Review: UK Release of the Sleeping Beauty DVD
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To reinforce these words of wisdom, Walt invites us to watch “Four Artists Paint One Tree�?. The rather innocuous title hides a truly inspirational section that shows four artists, collaboratively working on Sleeping Beauty. Watchers can see Marc Davis working on Princess Aurora. The narrator, Mr Disney, informs us that the process of making a Disney feature is not about individual talent, but collective responsibility. All of the animators are tremendous artists in their own sphere, but they must work together to ensure continuity of style and consistency. This is acutely apparent in Sleeping Beauty, as both Eyvind Earle and Marc Davis were influential in the overall vision. We see Marc Davis perusing other artist’s renderings of Aurora, as he attempts to create the perfect specimen of a princess.

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Next, we can watch Supervising Effects Animator Josh Meador adding fairy dust to the cels featuring Fauna, Flora and Merryweather, the three colourful fairies who assist Aurora in fulfilling her destiny. The painstaking process of adding the speckles of dust is clear to see. Finally, we see Walt Peregoy, a background artist working on an exterior shot of the castle. He passes his final interpretation to Earle, who adds his own touches to ensure continuity and consistency.

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