SICFF 2018: An animation workshop that explored ‘Disney’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ and a panel discussion with Brian Ferguson titled, ‘Disney between Past and Present

On 16^th October 1923, Walt Disney Company was created in the rear of a small office in Los Angeles. It was there that Walt Disney, and his brother, Roy, produced a series of short live-action/animated films collectively called the ‘Alice Comedies.’ A year later, Disney brothers made a deposit on a Hyperion Avenue lot in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles. In 1928, Mickey Mouse was born, followed by Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck, and the rest of the Disney gang. Fast forward to 2018, on the 95^th anniversary of Disney, Sharjah International Children’s Film Festival (SICFF) immersed into the world of Disney with two Disney-filled session. One session was a workshop titled, “Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time,” with Sebastian Reichhold, Effects Technical Director at One of Us, and the second was a vibrant panel discussion with Brian Ferguson, Animator at DePaul University in the U.S., titled ‘Disney between past and present.’

Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time

Sebastian Reichhold’s workshop explored the arduous but rewarding post-production journey in Disney’s recent film, “A Wrinkle in Time.” Students from Fujairah Women’s College commuted between emirates to attend his workshop and learn the art of animation. Sebastian’s elaborate presentation showcased the process of animation from development stage, referencing stage, to the final product.

Sebastian explained that the first step was to understand what the need of the director is. In ‘A Wrinkle in Time,’ the director specifically wanted the concept of time and space travel to be soft, loving, and comforting. The references had to match the idea in terms of color, texture, and material. After a lengthy process of searching, the team finalized on flowing ribbons as the key reference for all transitions between time and space.

Sebastian explained to the highly enthusiastic college girls that, in order to create something that looks real, the animation has to be anchored in reality. It needs to interact with the environment and vice versa. The process generally takes something real and then a digital double is created followed by adding the required effects and adding further details to make it look as real as possible. It’s a process that begins from reality and ends there as well. A rather fun and impressive fact about Sebastian is that he was part of the creation of the realistic looking dragons in Game of Thrones.

A Journey into Disney’s Past and Present with Brian Ferguson

As evening set in on the third day of SICFF, Brian Ferguson shared his knowledge at the panel discussion titled, ‘Disney between past and present.’ He led the audience from the conceptualization stage into the developmental stage transitioning into the final product: an animated movie. Upon being asked about how the animation process has evolved through the years, he stated that the bar keeps getting higher. He is a self-admit geek who gets awed by live action animation and the new processes that creators are developing. Being a graduate of zoology and physics, his work encompasses the science as well as the artistic process. During the creation of ‘The Lion King’, his team had a paleontologist visit and educate them about animal behaviors, physique, and movement. He underscored that animal’s behavior dictates their shape and movement. Gaining insights into the scientific process, makes for a better animator.

When asked about the style of animation and whether there is any flexibility in the creation process, Brian laughingly told the audience that most creators begin with a very experimental process but end up with the style that they are used to, with a touch of the experimental style. However, ‘Hercules’ was one of the animations that truly executed the unique style.

Brian Ferguson has many projects to his credit, including some of the highest grossing films of all time. His filmography includes Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Mulan, Fantasia 2000, and Winnie the Pooh. Brian is especially skilled at conveying humor and appealing personality, as can be seen in his characters as well as his own personality.

Word of Advice to Aspiring Animators

Sebastian Reichhold’s motto is simple: Create, learn, fix mistakes and repeat the process again. Brian Ferguson followed the same tune. His advice to aspirants was that they should always aim high, develop a strong work-ethic, and the most crucial point was – deadline is king!

Brian asked the audience to explore all facets of the art form as most great animators are musicians, painters, and much more. It’s about developing a mental model of enthusiasm and constantly focusing on the positive rather than let the low moments take you down.

Upon being asked about Disney’s 95^th anniversary, Brian said in awe: “It’s remarkable that Disney has continued to create such amazing stories. When I was working then, there were talks of shutting the whole animation department but now, they have come such a long way. It’s an amazing feat to continually be creating such an inspiring body of work.”

Sharjah International Children’s Film Festival ended its third day with a remarkable bang. If you haven’t attended any of the events, workshops, or screenings yet – there is still three more days to go! Visit Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Center and immerse into the magical world of filmmaking.