Animation &Animation Artifacts &Richard Williams 12 Oct 2006 07:54 am
Andy & Corny
- Seeing the models David Nethery posted on his site, You’re A Gazelle, in his comments on Tissa David‘s work from Raggedy Ann, started me thinking about the Dick Williams‘ film. As I noted, yesterday, I have quite a bit of artwork from the film, and I thought I should post some.
(Click any image to enlarge.)
I think in ways, the unsung hero of Raggedy Ann was Corny Cole. He was there from day one working with Dick and Tissa – once the one minute pilot had gotten the job for Dick. Corny was brought in as the key designer, and Gerry Potterton came on as Dick’s Associate Director.
I was hired soon thereafter, even though I had no idea what I’d be doing. For the first couple of weeks, while they were recording, I just moved furniture and read the script and whiled away the time by drawing Johnny Gruelle‘s characters.
I helped Dick and Gerry add spot coloring to the storyboard as the animatic was being shot. We spent a long Saturday coloring like mad with colored pencils. We worked on the last section of the animatic to be shot. I’d say 90% of the board was done by Corny. Dick and Gerry added spot drawings as needed, while we built the animatic.
Corny then did lots and lots and lots of drawings to give to animators.
Some of those drawings are posted herein for a scene at the beginning of the “taffy pit” sequence. These drawings were also used in the animatic.
After Corny finished feeding the animators, he started animating, himself. He took on a sequence that filled the screen with a pirate ship full of dolls floating around some rough waters. The large sheets of paper were filled with Corny’s black bic pen lines. Doug Compton eventually worked with Corny to finish this overworked sequence.
on 13 Oct 2006 at 10:27 am 1.David N said …
Thanks for posting these, Michael. I’ll look forward to whatever else you post from the Raggedy Ann days. I like Corny’s drawings that are in the Canemaker book and am glad to see more of his work. Corny used to teach an evening class over at Marvel Productions animation studio (which developed out of Depatie-Freleng) in Van Nuys. I sat in on Corny’s class a few times. Great draftsman/designer and an enthusiastic teacher. At the time I was probably too young and stupid to soak up much , but it was fun to sit in on.
on 27 Oct 2006 at 2:01 pm 2.Fimbah said …
I sat in on those classes too. Corny was charitable and said that my work “metamorphised” nicely. I.E., I couldn’t hold a character’s integrity! Is Corny still with us?
on 27 Oct 2006 at 2:23 pm 3.Michael said …
Corny is still “with us.” I wasn’t commenting on classes Corny taught (I assume you’re talking about CalArts) but on the work he did in 1976 on Raggedy Ann & Andy. I’m glad you got to meet up with him and get a crit; he’s a talented man.