#Tyrus Wong

[389]

by Tyrus Wong

[scurviesdisneyblog]

𝘋𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘉𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘪 𝘣𝘺 𝘛𝘺𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘞𝘰𝘯𝘨

[disneyesque-dreams]

Visual Development / Concept art for Bambi, by Tyrus Wong [via]

[tomoleary]

Tyrus Wong “Bambi” Concept Art (1942)

[bambinification]

Tyrus Wong's influence on Bambi's artstyle really cannot be overstated.

Like, I'm sure a lot of people have Pointed Out that Bambi's backgrounds are unlike other Disney works because of Wong's inspiration coming from Chinese ink paintings. But after watching 4 hours of behind the scenes content for Bambi, I *really* want to hammer it home for people that he didn't just bring in an idea that Walt liked. Walt literally *asked* for the aspects of Wong's work, without even knowing what he was asking for.

During Bambi's production, Walt Disney struggled for a Long time to capture the exact style he wanted. He emphasized ad nauseam that he didn't want Bambi to be a cartoon with anthropomorphized characters and environments. When his artists were working on concept art based on photographs taken in real forests, the art was constantly too detailed. They couldn't have complex backgrounds with every single leaf drawn in, but they also couldn't NOT have leaves drawn in, right? Additionally, from day one, Walt insisted on subtlety. He didn't want a cartoon, but he didn't want photorealism. He wanted to capture the essence of nature, to make you Feel the forest more than seeing it in detail. He wanted realism of Vibes.

Hey, does that sound familiar? Almost like those qualities were popular in ink wash paintings in China during the Song dynasty?? (And then later in Japanese ink paintings??)

Walt Disney did not have the education or the words to express that he wanted qualities of traditional Chinese landscape paintings in the Song Dynasty. But the aspects that he described wanting in his creative meetings are *textbook* features of Chinese and Japanese ink paintings. Essence over detail, an end result that definitely *looks* like a detailed landscape, but with techniques in minimalism and almost pre-impressionism.

So when Wong showed his concept art to his supervisor, it was less of a "oh this looks rad" situation and more like a "sent from God to answer our prayers" situation. Tyrus Wong didn't just influence Bambi; I genuinely believe he saved the film. He was the only person to give Disney exactly what he was asking for, and he did it with ease because he was familiar with an artform rich in qualities that Walt was specifically looking for.

Now, I know most people know Walt himself moved Wong to head background supervisor after that. However, Wong was laid off during Walt's anti-union bitch fit in 1941, and I don't think Wong was hired back. Even so, the animators that remained at Disney in 2005 clearly hold great reverence for his work. He's mentioned in all but two of the backstage featurettes.

[nuagederose]

🌹⭐️ dis-ember ( + drawcember) 2023 // day twenty-eight: tyrus wong ( + sledding) ⭐️🌹

i absolutely love this man’s work, such that i kind of feel this fated connection to it (then again, i’ve always loved block art 😅). this is based off of a memory, actually: all the times we’ve gone sledding up at mount rose and then get pizza and blueberry cobbler down in truckee… good times ❄️

ig: badmotorartist

[craftedreality]

tyrus wong, bambi concept work (1938-1941)

[victusinveritas]

Tyrus Wong’s storyboards for The Wild Bunch and Bambi. 

[scurviesdisneyblog]

Tyrus Wong’s concept art for Bambi (1942)

[mochiricenuggets]

i just watched this documentary today and it's going on my top favorite documentaries of creative legends next to I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story

[3lianav]

You can find a little documentary about him on the Extras of Bambi on Disney+

He was a young artist employed by the Disney studio, but tasked with the entry-level job of finishing off the work of the animators and crafting the “in-between” animations that completed the characters’ movements. Wong had learned that studio executives were creating a film from the new novel, Bambi, A Life in the Woods by Felix Salten. Tom says the young artist read the book and without consulting his supervisor, “took the script and painted some visual concepts to set the mood, color and the design.” 

His sketches recalled the lush mountain and forest scenes of Sung dynasty landscape paintings. His initiative paid off. Walt Disney, who was looking for something new for the film, was captivated and personally directed that Wong be promoted. Today, top animators and illustrators revere Wong’s work. Children today are as enchanted by the misty, lyrical brushstrokes of Wong’s colorful nature scenes, inspired by his training at Otis College of Art and self-study of Sung Dynasty art 

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[yumyumpod]

[junopede]

Can’t get over Freddie sneaking in “Enemies to Lovers” during his phone call with Tyrus. I’m so happy we’re getting another Freddie Wong Disaster Bisexual this season

[julia-beatrice]

TMP: Japanese 🇯🇵

All because I read about Tyrus Wong, a concept artist for Bambi... I also wanted to take inspo from Asian art

[nightblightowl]

Hey there. I really like your art. You are a gifted artist. :)

Who or what was your biggest inspiration to become an artist? :)

I know I've been drawing since before I can remember. My mom said I picked up a crayon at 2 years old and never put it down. It was only at 6 years old, when I watched Bambi for the first time and saw how the artists worked on it in the after-credit scenes did I realize "I want to do THIS" Bringing a drawing to life was MAGIC to me. And while I did work in the industry for 6 years, I realized that, while I loved it and had a passion for animation, I did not have the patience... I couldn't sit still. Easily distracted. And in my last year, due to working just one small part of production, I wasn't getting any satisfaction from my work. Then I found out at 29yrs old that I'd had undiagnosed adhd my whole life which made working in an office at a desk on a tight schedule with high demand difficult and it was getting worse. I couldn't find a way through it so I had to change my career. I draw for my own enjoyment now. And I've transferred my perfectionist mindset and attention to detail to my work in woodwork, carpentry and framing houses ;) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Artists like Frank and Ollie, Tyrus Wong, Milton Kahl, Glen Keane, James Baxter had big impacts on me growing up, to name a few. I had a lot of anime/manga influence in my teen years as well, Rumiko Takahashi and Masashi Kishimoto being the biggest ones.

[chainsxwsmile]

“PUT. Me DOWN. This instant!”

Bruce learns the hard way that it’s VERY impolite to pick up a Hobbit, especially without permission.

Luckily for the Troll, Bilbo’s method of teaching is more verbal than violent.

I was very inspired by @dejjablu ‘s style of animated Bilbo and other characters, so I wanted to give it another shot!

This is another one of my verses for Bruce, ft. him as an Olog / intelligent and sun-resistant troll.

Background is not mine— it’s one from Bambi (1942), likely by Tyrus Wong.

I tried to make it look like an old screenshot (first picture) and then an old animation cel (second picture).

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