{"id":430929,"date":"2026-08-12T18:26:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T18:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/430929\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T18:26:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T18:26:12","slug":"anaheim-exhibition-explores-the-relationship-between-disney-animators-and-live-action-actors-animals-props","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/430929\/","title":{"rendered":"Anaheim exhibition explores the relationship between Disney animators and live-action actors, animals, props"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the early days of Disney, animators studied actors, animals and props in hopes of accurately representing their movements in the cartoons they were drawing for the big screen. <\/p>\n

While there are no strings on Pinocho, Disney animators used these special methods to replicate his puppet-like movements. The same went for the sweep of Cinderella\u2019s dress when she danced with Prince Charming. And When Peter Pan took flight.<\/p>\n

Such movie magic is the subject of \u201cCapturing Life, Creating Character: The Art of Live-Action Reference\u201d at the Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center in Anaheim. <\/p>\n

On view through Nov. 1, the world premiere exhibition was created and assembled by the Walt Disney Archives.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the first traveling photography exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives traveling domestically,\u201d said Kelsey Williams, exhibition manager for the archives. \u201cMuzeo here in Anaheim is our first stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kelly Chidester, Muzeo\u2019s executive director, said there is something profoundly meaningful about welcoming the exhibition to the city Walt Disney chose for his theme park. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is something we, as an institution, have been interested in for a long time, and it makes perfect sense,\u201d said Chidester. \u201cOur Anaheim residents are really proud of their history.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

A photograph of a live-action reference and its cartoon counterpart from Disney\u2019s \u201cAlice in Wonderland.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Sarah Mosqueda)<\/p>\n

Walt Disney Archives was founded in 1970 as a way to collect, preserve and eventually share a growing trove of historical materials. Today, the repository produces large-scale public exhibitions, including those for popular D23 fan events. <\/p>\n

\u201cCapturing Life, Creating Character\u201d explores the world of live-action reference actors used to bring now-famous characters to life. The exhibition features archival photographs of the players and their animated counterparts. <\/p>\n

\u201cCinderella\u2019s ballgown is the perfect example,\u201d Williams said, referencing the moment the Fairy Godmother magically changes Cinderella\u2019s shabby work dress into a silvery blue gown. \u201cIt\u2019s such an iconic moment, she has just had this transformation, and she twirls because she is elated.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing that come from a live-action reference, making sure they get the way the fabric folds and moves, is imperative because if it didn\u2019t move organically, you would be taken right out of the movie … but instead you are swept away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\""Capturing <\/p>\n

\u201cCapturing Life, Creating Character: The Art of Live-Action Reference\u201d at Muzeo Museum features models and photographs used in character animation. <\/p>\n

(Sarah Mosqueda)<\/p>\n

The actors interacted with props, costumes and sets to ensure accurate proportions. Visitors will find some of those artifacts exhibited. Interactive displays give visitors a chance to put themselves into a set or manipulate dolls or props to study movement the way an animator might.<\/p>\n

\u201cImaginary movement, like flying for example, is a bit more tricky to emulate,\u201d said Williams. \u201cWith \u2018Peter Pan,\u2019 they had to get crafty with their live-action reference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Images of actors during the making of \u2018Peter Pan\u2019 show them lying atop crates to simulate flight.<\/p>\n

\"These <\/p>\n

These are the ballet shoes worn by Margaret Kerry, the live action reference model for Tinker Bell in \u2018Peter Pan.\u2019 <\/p>\n

(Sarah Mosqueda)<\/p>\n

A section focused on animals shows the dogs, deer \u2014 think Bambi painted by realistic animal painter Rico LeBrun \u2014 and other beasts studied for reference.<\/p>\n

\u201cRico LeBrun really went as detailed as possible, starting with the deer skeletal system and then the muscular system and articulating the different poses,\u201d Williams said, \u201cthen studying the correlation of a frog leaping versus a deer leaping.\u201d<\/p>\n

Muzeo has assembled two companion exhibits. <\/p>\n

In the Carnegie Gallery, there\u2019s \u201cThe Happiest Place: SHAG Imagines Disneyland,\u201d a collection of artwork by famed Southern California artist Shag, who works in a recognizable midcentury style. <\/p>\n

The display explores Shag\u2019s interpretations of Disneyland landmarks, including Haunted Mansion, the Enchanted Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnaheimland\u201d is featured in the Carnegie Gallery. The exhibition traces the historical connection between Disneyland\u2019s July 1955 opening and the city that has hosted it for 71 years.<\/p>\n

\"Disney <\/p>\n

Disney exhibition manager Kelsey Williams points out sketches of animals featured in Disney animated films. <\/p>\n

(Sarah Mosqueda)<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is something that has global recognition but also a lot of home grown pride,\u201d Chidster said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCapturing Life, Creating Character: The Art of Live-Action Reference,\u201d is on view at the Muzeo, 241 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, through Nov.1. For information, visit muzeo.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In the early days of Disney, animators studied actors, animals and props in hopes of accurately representing their…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":430930,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[163,171277,165,164,1592,171278,6193,63721,171276,171282,171279,171280,171275,19424,9741,171281,1920,67945],"class_list":["post-430929","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-anaheim","tag-anaheim","tag-anaheim-exhibition","tag-anaheim-headlines","tag-anaheim-news","tag-animal","tag-capturing-life","tag-character","tag-cinderella","tag-disney-animator","tag-disneyland-landmark","tag-exhibition-manager","tag-kelsey-williams","tag-live-action-actor","tag-movement","tag-muzeo-museum","tag-peter-pan","tag-prop","tag-walt-disney-archives"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/430929","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=430929"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/430929\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/430930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=430929"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=430929"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=430929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}