mar 2006 16:07:27 +0100 http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-633 to me SLEEPING BEAUTY was always a complete piece of art. I know about the major fights and intrigues behind the scenes. that always happens. especially when so many big egos hit their heads together. I went through that, it's a fight every day. and in case you get a good looking piece in the end, you should be lucky. in sleeping beauty you can look at every single scene, with or without the mostly superb animation, and frame it. there is no other movie in my oppinion where pure art was transferred to the screen. and his art direction is completely against the rules in animation, he is overloading the backgrounds with too much detail. if someone else had been in charge you would not have found the characters in that mess. but here - it works! you are right about the differences to 101 dalmatians, that's why it is my favourite disney movie. because you feel, everybody enjoyed the work, it is light and so well done. and then you hear from ken andersen, disney hated it. there is no doubt, nobody today could ever do these films again, neither of them. I am very happy, I can learn from them. to me SLEEPING BEAUTY was always a complete piece of art. I know about the major fights and intrigues behind the scenes. that always happens. especially when so many big egos hit their heads together. I went through that, it’s a fight every day. and in case you get a good looking piece in the end, you should be lucky. in sleeping beauty you can look at every single scene, with or without the mostly superb animation, and frame it. there is no other movie in my oppinion where pure art was transferred to the screen. and his art direction is completely against the rules in animation, he is overloading the backgrounds with too much detail. if someone else had been in charge you would not have found the characters in that mess. but here - it works!

you are right about the differences to 101 dalmatians, that’s why it is my favourite disney movie. because you feel, everybody enjoyed the work, it is light and so well done. and then you hear from ken andersen, disney hated it. there is no doubt, nobody today could ever do these films again, neither of them. I am very happy, I can learn from them.

]]> by: Gerard de Souza http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-632 Fri, 31 Mar 2006 10:20:09 +0100 http://cartoonmodern.blogsome.com/2006/03/31/eyvind-earle-and-sleeping-beauty-1959/#comment-632 I agree with your comments about Earle's contribution as to why Sleeping Beauty was not a success....BUT as a mediocre entertainment it is still head and shoulders above many films with a veteran art director aboard. I would settle for a widescreen DVD to see it again. I agree with your comments about Earle’s contribution as to why Sleeping Beauty was not a success….BUT as a mediocre entertainment it is still head and shoulders above many films with a veteran art director aboard.
I would settle for a widescreen DVD to see it again.

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