From: Gauche the Cellist (1982), dir. Isao Takahata, Oh! Production

Thanks for the nice comments on the 1950s "cartoon modern" animation in this video. I should also thank Animation Obsessive for gathering loads of great references on their substack.

Mary Blair was among the best artists ever to work at Disney. But its films rarely looked like her concept art. Why? As it turns out, Walt Disney himself asked the same question. The answer was complicated, as we explore: ─➤animationobsessive.substack.com/p/when-a-film-…

Concept art by Ken Anderson for The Sword in the Stone (1963), dir. Wolfgang Reitherman, Walt Disney Productions

The opening sequence for Ping Pong: The Animation (2014), dir. Masaaki Yuasa, Tatsunoko Production

From: Crac! (1981), dir. Frédéric Back, Radio-Canada

Long ago, limited animation took off worldwide. Rebels at UPA, Zagreb Film, Soyuzmultfilm and more used it to challenge the Disney style of movement. Animation changed -- and a path was cut for everything to follow, including Ghibli. We explore: ─➤animationobsessive.substack.com/p/breaking-awa…

The concept of observing "lapidary movement" is super fascinating as it permeates animation traditions across the years, almost as a response to Disney's lush style.

Oh totally unexpected but one of the interview translations on the blog is quoted here. (The Gamba's Adventure Osamu Dezaki interview) Always glad to see something on the blog help contribute, even if in a minuscule way, to other articles.

From: Doggie March (1963), dir. Akira Daikubara, Toei Doga

Another great article from Animation Obsessive If you want to see a huge influence on Mina and the Count & My Life as a Teenage Robot, check it out!

From: Panda and the Magic Serpent (1958), dir. Taiji Yabushita, Toei Doga

From: Ursa Minor Blue (1993), dir. Shigeru Tamura, Ai ga Areba Daijoubu

Decided to come out of retirement one last time to translate a substantial chunk of an interview with the legendary art director Kazuo Oga for Animation Obsessive - read it here! animationobsessive.substack.com/p/defining-the…

Concept art by Matt Nolte for Brave (2012), dir. Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews, Pixar

Background paintings from the original run of Samurai Jack (2001–2004), created by Genndy Tartakovsky, Cartoon Network Studios Pieces by Scott Wills and Jenny Gase-Baker

From: The Little Mermaid (1968), dir. Ivan Aksenchuk, Soyuzmultfilm

The concept trailer for The Great Promise (unreleased), dir. Eusong Lee