Disney has been giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at its productions through documentaries ever since Disney+ launched and one of the most interesting is Sketchbook. Sketchbook is a documentary about Disney animators and the work that they do. This premiered on April 27th, and we were given access before the premier to check out the program. Animation fans get to watch both fresh faces just starting out, and well-known and respected legends in animation and medium as they produce their work and talk about what goes into it.
Disney masters like Eric Goldberg and Mark Henn, who have drawn Genie from Aladdin and young Simba from The Lion King respectively, managed to show just how intense their careers are and how special the journey in animation actually is. characters they both helped create in addition to animating. These are legends who have created timeless works and we can only marvel at the skill they have and the stories they have to tell. Four other artists are also featured, Jin Kim, Gabby Capili, Hyun-Min Lee and Samatha Vilfort, and their stories and techniques are just as interesting.
Sketchbook is not a tutorial on how to draw Disney characters, although that is an element. What this is an examination of the art of animation, with in-depth interviews that can get rather emotional, while the drawing sections are extremely relaxing. As a fan of classic Disney animation, this has been a real treat to see, and I want more as this raw look at animators and animation is something that will interest any historian of cartoons or just an enthusiast.
There is a good message here in the episodes, with regards to not giving up on your dreams. The interviews make it clear that animation is the calling of these people, and they want nothing else, which can give a feel-good moment in the end when you understand the animation continues for many.
If you are a fan of Disney or just classic animation, Sketchbook is something you need to check out.