Animation Blog #5

Blog 5 (Analysis) Walt Disney said, “In most instances, the driving force behind the action is the mood, the personality, the attitude of the character--or else all three. Therefore the mind is the pilot. We think of things before the body does them.” This chapter is a discourse on the last two sentences. What do the Disney artists mean by this idea? Follow a character through fairly substantial shot. What signs of the body show you the mind of the character?

The animators meant that, the idea of an action happens before the body reacts to it.  The key is to pay attention to the character's expression and movements to try and understand what they are thinking. 
 For example, when the idea of Pluto was first created, the animator Norm Ferguson thought 
of the idea of how the character ,would think before working on the body. Looking at the 

animation drawn out below Pluto has many different emotions and reactions shown on his face. 

If you look at the bottom right hand panel Pluto is shown having his body shaking but his brow is 

furrowed as well, giving the appearance that he is aggravated and is panting as well. Another way 

that the body demonstrates the mind of the character would be the panel next to the bottom right 

corner panel,  this animation is fast spinning showing that Pluto is aggravated, the brow is also 

furrowed showing that he is angry as well. Overall, to really see what the character is thinking 

look at the emotions projected on the characters face and also the way that the character 

is projecting their body that will give  the viewer the idea of what is going on in the characters mind.