Becoming a Disney Artist

[FurryBlueNaki]

Let me be the first to post in this board about Disney jobs. I’ve always wanted to work for Disney since I saw the Lion King when it was released back in 1995. I was a senior in high school at that time. I sent Christmas cards to the Disney animation studios thanking them for their wonderful contributions, and revealing my interest in one day working for them. Like a lot of young people, I wanted to be an animator.

Well, frustration after frustration along the way, I never stuck much with drawing. Lion King II came out, and I fell in love with the Kovu character, and again got back into drawing. Same thing when I got to see Lady and the Tramp II, loving the character Scamp very much, but only drawing him a few times.

Now, 31 years old, I’m a bit more realistic. I’m actually working hard toward my goal. Not necessarily to be a Disney animator, though that would be nice, and very challenging. No, I’d be excited to do any kind of art function, whether it be storyboarding, character design, or anything, for ABC Saturday morning cartoons. Bolt's stuck with me for nearly 5 months of daily drawing/studying. More effort in the first two weeks than my whole life before.

But I set a goal in my drawing, to be Disney good within 5 years. Might happen, might not. If not, I won’t be heartbroken, but I’ll still be way ahead of where I am now. And what constitutes Disney good? I ask myself that question many times. There is a variety of talent even within the Disney company. If I did caricatures at their themepark, I’d consider that Disney good. Good enough to get noticed by them.

I don’t think it’s too much to expect. I’m not starting from ground zero here. Within 6 months to a year, I’ll hopefully be through the canine anatomy book I’m studying, as well as have finished the human drawing anatomy course (video self-paced). Being a good animator takes a lifetime of work, so I’m not unrealistic there.

Anyway, that’s my dream for now. If I ended up in another studio, that would be fine, though Disney is my crown jewel like many people agree. I will work hard to be the best, but if I am not, at least I tried. I think I’m heading in the right direction.

[Hihey9989]

I wish you the best of luck at that! Your art has definitely gotten better!

I aspire to be a furry artist. I want to create art to please the masses, just as Adam Wan, Blotch, and Fluke have done =3 Recently started drawing for the first time ever these past few weeks.

[FurryBlueNaki]

I don't know why I stepped away from drawing before.
Here is one I did back in 2001.

[Pomely]

I'm glad a topic was started about this, because I'm working towards being a traditional animator for Disney as well. Allow me to write my mushy life story below:

I've drawn ever since I could hold a pencil. Like you, FurryBlueNaki, The Lion King was my first major influence regarding style. It was the first movie I ever saw in theaters (1994, making me two at that point) and is still my favorite. Scar was always my favorite, and my personal artistic style has quite a bit of Scar's features in it. Recently I designed a high school's logo and have been entering a myriad of contests. To make a long, long story short, I've been drawing my entire life and am working toward my goal to become an animator for Disney. If traditional animation goes out, I may have to switch to character design or another artistic career Disney offers.

Here's a picture of Scar I drew when I was in kindergarden. It's pretty funny looking:



I might post some sketches later, but for now, there are a few in the Artist's Corner thread.

*Edited to fix broken link

[Kameinu]

I once to aspired to become an animator..that "once" being not that long ago actually. When I watch one of the 2-D classical Disney films, or a film of Don Bluth's work, the first thing that draws me in is the emotion and movement I feel from the characters. That great variety of expression each has. The amount of detail an work put into each film. But recently I found a completly different calling, one involving another one of my loves, toys. I still draw, alot, and my drawing style is mostly inspired by a mixture of anime and classical disney. But since I'm still stuck in a "hole" I'm having a hard time doing the two things I love. I just have to find myself again. *sighs*

Atleast Bolt is one of the things pulling me forward.

[Tugs]

I'm glad a topic was started about this, because I'm working towards being a traditional animator for Disney as well. Allow me to write my mushy life story below:

I've drawn ever since I could hold a pencil. Like you, FurryBlueNaki, The Lion King was my first major influence regarding style. It was the first movie I ever saw in theaters (1994, making me two at that point) and is still my favorite. Scar was always my favorite, and my personal artistic style has quite a bit of Scar's features in it. Recently I designed a high school's logo and have been entering a myriad of contests. To make a long, long story short, I've been drawing my entire life and am working toward my goal to become an animator for Disney. If traditional animation goes out, I may have to switch to character design or another artistic career Disney offers.

Here's a picture of Scar I drew when I was in kindergarden. It's pretty funny looking:



I might post some sketches later, but for now, there are a few in the Artist's Corner thread.

*Edited to fix broken link

Oh man you make me feel so OLD! I was in 5th grade when that movie came out and it seems like forever ago.

[FurryBlueNaki]

I was in high school when TLK came out. Even so, I still feel young.

[Rare Addict]

Terrific drawing, FBN! Love the expressability on the dog's face.

Nice job on that Scar drawing, too, Christie. Seriously, it's worlds better than anything I could put together as a kindergartner. Come to think of it, it's worlds better than anything I can put together now.

[Czarine]

I'd like any job that involves digital graphics Heineken payed me 200 euros for a beer label design a few months ago... I've only worked on it for 30 minutes. I'm still in High School, and a lot of people there see potential in me. Working at Pixar would be the ultimate milestone for me when it comes to digital graphics, but I just know that will never happen... I don't have that kind of luck.

If I'd end up doing webdesign to pay the bills, I'd be perfectly satisfied (but that doesn't mean I won't try to get to the top!)

[Czarine]

Scratch my last post here.

It's going to be ANIMATION, take it or leave it! :l Whether it's going to be game art/design, video commercials or an actual job at Disney/Pixar, I DON'T CARE, as long as it involves animation...

Currently working towards being accepted at HKU (Acadamy of Fine Arts - Utrecht) for the education Bachelor of Design in Animation.

[FurryBlueNaki]

I have since changed, and the prospect of animation isn't as exciting to me. In my meditations I've made contact with certain anthro characters, and so have since taken up writing about them. This has been pretty exciting for me, and allows me to do it on my own, as opposed to working for someone else's dream.