THE ART OF BABBITT PART ONE

A great animation teacher gave me a great interview. Here it is, published in full for the first time.

I interviewed Art Babbitt at the Richard Williams Studio in 1979. I did it on a dare. But that is another story.

This is the first time that this interview has appeared in its entirety. Excerpts are in my book ANIMATED PERFORMANCE. Some illustrations from the book are included.

https://www.awn.com/animationworld/animated-characters-art-babbitt-part-1

Art Babbitt was the creator of 'Goofy', who had no personality and was nothing more than an extra with a strange laugh until Babbitt wrote a personality exploration of the character before he animated the marvelous performance in MOVING DAY (1936) which I couldn't believe was was Goofy’s first appearance ‘as’ Goofy. Contrast this performance with that the 'Goof' in  MICKEY'S POLO TEAM, made that same year...links to both films are here. I couldn't link to them in the article.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2kguef

Art Babbitt animated Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, and Oliver Hardy in MICKEY'S POLO TEAM, some of the best work in the picture. The caricatures are by Joe Grant.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6oqojs

 Babbitt was one of the best actors at the Disney studio, and he was an astounding animation teacher.

Babbitt also created Mr. Magoo. The character is based on a vain old uncle of his; Babbitt animated nearly all of Magoo in his first UPA cartoon, THE RAGTIME BEAR.

I link to the original version of SNOWDRIFT JOHN AND MARSHA in the article. It's a howl of a cartoon that was censored (this was the Fifties) and released with a different ending!

Part 2 will appear on the site next week.