Michael Sporn Animation – Splog » Sw in St

Sw in St – Squirrels 4

- Here’s the fourth part of five breaking down the squirrel sequence from Disney’s Sword In The Stone. Thanks to Hans Perk for posting the drafts to this film enabling me to ID the scenes.

This is Frank Thomas land. “Zimpleton” comments on Hans’ blog that “Thomas did 489 feet and 7 frames of animation only interrupted by a 2 foot scene by John Lounsbery and he does an additional 63 feet and 7 frames at the end of the sequence.” Quite extraordinary.

(Click any image to enlarge.)

Seq. 006 sc. 67: Animator: Frank Thomas
The above two images are one pan broken in two.

Seq. 006 sc. 68: Animator: Frank Thomas

Seq. 006 sc. 69: Animator: Frank Thomas

Seq. 006 sc. 70: Animator: Frank Thomas

These scenes wherein the squirrels scamper around the moving branches is an
absolute pleasure for me. They really captured the essence of trees with some
of these scenes. I can’t think of any other animated film that does the same.

Seq. 006 sc. 71: Animator: Frank Thomas

Seq. 006 sc. 72: Animator: Frank Thomas

Seq. 006 sc. 73: Animator: Frank Thomas

Seq. 006 sc. 73 (cont): Animator: Frank Thomas

Seq. 006 sc. 74: Animator: Frank Thomas | Seq. 006 sc. 75: Animator: Frank Thomas

Seq. 006 sc. 76: Animator: Frank Thomas

Seq. 006 sc. 77: Animator: Frank Thomas

Seq. 006 sc. 78: Animator: Frank Thomas

Seq. 006 sc. 79: Animator: Frank Thomas

Seq. 006 sc. 80: Animator: Frank Thomas

I think Frank may have been caricaturing himself in some of these
Merlin/squirrel scenes. Certainly I think of him with the character.

Seq. 006 sc. 81: Animator: Frank Thomas | Seq. 006 sc. 82: Animator: Frank Thomas

Seq. 006 sc. 83: Animator: Frank Thomas | Seq. 006 sc. 84: Animator: Frank Thomas

Seq. 006 sc. 85: Animator: Frank Thomas

Take a closer look at the image in the upper right. They double exposed
a second head at about a 60% exposure to create a beautiful blur.
In computer land this probably would be a real blur.

Seq. 006 sc. 85 (cont): Animator: Frank Thomas