Are you starting to see the commercials for Disney’s Planes yet? I just saw one on TV last night and am just so excited for the movie to come out. Part of my trip last month to the Monsters University Premiere in LA was also to check out Disney’s Planes. If you haven’t read my first post about the experience, you can find it here – Disney’s Planes Animation.
I loved getting a “behind the scenes” look at this movie. Not only was the movie itself incredible but to be able to meet some of the people involved in making it, was so awesome.
One of those people was Art Hernanez. He is one of the Story Artists on the movie. Here’s a little bit more about Art:
PLANES Story Artist
ART HERNANDEZ (Story Artist) began his association with Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1996 as an in-betweener on “Fantasia/2000,” and has been a character designer and story artist for Disneytoon Studios since 2004.
Born and raised in and around Los Angeles, Calif., Hernandez developed an interest in art and animation when he was just five years old. By the time he reached high school, he knew that he wanted to work for Disney, and found encouragement in that goal from several supportive teachers. After studying illustration at Antelope Valley College, he encountered Disney animator Ron Dias, who invited him to visit the Studio in 1993. He went on to study at the Animation Guild’s American Animation Institute, where he received some expert instruction in figure drawing and assistant animation from several Disney veterans.
A one-year gig at Turner Animation on “Cats Don’t Dance” led to him being recruited by Disney. His first animation assignment at Walt Disney Animation Studios was as an in-betweener on the “Pomp and Circumstance,” “Firebird Suite” and “Steadfast Tin Soldier” segments of “Fantasia/2000.” This was followed by credits as clean-up animator or assistant animator on such Disney features as “Hercules,” “Tarzan,” “Treasure Planet,” “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” and “Home on the Range,” among others. Additionally, he served a three-month stint as key assistant animator on the Warner Bros. 2003 feature “Looney Tunes: Back in Action.”
In 2004, Hernandez moved to Disneytoon Studios to provide character design (and assist acclaimed animator Andreas Deja) on the home entertainment release of “Bambi 2.” Around this time, he became interested in story and worked in that capacity on “Brother Bear 2” (for which he also did character design) and the first four “Tinker Bell” direct-to-DVD features. For his latest assignment on “Disney’s Planes,” Hernandez studied a vast array of aerial footage from classic films to documentaries. He became a virtual aviation expert and learned to incorporate the actual mechanics of planes into the personalities and actions for the film’s colorful plane characters. In addition to his current role as a head of story at Disneytoon Studios, he is also in the process of directing a new short.
PLANES Story Artist Drawing Demonstration
I was so amazed at what all goes into making these animated movies. Art took us through a little bit of what all his job entails. He also showed us how to draw Dusty. I am not at all artistic so don’t laugh at my drawing. 😉
Having had this PLANES Story Artist Drawing Demonstration and to see everything that goes into an animated movie was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. I really appreciated Art taking time out of his day to visit with us. I could definitely feel that this job was his passion.
Stay tuned for more about my experience. Coming Soon!
Wow! Your Dusty looks great! I think you’d have made the final cut. It really is so cool to learn what goes into these movies!
Your Dusty turned out great! It was such a fun process to watch him create the characters right there on the screen. Wish I was that talented!
Your Dusty looks great! I loved learning from Art!