The Hidden Art of Disney’s Golden Age – The 1930s

As the Walt Disney Studio entered its first decade and embarked on some of the most ambitious animated films of the time, Disney hired a group of « concept artists » whose sole mission was to explore ideas and inspire their fellow animators. They Drew as They Pleased showcases four of these early pioneers and features artwork developed by them for the Disney shorts from the 1930s, including many unproduced projects, as well as for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, and some early work for later features such as Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan.

Introducing new biographical material about the artists and including largely unpublished artwork from the depths of the Walt Disney Archives and the Disney Animation Research Library, this volume offers a window into the most inspiring work created by the best Disney artists during the studio’s early golden age.

They Drew As They Pleased: The Hidden Art of Disney’s Golden Age by Didier Ghez focuses on four artists who all worked for Disney in the 1930s: Albert Hurter, Ferdinand Horvath, Gustaf Tenggren, and Disney’s first female concept artist, Bianca Majolie. These early pioneers developed art for Disney shorts and many unproduced projects, as well as art for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, and some early work for later features such as Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan.

The volume introduces new biographical material about the artists and largely unpublished artwork from the depths of the Walt Disney Archives and the Disney Animation Research Library; Didier offers a window into the most inspiring work created by the best Disney artists during the studio’s early golden age.