Five must-see works at ACMI’s Disney: The Magic of Animation exhibition

For nearly a century, Disney has created some of the world’s most beloved animation - and now Melbourne is getting a rare look inside the studio’s behind-the-scenes magic.

Kit Li, 5, with Snow White at the opening of the Disney: The Magic of Animation exhibition at ACMI. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

From pencil and paper to modern computer-generated films, a host of the world’s most treasured artworks from Walt Disney Animation Studios are now showing as part of a blockbuster exhibition at ACMI.

Exclusive to Melbourne, Disney: The Magic of Animation features more than 500 original paintings, sketches and concept art, from Mickey Mouse’s first talking film, Steamboat Willie (1928), to Fantasia (1940), The Little Mermaid (1989), The Lion King (1994) and the studio’s newest release, Raya and the Last Dragon (2021).

Walt Disney Animation Research conservation manager and exhibition curator Kristen McCormick reveals five must-see works.

Get an inside look at Disney’s latest animated film Raya and the Last Dragon, at ACMI’s Disney: Magic of Animation exhibition.

RAYA THE LAST DRAGON (2021)

Concept art, Ami Thompson

“This artwork really captures the relationship between Sisu and Raya, along with the joy and playfulness of Sisu,” Ms McCormick said.

“I like seeing this artwork in juxtaposition with Raya the Last Dragon (2021), concept art, Shiyoon Kim, which shows the beauty of Sisu as a deity, along with the loneliness she felt before meeting Raya.

“It’s wonderful how both of these artworks capture the inner feelings of Sisu.”

Walt Disney Animation Research conservation manager and exhibition curator, Kristen McCormick with artwork from Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

MOANA (2016)

Sketchbooks, John Musker

“These sketchbooks are a look inside the artists’ process during the research phase of the film’s development,” Ms McCormick said.

“I like how in these early rough quick drawings, you can see the beginning of Moana and Maui’s characters taking shape.”

Concept art from Moana, which is on show at ACMI.

THE LION KING (1994)

Colour keys

“These small detailed drawings are so accurate to the final film, one would almost think they were painted after the film production, not during the process,” Ms McCormick said.

“I like how they show the importance of colour and lighting to capture the mood of the scene.

The exhibition highlights the importance of colour in movies such as 1994’s Lion King.

LION KING (1994) AND POCAHONTAS (1995)

Colour room experience

ACMI has also created a special colour room experience where guests can dive deeper into the importance of colour in animation by being immersed in the colour of a scene from The Lion King (1994) and Pocahontas (1995).

“Guests will get a deeper understanding of the impact of colour in animation,” Ms McCormick said.

DUMBO (1941)

Story sketches, Bill Peet

“These story sketches capture the expressions and emotions of Dumbo so perfectly without words and it’s hard to look at these without giggling and smiling inside as the Dumbo’s character is bursting from the paper,” she said.

Kids take in part of the Frozen exhibit at ACMI’s Disney: The Magic of Animation exhibition. Picture: Daniel Pockett, Getty Images

Bringing ACMI’s latest exhibition to Melbourne was no mean feat during a global pandemic, but despite the layers of complexity it added to years of planning, Ms McCormick said it was worth it.

“It is the first exhibition we have opened since the outbreak of Covid-19 and it is so exciting to be sharing it with Australian audiences,” she said.

“Anyone who has watched a Disney Animation film will enjoy this exhibition. They will have a chance to re-experience the films they know in a whole new way.

“The artistry behind the films — the beautifully painted backgrounds, the animation drawings, the story sketches, the concept drawings — all artworks part of creating an animated film, but rarely seen separately and some rarely shared outside of Disney Animation.”

Artwork from 101 Dalmatians at the Disney: The Magic of Animation exhibition at ACMI. Picture: Getty Images

Ms McCormick said the artworks were selected from more than 65 million in the Disney Animation Research Library’s collection.

“We have carefully curated an exhibition that showcases the variety of artistic styles and elements that go into making a Walt Disney Animation Studios film,” she said.

“Special to ACMI, guests will have a chance to see artworks from Raya the Last Dragon, which were added to the exhibition specifically for Melbourne.”

Disney: The Magic of Animation is showing at ACMI, Fed Square, until January 23.