More than 125 hand-drawn artwork pieces from such classics as ALICE IN WONDERLAND, 101 DALMATIANS, and THE LION KING, will be showcased in "Ink & Paint: The Art of Hand-Drawn Animation," a new exhibition opening on Friday, May 16, in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Grand Lobby Gallery in Beverly Hills. Admission is free.
The magic of an animated film depends on the ability to bring to life not only animated characters, but the worlds they inhabit.
Encompassing all stages of the filmmaking process -- from storyboards and color keys to layouts and cels -- the exhibition will showcase artwork from the 1950s through the 1990s, presenting such animated favorites as LADY AND THE TRAMP, SLEEPING BEAUTY, GAY PURR-EE, THE SECRET OF NIMH, WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, THE IRON GIANT and numerous Oscar-winning shorts starring such timeless characters as Mr. Magoo, Winnie the Pooh and the Pink Panther.
While exploring the creative process of pre-computer animation, "Ink & Paint" also will celebrate the artists whose genius spawned the screwball characters of Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes cartoons, the classic fairytale environments of Disney animated features and the Academy Award-winning shorts of UPA, whose stylized look and simple lines approach modern art.
Artists whose work will be represented include Alvaro Arce (THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER), Kelly Asbury (THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS), Mary Blair (CINDERELLA), Ron Dias (THE SECRET OF NIMH), Ann Guenther (WINNIE THE POOH AND TIGGER, TOO), Michael Humphries (THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME), Homer Jonas (SLEEPING BEAUTY), Art Leonardi (PINK PANTHER), Abe Levitow (1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS), Walt Peregoy (101 DALMATIANS), Bob Singer (GAY PURR-EE) and Gloria Wood (GAY PURR-EE).
"Ink & Paint: The Art of Hand-Drawn Animation" will be on display through Sunday, August 24. The Academy's galleries, located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, are open Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekends, noon to 6 p.m. The Academy will be closed during the Memorial Day holiday weekend -- Saturday, May 24, through Monday, May 26, as well as for the Independence Day holiday weekend -- Friday, July 4, through Sunday, July 6.
For more information call (310) 247-3600 or visit www.oscars.org/events.
