COMMENTS APPRECIATED!

I love hearing from you! 

Whether it's simple encouragement or detailed information on a particular film, 

your comments remind me that the posts are really reaching my audience.

so - let me know what you think - thank you!

Disney's THE FOX AND THE HOUND

The very center of this was never completely revealed 

but this 99% completed B/G was too gorgeous not to share...

Disney's THE WISE LITTLE HEN - part 2

Disney's THE WISE LITTLE HEN (1934)

1934 was early in the game 

but Disney's artistry was in full flower 

as they geared up for SNOW WHITE. 

One word comes to mind with these backgrounds, 

especially the pan B/Gs - 

LAVISH!

The chicks refused to budge!

Isn't this a wonderful stage for Donald? Very theatrical!

ANIMATION BACKGROUNDS IS BACK!

A little bit about the guy behind the blog...

Taken July 2013 (at Disney World)

HELLO FRIENDS!

After a long absence, I wanted to greet you personally...

and explain my absence, my journey and my return.

In 2009, my personal life took a dark turn. With all that was going on, I just didn't have the energy to blog after several years. So ANIMATION BACKGROUNDS became an archive. 

In the intervening years, I've been through a brutal divorce, the recession, and the inevitable emotional challenges consistent with deep personal turmoil.

The great news is I not only survived, but I have emerged stronger and happier 

than ever before in my life, with my career at the very pinnacle of my creative success!

I went from this -

to this!

That's better, don't you think??!!!

FYI - I'm a Disney junkie. I really enjoy the parks and I love a great Disney film. 

But I especially LOVE DISNEY ANIMATION.

Actually, I love great animation in general.

With a very particular affinity for traditional hand-drawn cartoons.

Disney especially... but also MGM, Warner Bros., etc., etc., etc.

Sadly, I can't draw. But I figured out a technique for digitally restoring background art.

And this lets me immerse myself in the films' images.

It's incredibly gratifying to reconstruct this beautiful art.

That's why I simply HAD TO return to this blog!

I also work for Disney.

I am the Wizard of the Wurlitzer at Disney's El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, CA.

I opened the restored pipe organ in 1999.

And in the intervening 15 years, I've played an astonishing SEVEN THOUSAND shows!

Here I am recently, accompanying the new Mickey Mouse cartoon 

GET A HORSE

blending the pipe organ with the soundtrack!

It was a definite career highlight.

I've played 9 international concert tours, played all across the United states,

 and recorded about a dozen CDs.

But I am most at home at the El Cap

and I admit I love "Ethel" the Wurlitzer pipe organ

and our wonderful family audiences.

I also want to share is my passion for fitness.

If I've learned one thing in life, it's that we all need BALANCE.

Intellect is great, music is important.

But our bodies need exercise and good food to thrive.

I've been on an anti-aging and wellness program since 2006.

This is where I am at today, age 58.

There's one final personal note...

I'm a flag-waving supporter of rescuing animals from shelters.

And I've done my part. Meet my Baby... Since September 2013.

THAT'S THE UPDATE!

I'm happier than I've ever been -

surrounded by the best group of loving friends EVER in my life -

I'm living my passions

and I'm fit, healthy and strong.

AND I'M SO GLAD YOU ALL ARE A PART OF THIS NEW CHAPTER!

Love.

Rob

Re-booting ANIMATION BACKGROUNDS today, we have some terrific backgrounds from Disney's PETER PAN. 

The Lost Boys must be nearby! ;)

*****

You never saw today's first B/G like this in the movie. The shot included a pan. 

Here's a first view of the entire, digitally restored piece!

A double escape hatch for the Lost Boys!

This huge vertical pan is quite lovely. Note lower cel overlays - leaves and slab - 

at bottom, and the Mary Blair presence upper left!

Tinkerbell wanted to stay... and you know just how stubborn she can be!

TWO epic pan backgrounds - as the Lost Boys run to shoot Wendy out of the sky! (Naughty Tink!)

Sometimes I can't completely clear the backgrounds digitally.

If characters don't move to reveal a part of the background... 

then they stay! 

Hence the presence of Lost Boys on the left.

Note the gorgeous Mary Blair styling!