The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco has lined up a great series of screenings and talks for the end of the year. The special Snow White and the Stop Motion exhibits also continue through the spring, including screenings and talks about Snow White. Don Hahn’s film “Christmas with Walt” is a historical look at how it was celebrated in film, at the parks, and by the Disney family. Legendary Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr will give a talk on how Walt was able to inspire his Imagineers to build Disneyland in less than a year. Finally, this Wednesday, head down to the museum to celebrate Walt’s Birthday.
Recently The Disney Blog sent special reporter Joe Webb down to the Walt Disney Family Museum to cover the opening of a special exhibition entitled “Between Frames: The Magic Behind Stop Motion Animation”. The WDFM has also announced details for a new special exhibit “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of a Classic” which we have below the jump. But first Joe’s report:
Just down the road from the revolutionary Industrial Light & Magic, an effects house using the latest in computer animation technology, the Walt Disney Family Museum is presenting an exhibition dedicated to a different type of animation technology more than 100 years old. Between Frames: The Magic Behind Stop Motion Animation (on display from September 27, 2012 to April 28, 2013) explores the history and evolution of stop motion animation in the United States as “part of a new exhibition program showcasing artists and art forms that inspired and influenced Walt Disney and his animators,” WDFM CEO Gabriella Calicchio said.
For animation fans, learning the history of stop motion is a worthwhile endeavor. Exhibition curator Anel Muller states, “I’m very excited about this exhibition, obviously… One of the most interesting things I uncovered is the people behind stop motion animation.” People like Ray Harryhausen, Phil Tippett, Henry Selick and Tim Burton who helped bring this art form to new generations of moviegoers and Saturday morning television viewers. Muller obtained numerous drawings, models, puppets, interactive armatures and replicas used in various films, television shows and commercials including Gumby, King Kong, Star Wars, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Visitors will see everything from a replica of King Kong from the 1930s to models of Coraline and Robot Chicken from the first decade of 21st century.
One of the main goals at the Walt Disney Family Museum is inspiration through education. While one may not immediately connect stop motion with Walt Disney himself, the Museum notes that Walt began his animation career in Kansas City using this type of animation for advertisements. The galleries exist to educate visitors on Walt Disney’s history and accomplishments which will hopefully inspire them to follow their own passion. This goal is not lost on Muller. “I hope that when visitors leave this exhibit that they feel a surge of inspiration, that they will find creativity in their own lives,” she said.
Time to close some open tabs: The Walt Disney Family Museum’s blog has a story about Tony Walton who worked on sets and costumes on Mary Poppins. It was a good read and I learned a couple new things. The Save Pleasure Island blog has… Read More »Morning Report – Wednesday Wishes Come True
If you’re looking for a way to help support the Walt Disney Family Museum and share your love of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, you can now purchase a pair of Mickey and Minnie dolls, available only through the museum’s website or at the museum store.… Read More »Mickey and Minnie Dolls Help the Walt Disney Family Museum
A very moving article has been reposted at the Walt Disney Family Museum blog. It’s a look back at the impact Bruce Gordon had on the creation of the museum in the too-short time between his unfortunate release from Walt Disney Imagineering and his untimely… Read More »Bruce Gordon Remembered
The Walt Disney Family Museum is celebrating its first anniversary by asking What Would Walt Do? Specifically they want you, to channel your inner-Walt and create a promotional video for the museum then upload it to Youtube. The best videos will win prizes, including a trip to the museum and a private tour.
Here’s a video they’ve released with more information:
More details on the promotional contest below the jump:
The Walt Disney Family Museum has launched to much acclaim drawing fans from all over to see the story of Walt’s life laid out as only his family could tell it. But the museum is not resting just on its exhibits. A full series of… Read More »Walt Disney Family Museum announces December Event Schedule
It’s been a long time dream of Diane Disney Miller, and others in the Disney family, to open a museum to honor her father Walt and now that dream is a reality. I still have a major quibble with the museum’s location, in the Presidio… Read More »Walt Disney Family Museum opens to public
The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco has lined up a great series of screenings and talks for the end of the year. The special Snow White and the Stop Motion exhibits also continue through the spring, including screenings and talks about Snow White. Don Hahn’s film “Christmas with Walt” is a historical look at how it was celebrated in film, at the parks, and by the Disney family. Legendary Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr will give a talk on how Walt was able to inspire his Imagineers to build Disneyland in less than a year. Finally, this Wednesday, head down to the museum to celebrate Walt’s Birthday.
