Budding Cartoonist -MGM

[cdntowdw]

My 11 yo son has an interest in cartooning. I understand there is an attraction at Disney-MGM where they teach you how to draw a character. Does any one know more about this?

 

[donaldsgal]

If you attend the Magic of Disney Animation tour, there is a segment about 5-10 minutes in length where an animator instructs many people how to draw a character. This is not a large part of the tour but it is, in my opinion, the most enjoyable. The animator in my session took suggestions about which character to draw, so many people shouted out an idea. Each person is seated at an individual artist's stool and has a slanted table on which to draw. The animator draws at the front of the class and his images are projected onto a screen on the wall large enough for everyone to see and imitate. S/he gives detailed instruction, and at the end, you are instructed to sign your drawing and you get to keep it. ETA: We got to draw Donald Duck, and I was thrilled (as you might guess by my screenname). On the Disney Cruise Line, we also learned how to draw Mickey in a similar class.

It was fun but by no means long in length. This attraction starts by guests entering a small theater and Mushu, the dragon from Mulan, stars in a brief film about animation with an animator CM talking about this. You then move into the classroom (it's much bigger than that but that's the atmosphere) and after that into a room where you can do meet and greets with characters (the Incredibles were there in 2004 when we did this). There are stations similar to those found in Innoventions or Sounds Dangerous where you can play with images, voice system things, and the like. Again, no part of this tour is fantastic, but it was nice to do once. If he likes animation, he should enjoy the drawing segment and perhaps afterwards can go up and talk to the animator. However, new groups come in as you leave, so this might not happen. It never hurts to try.

The Animation tour to Disneyland is more extensive, from what I hear, as you can actually view animators working on Disney films currently in production. Enjoy!

For more information, check out: http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/mgm/m_animation.htm

 

[PopArtGal]

I went to Disneyquest in 2004 and had a similar class.

As an artist I enjoyed it. and I'm sure that for someone who has no training it is perfect since the CM can "draw" on your table if you need help. It was easy to understand and fun.

 

[rlovew]

At MGM the class is 9 minutes long as far as drawing is concerned. The light on their table shuts off at the 9.5 minute mark. There are now 5 characters that Disney allows the animators to teach: Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Stich and I can't remember the last one. There is one animator that has been their a long time who occasionally does a different character but for now that is usually what you will get yo draw. You can ask the animator after the class for his drawing to help your child practice at home. Also the person who lets you into the waiting area is also one of the animators so you can ask them questions too.

Of those they are doing Stich is the hardest. We were with a number of younger children who were crying after the class on stich because they couldn't do it or they didn't feel their drawing was good enough. Since My DH and I and another couple had asked about the characters while waiting (do to 1 animator being sick the classes were held less often on the day we last visited) we specifically asked about the characters and since we had all done the class a number of times and none of us had done stich they decided to do him.

If you don't want to do the whole tour you can always walk in the back way through the store and get to this and the interactive exhibits as well as the character greeting are in the animation area.

 

[Evil Queen]

We love doing this!

We have gone twice. 1st time we drew Goofey, 2nd was Mickey.

It's fun, a great place to cool off and a free souvie too (you get to keep your drawing.)

 

[Sleeping Jedi Beauty]

When we were there, they also have a Disney animator in the shop just outside the exhibit who will do a pencil sketch for you. It costs money to get the sketch, but they personalize and you choose the character and the pose from the ones they have available. Even if you don't buy one, you can watch the animator draw the picture. It's really fascinating to see this, especially since I aspired to be a Disney animator before my lack of artistic talent derailed those dreams. At the very least though, I have an appreciation for art that I attribute to Walt Disney.

 

[rayjess]

We did this at MGM this past February. I really liked it, but my 8 year old daughter cried because she could not keep up with the instructor. My son couldn't keep up either so he just drew his own Mickey his way. I thought it was funny when he said look mom I drew the original Mickey (looked like the drawings from the 1930's Mickey). He was proud of his artwork.........lol.

 

[Evil Queen]

We did this at MGM this past February. I really liked it, but my 8 year old daughter cried because she could not keep up with the instructor. My son couldn't keep up either so he just drew his own Mickey his way. I thought it was funny when he said look mom I drew the original Mickey (looked like the drawings from the 1930's Mickey). He was proud of his artwork.........lol.

funny and he should be proud. My youngest has problems too, we usually switch drawings mid way through so he has a better base to draw off of. Next year, I want him and his older brother next to each other. Older son is an artist, so maybe he can help him more.

 

[Lezah]

My 11 year old DS wants to be an animator as well and this is his favourite part of MGM and the main reason that MGM is his favourite park!! We did this tons of times last year, we did the movie once cause we love it and then he just kept doing the drawing class (we sat at the back and watched so we didn't take up a desk from anyone else and it was never that crowded and always empty seats). He came home with drawings of Pluto, Winnie, Stitch, Donald, and Uncle Scrooge McDuck . He drew some of them more than once (we were at WDW for 13 days so we got to go more than once!). We also bought home some how to books that he has used since we got home to draw characters too. They have been very helpful. One of the animators outside the area even got him an application form with all the requirements of being a Disney animator!! He was very excited to talk to her!! It was very informative and she was very helpful and was the CM that told us that we could keep doing the class over and over again as long as there was enough space. Hope that helps and that you have a great trip!!

 

[peas&carrots]

Thanks for the info (and to OP for asking the question). My oldest DS is an aspiring artist as well, so I can't wait to surprise him with this activity.

 

[TheDshow]

When I was there June 2005 we did Tigger. I have also done Goofy. Lots of fun and a great souvie!!!

 

[PrincessCM]

I've done it twice - once we drew Tigger and once Scrooge. Lots of fun!!!!

 

[makinorlando]

DD9 and I did it THREE times in a row the other Sunday when we were there. We learned how to draw Donald, Pooh and Mickey. The "lesson" is less than 10 minutes.


Here's a interior pic of the studio.

 

[cdntowdw]

This is definitely a "must do" attraction. My son says it is the thing he is most looking forward to. And here I thought it would be a week alone with his mum at WDW.