Workshops

Whether it be by painting self-portraits, identifying personal traits within their characters, or making caricatures of colleagues during studio meetings, artists have long used themselves as a source of inspiration and reference. In the upcoming set of Studio Series workshops, look inward and use...

Whether it be by painting self-portraits, identifying personal traits within their characters, or making caricatures of colleagues during studio meetings, artists have long used themselves as a source of inspiration and reference. In the upcoming set of Studio Series workshops, look inward and use...

Whether capturing an iconic moment in a film narrative or an attraction experience, posters have played a crucial role in Disney history and served many purposes. In this workshop, join us as we explore the history of Disney poster designs and learn what elements are utilized in developing a...

Every artist has experienced it—the paralyzing lack of inspiration when faced with a blank page. In this installment of our Studio Series, learn about anticipation, exaggeration, and character animation as you create your own animation of an animator struggling with an art block.

Every artist has experienced it—the paralyzing lack of inspiration when faced with a blank page. In this installment of our Studio Series, learn about anticipation, exaggeration, and character animation as you create your own animation of an animator struggling with an art block.

It is widely accepted that we are our own worst critics, and artists are no exception. Even the most experienced artists can be unsatisfied with a piece of work and start to doubt their skill. When embraced, self-doubt can actually be an important part of the artistic process as it motivates the...

When Disneyland first opened its gates 65 years ago, one of the attractions that opened with the Park was Mad Tea Party. On this dizzying ride, guests sit in oversized teacups which spin wildly to the accompaniment of jaunty music. Each teacup features a unique painted design that is simple, yet...

Before Walt and other early animators produced hand-drawn animated short films, innovators in the 19th century created optical toys like the zoetrope. By spinning a zoetrope and peering through the viewing slits, one could watch the images inside move and appear to come to life. Inventions like the...

The moment a piece of art comes together just right can be a thrilling and uplifting experience which fills the artist with confidence in their artistic ability. Confidence is key for encouraging artists and animators to keep going even as the work gets difficult and they encounter unexpected...

The moment a piece of art comes together just right can be a thrilling and uplifting experience which fills the artist with confidence in their artistic ability. Confidence is key for encouraging artists and animators to keep going even as the work gets difficult and they encounter unexpected...

Traditional hand-drawn animation requires an incredibly high number of individual drawings for each piece of movement. It has been estimated that classic animators like Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men were able to complete from 14–24 seconds of animation per week. If each second of animation requires 24...

Traditional hand-drawn animation requires an incredibly high number of individual drawings for each piece of movement. It has been estimated that classic animators like Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men were able to complete from 14–24 seconds of animation per week. If each second of animation requires 24...

Before he started producing his own Laugh-O-gram films, Walt Disney worked for the Kansas City Film Ad Company producing stop-motion commercials using paper cutout animation. Join us and learn more about the history of stop-motion animation, learn techniques of how to create hinged paper puppets...

Animation often involves long hours of work hunched over a light table or computer, which is not always good for an artist’s posture. After spending a long time working on a piece of animation while bent over in an uncomfortable pose, the artist’s back might start to hurt. In this installment of our...

Animation often involves long hours of work hunched over a light table or computer, which is not always good for an artist’s posture. After spending a long time working on a piece of animation while bent over in an uncomfortable pose, the artist’s back might start to hurt. In this installment of our...