On my trip to LA last month I had the extreme honor to visit DisneyToon Studios. First of all, from the moment you walk to the front door of this building, you are immersed in the PLANES: Fire & Rescue experience. Everywhere you looked you found yourself feeling like you were a part of the movie set, from cutout characters, to full size props, it was amazing! Take a look at some of the photos, and see for yourself:
During our visit, we were able to get a behind the scenes tour of just how PLANES: Fire & Rescue was made by speaking to the creative team behind the movie. First we met with Art Hernandez (Head of Story) and Lawrence Gong (Story Artist) to learn all about “The Art of Story.” Art Hernandez began his career with Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1996 as an in-betweener on “Fantasia/2000” and has been a character designer and story artist for Disneytoon Studios since 2004.
“Visual storytelling starts with a storyboard.”
We were informed that there are at least 30,000 to 35,000 drawings that are completed during the making of an animated film, can you believe that? That is simply amazing! All of the drawings are kept, and sometime used again, or saved for a later project for ideas and inspiration. Imagine the library of images there must be, oh to be able to see those!
My youngest son would like to go into animation, and he draws on a daily basis. I couldn’t help but daydream of him one day being in this room and telling people how the art plays such an amazing role. When I was little I loved to draw the Sunday comics, and my Dad loved to draw as well. My great uncle Charles was an artist, he even drew Norma Jean Baker in an art class in the 40’s before she was Marilyn Monroe! I think the love of drawing is embedded deep within our family.
They gave us a mini-drawing lesson on how to draw the newest Plane in the fleet, Dipper voiced by Julie Bowen. Art drew as we watched and tried to follow on the big screen. It was so much fun, but harder than it looks! It has definitely been way too long since I have tried to draw. 😉
My Dipper Drawing, not too shabby if I do say so myself, but seriously, a real Disney artist walked me through it so I couldn’t be happier. 🙂
I really had a blast talking with these gentlemen and learning all about the art behind the movie. They did let us in on a little secret that I thought was super cool. Some of the numbers you see on the Planes and such are actually birthdays, or special dates of the crew. That has to be really cool when they view the film and see the number knowing it is special for them.
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PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE opens in theaters on July 18, 2014!
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Disclosure: I was provided with an all expense paid trip by Disney. This is accordance with Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of. Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
