More than tracing: The women behind Disney animation | BFI video essay

[@TREVAN]

God I love that you made this!! I always felt that when I’d watch Disney docs and they would say “ink and painting was a lowly job that didn’t require creativity” when it actually demanded in many ways even higher levels of creativity and just as much attention to detail as the animators. I love Disney, and I love that you made this video! 🫶💖

[@daveveloz]

Just showed my 5 year old daughter, who is an aspiring artist, this video. She was very moved by it. Thank you!

[@framemygaze]

I adored this video essay! So well researched, written and edited! Made this a super engaging watch. The editing was so smooth and pretty. Such impressive editing techniques! The structural and cultural undervaluing of women animators is an important topic. I'm glad the BFI commissioned @kikikrazed to make this!

[@Afterthoughts]

This was awesome!!! Kiki's editing is always top-notch.

[@johnmcchrystal2203]

Creative, innovative and brilliant woman have been ‘inked’ out of history in all fields of human development and advancement. Your essay was another example of this male domination and obfuscation of history. Thanks for posting✌🏻

[@manifestgtr]

Dude, cool your jets…just as many guys have been “inked out” of history. Probably farrrr more

[@OutOfCharacters]

really excellent work, I didn't know anything about this group that was crucial for early cel animation. I was incredibly impressed by how much you and your assistant were able to find, and the edits were really clean as well. really good job kikikrazed!

[@clurkroberts2650]

Several books have been written about the role that women played at Disney. “The Queens of Animation” goes into great deal on the significant roles they played. Nathalie Holt is the author.

[@amt253]

Important research, great storytelling techniques, and splendid effects the whole way through here. I like how you emphasized the changing names of the departments (so inky!), how you cut out and slid Sewell into her new department (like she’s a drawing on a cel being placed on a new background), and re-animating the script from that magazine piece toward the end. At every step, you made an implicit argument for video essay as a form of animation. But my favorite moment was the most old-fashioned - a bit of argument through juxtaposition- where you say that the women were expected to quit when they got married, and you left a slight pause as Prince Charming horned in for the kiss… and so we see how the ideology on and off screen are the same. Women expected to wait around for a man to shuttle them off to domesticity.

[@teddyfurstman1997]

Fascinating stuff about The Woman who helps made Disney's Animated films

[@petergivenbless900]

This reminds me of the indispensable contributions that female "computers" made to the Apollo Lunar Mission, as depicted in the film 'Hidden Figures'. While it's great to see such belated recognition, I can also see parallels with how the small armies of hardworking digital artists behind effects heavy blockbusters today are often exploited and overlooked.

[@deejay24_]

Ub Iwerks is the taller one on the left, the guy in the middle is not Roy, it’s “Ham” Hamilton(Hamilton Luske) and Walt Disney on the right. 0:43

[@activemotionpictures]

I appreciate all the insightful things from this video. Thank you so much for putting this together. Amazing work by the 1930's artist women. 7:16 - Her smile is so genuine.

[@paganpulpit]

So are we just gonna ignore that the animation building has a little morgue inside?

[@bonniek356]

It was a final resting place for old scripts, concept art, cels, and other stuff from films that had wrapped! D23 has an article about it- it's interesting!

[@nintony2994]

Lol

[@vikingsmb]

i've noticed on present day cartoons that the screen jumps slightly, but on walt disney era ones it doesnt

[@princepeterwolf]

This is excellent! As a long time Disney and Animation fan, I can tell you even I learned new information through this essay, phenomenal stuff here, you should be very proud!

[@van4195]

this documentary is amazing!!! thank you!!!

[@chimedemon]

I watched someone once say “well Walt Disney actually was progressive by letting women animators work!” And this is, in my mind, the prime example of capitalist manipulation. Trying to twist a bad deal into seeming new and good. The more I learn about the guy the more I can’t stand him. Those women deserved better. Cheers to the unsung hero’s of animation 🍻 let’s change the god damn industry.

[@patriciaoreilly8907]

Disney ❤was every childhood dream 😊worldwide respected from all ages 😊artistic contribution from men & woman wow what a talent 😊

[@nailbiter]

Thanks for making this great educational video of these unsung animation heroines! Enjoyed the flow and editing too. ✍️🎨

[@aaryhanasingh]

very interesting! glad to know and learn more about the history of women always being under appreciated.

[@krazykat3297]

I wish there was more footage of the inkers process making I find very fascinating!

[@arlwiss5110]

thank you for making such a fascinating video

[@renatashp]

inspiring! excellent job! ❤

[@sacmaps]

Can @kikikrazed or anyone else tell me what the '60s-looking film used in this video essay is? It can be seen throughout; the part that has a tour around the Ink & Paint Dept ("secret formulas and everything!" 07:51), but doesn't appear to be credited in the list of films/video used. Looks like a good watch, so was hoping someone might know!

[@kikikrazed]

It is credited, but it's tricky - it's The Reluctant Dragon, a half-animated/half-live action film about the making of an animated short, also called The Reluctant Dragon. It's confusing I know!

[@sacmaps]

@@kikikrazed Thank you so much, I'll have to have a lookie! Excellent video essay, thank you for your hard work.

[@nmckeown74]

Impressive story!

[@sweethomes674]

Excellent 😊

[@normalbiadam]

Amazing content, thank you so much!

[@patriciaoreilly8907]

Disney under Walt Disney was absolutely magical 😊 as a child loved 'Snow White ' film all cartoons 😊 i adored Disney Productions beautiful 😊after Walt passed & Disney under the Walt grandson its now turned into a strange cult which i Boycott Disney. Very sad what went so wrong? Wonderful artist & films . I still watch old Disney films every detail is mind blowing & colours 😊 thank you Walt & all his team . You were simple the best ❤RIP

[@crentovibe7474]

Wow that's great hats of to the womens 🎉🎉

[@AalokChaureli]

I’m first but WOW I LEARNED STUFF

[@maciejcocieto4361]

It sucks. Great video! I didn't know Disney did it's own colors for the movies.

[@RamoonaArt]

I really hope Rachel Zegler watched this before making those stupid comments most especially as to how many women contributed to the film as a whole.

[@the-best-fragments-of-movies]

Before watching this cheesy movie, I didn't even realize that women were involved in third roles in Disney movies. Why do you have to demean women like that? Who cares what gender the employee is?

[@SquiddyMacguff]

K

[@TheRastafarianStuff]

7:17 all these scene are disgustingly orchestrated and fake