Tarzan

28 octobre 2008

artworks Tarzan art Tarzan dessins Tarzan making of Tarzan

Tarzan is the 37th Great Classic of the Disney studios. It takes part of rare full-length films of the company to have partially been realized in France, in the studios of Montreuil (Walt Disney Feature Animation France). Created by Gaëtan and Paul Brizzi in the 80's, the studio started by realizing the animation of Astérix and the Surprise of Caesar. Acquired by Disney in September 1989 it was renamed Walt Disney Television. Having worked on series as Ducktales, TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck or Goof Troops, the studio was integrated in 1994 to Walt Disney Feature Animation. And so they worked on the realization of Runaway Brain (the Mickey's last short film), The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, One by One, The Emperor's New Groove, Lorenzo, Destino, Brother Bear and of course on Tarzan. WDFAF closed its doors in 2003 at the same time as the Floridian studio.
The animation of the film was thus realized on two different continents, the big majority in the studios of Burbank in California and the other one in Paris, mainly concentrated on the character of Tarzan. His animation was entrusted to Glen Keane. It is the animator who decided that Tarzan should be animated in Paris. Glen Keane left thus several months for France. And so he discovered the magnificent statues of the Opera, of the Pont Neuf and of the Museum of Orsay, which inspired him strongly for the anatomy and the style of the character. That is what the master says about his Parisian experience: "Once in the studios of Montreuil, I found an incredible group of artists which had been formed in the classic drawing and which experience in anatomy was necessary for the animation of Tarzan. Each one of us bring our key point. The character was richer because they gave themselves all their best. A trust had been established between us, even if I was American and they French, that had no importance, we were all Tarzan ". Other inspiration of the character would come from the Glen's son, then fan of skate and snowboard. By seeing his son on his board, the animator had the idea of the most famous animation of the film: Tarzan "surfing" on the branches of a tree. Tarzan will thus have the attitude and the look of a surfer, what is better to modernize the character! The technique of the animation also allowed to make move the character as ever he did in live films. Here Tarzan can make great jumps, take creepers with its feet, move in an extreme dynamic way, etc.
A new graphic process was used for the sets of the film: the deep canvas. The directors wanted to create decorations sets are cooler as their central figure. Given the dynamism of its animation, sets owed to be in 3D to accompany as good as possible the body movements of Tarzan. But at the same time they had to get closer as much as possible to 2D sets in order not to contrast too much with the animation. It is then that the deep canvas process enters scene. This software allows to move into the sets, to follow the character in its movements. It is in fact 3D sets which are literally painted by hand on computer by means of a graphics palette. The result is then truly credible, we really have the impression to move into the paintings!
The songs of the film were entrusted to the famous singer Phil Collins, it is the first time in the history of the studios that a music star takes charge entirely of the songs of a full-length film. Besides composing them, Phil Collins also interpreted them. And not only in English, the artist took in charge the English, French, Spanish, Italian and German version while he had never sung in foreign language! Phil Collins's participation is not harmless, Tarzan is a film taking place in Africa, place where the rhythms are very important, as Phil was the ancient (excellent) drummer of the group Genesis it was the perfect candidate for this work.
The Disney version of Tarzan restored a blow of freshness in the growing old license of the ape man and made him enter the 21^th century. Its dynamism, its modernity and its freshness make it one of the best full-length films of animation of the firm of these last ten years.
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