The Rise of Glen Keane with Tom Bancroft

Tom Bancroft needs no introduction, but I’ll try to briefly summarise his career. Graduating from CalArts he was catapulted in Disney Animation at the beginning of its Renaissance. Working on nearly every film of that time. Animating Iago, Young Simba, Pocahontas and Mushu to name a few. Currently directing Light of the World with John Schaffer as well as bring CEO of Pencilish Studios and a creator of MerMay. He previously created the documentary Pencils vs. Pixels about the rise of 3D as it stole the light of hand drawn animation’s rebirth.
Speaking to Tom on this podcast was amazing. I’d recently gotten to help them with their famous Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast while they were here in Dublin. I was even more delighted when Tom chose to talk about Animation Legend, Glen Keane. I can’t think of another artist today who’s soul speaks from their pencil. His legacy is vast, so Tom chose to talk about the rise of Glen Keane in Disney during the 80s and 90s.
These are a few of the things we talked about:
- The making of Mulan in Florida
- Glen Keane’s work on the Bear in The Fox and the Hound and Ratigan
- Why Glen is a fine artist disguised as an animator
& so much more!
I’m really excited to hear your thoughts after listening to us ramble on!

[@noinflouencer]

39:28 I totally agree with Tom here, I miss these films so dearly, I wish we’d go back to this style, it just speaks to the heart

[@Any-mation]

Yes, just exploring different forms and playing with the shape, not being too rigid in design

[@DeepBlueInk]

Always nice to listen to someone gush over another person for so long like this

[@Any-mation]

It’s so nice isn’t it? I think we need a healthy dose of artist gushing once in a while

[@habersmashery]

This was such a delight to listen to. And a new movie with some of Cartoon Saloon’s pizzazz? I can’t wait!

[@dwintster]

As a Christian and an animation lover I'm excited and will definitely be bringing my daughter to watch "Light it the World" next year.

[@Any-mation]

That’s so awesome to hear

[@dwintster]

Great talk, I discovered Tom's book while I was in college studying industrial design almost 2 decades ago. I was able to apply his principles to not only characters but to products as well. I got his book character mentor about a decade ago, together probably one of the most complete resources on character design. I grew up in the 90's absolutely loved everything Glen Keane/ Disney did. I actually applied to the Animation program at Sheridan though in the end I decided to go with a industrial design since 2D was sadly fading away. The great thing about ID is that you get to be a rennsisance artist, you go from blue sky to construction. Every project is started with finding problems and creating solutions via sketching making prototypes by hand and or 3d bringing it to a finish. Though it misses out on the ability Great Animation has to create fun, memorable moments and touching stories.

[@Any-mation]

Thank you for sharing that. I’m super curious about the world of Industrial design too, all creative fields really. Really glad you shared that!

[@dwintster]

@@Any-mation you're welcome, I love learning about other creative disciplines as well. We tend to have a bit of overlap in processes.

[@zainmudassir2964]

Amazing work by Glenn Keane

[@Any-mation]

He’s a true master

[@scottriddell3514]

Glenn’s acutely the name of name brother

[@nkanyisoinnocentkhwane3752]

Even though it doesnt take place during winter *Light of the World* really sounds like an end of year film that the family goes to in a similar vain to *The Prince of Egypt*

[@Any-mation]

Yeah I’m very excited to see what the guys do with it

[@nkanyisoinnocentkhwane3752]

@Any-mation the concept art is very enticing so I'm keen too 😁

[@mikkelmelby]

ommgg

[@Popinfo-pr7uo]

hola buenas una pregunta tengo un cuadro de cristal litrografia aladdin disney en edicon limitada por glen keane. me gustaria saber el valor que tiene le paso algunas fotos por correo electronico y lo ves?

[@Any-mation]

Hello, I don’t think we’d be able to evaluate the worth of something like that. It might be better to check elsewhere with some experts who deal with buying and selling

[@Popinfo-pr7uo]

@@Any-mation vale y usted si le mando algunas fotos sabría más o menos?

[@abooaw4588]

Like Ed Catmull Blake Ross and myself,Glen Keane has Aphantasia (No mental imagery at all).Our reasoning is based on emotions facts and dimensions. We are not influenced by past images or picture while drawing. We draw what the picture feels through our head and body. The opposite is Hyperphantasia a video like mental imagery meaning too much choices of pictures per second. Google to find out where you are in this spectrum. It's real science.

[@Any-mation]

Wow that’s so interesting, I’ve heard him talk about finding a character, by putting together pieces

[@unicornpupart]

omg omg omg i found another bts animation channel WOOOHOOO