For anyone who ever wanted to learn about animation, the show that aired on this day in 1957 as part of the Disneyland TV series was a special treat. Tricks of Our Trade was written by animation veteran and Disney Legend Dick Huemer, and as usual, hosted by Walt Disney. Throughout the hour, Walt discusses and demonstrates how his artists study real life in order to recreate and embellish it on the screen. Although the footage of his artists at work and in the classroom is clearly staged, the film makes its points extremely well. Walt demonstrates everything from slow-motion film footage of a portly comedic dancer in slow motion to study not only the movement of the body but the clothing as well, to ultra-slow-motion footage of bubbling mud and drops of water to create believable effects animation. There’s also a thorough demonstration of the multiplane camera and how it was put to work. The final segment gives an idea of how Disney animators would use actors and dancers to help them interpret movement and breathe life into their characters. While fascinating and entertaining for a general audience, for aspiring animators the program was like a textbook on animation come to life.
