Gift Idea for Future Disney Animator?

[jbeyes]

DD7 LOVES art and dreams of one day becoming a Disney animator. I'm thinking there must be some great Disney Christmas gift out there to continue to inspire her on this path, it's just not coming to me. We already have coloring books and art sets coming out of the rafters and I did pick up a copy of "The Art of Tangled." Any suggestions are welcome, also if there's a more appropriate thread let me know.

TIA!

 

[missnic]

I'm not sure what age/skill level it's for, but Costco has these really cute Disney 'how to draw' sets. I think they had princesses and Pixar and maybe one or two others. They seemed fairly advanced.. at least to me, who cannot draw a stick figure. lol

 

[Lain]

I'm a bit of an amateur artist (won several art and design contests when I was in school, but never pursued it as a career). At 7, I remember taking in as many cool imagery as I could as inspiration, and tracing subjects and backgrounds to gain a feel for lines and shapes, proportions, perspective, etc.

Walt Disney Animation Studios has a great book series, The Archive Series, that covers the various aspects of Disney animation, including story, design, layout and background, and animation. The books are pricey, but filled with beautiful illustrations from Disney's films through the ages.

How to Draw the Marvel Way is also a great book that covers character animation and action, layout and story boarding. Now that Disney owns Marvel and produces Marvel movies, which have a lot of [edit] CG that starts out from story boards, I guess this counts.

Amazon also has a coupon right now for $10 off book purchases of $25 or more. Enter promo code HOLIDAYBOOK.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

My idea isn't directly Disney related. There are markers called spectrum noir (HSN sells them). Brings coloring to a different level. Also Prismacolor pencils (just saw them at Walmart). I just moved to a new state and noticed a ton of Art classes for kids. I always see it advertised in local magazines. Maybe your area has something similar?

 

[wendow]

I have a very talented, future Disney animator as well (at least we all hope!!) and when she was younger, we bought a lot of the 'learn to draw' Disney books. We have probably 10-12 of those and there are various skill levels involved. She really learned a lot from those books and now, my younger kids use them even though they don't have as much 'natural' talent as their sister. You can buy them from Amazon or a store like Michael's (Amazon has better pricing).

A few years ago, we got our dd a nice desk with good lighting so that she has a place to draw. She still kind of draws everywhere but when she is serious and focused on something, she likes a good place to sit that is quiet and out-of-the-way.

Other ideas would be sketch books, really good art supplies or an art class for whatever her 'specialty' is. Previous posters had some great ideas!

 

[wilkeliza]

The best thing you can do is to encourage her to draw her own ideas. Disney doesn't want people who draw their characters well they want people who can come up with their own characters. I think some great options if you don't want more how to kits would be the archive series books from Walt Disney Animation Studios. They are titled: Animation, Layout & Background, Design, and Story. They are pretty hefty books with a lot of drawings and information about animation over the years.

Also instead of how to books I would get just quality drawing pens/pencils and as she gets older even investing in a drawing tablet so she can start translating it into digital drawing. Encourage her to make her own stories and characters and styles.

 

[bjscheel]

According to my artist daughter, Copic markers and Prismacolor colored pencils make all the difference. I think she watched some YouTube videos for technique on using them. She likes Strathmore sketch books, particularly Toned Tan.

 

[jbeyes]

Thanks for all the great ideas! I think I have gifts for this year and next now! Feel free to keep em coming

 

[jenniy122]

These may be out of your budget, but a good adjustable drawing/drafting table and a drawing tablet like a wacom since everything is down digitally these days.

 

[minnie1012]

I saw an ornament in the Disney store of Mickey sketching at a drafting table. I just looked and didn't see it online but I saw it in the Disneystore in the mall.

 

[wendow]

According to my artist daughter, Copic markers and Prismacolor colored pencils make all the difference. I think she watched some YouTube videos for technique on using them. She likes Strathmore sketch books, particularly Toned Tan.

Yep! These are the exact markers, pencils and sketch books my dd likes Not sure I would buy the Copic markers for a 7yo as they are super pricey but they are really great markers.

 

[jbeyes]

These may be out of your budget, but a good adjustable drawing/drafting table and a drawing tablet like a wacom since everything is down digitally these days.

Actually I had been thinking about how much animation is computer based these days. Since she's just turning 7 I don't know that we're ready to invest the big bucks just yet, but if she continues to really have the drive it would be something to look into. We only have an iPad, laptop, and Wii U if anyone can suggest any good starter software for art/animation. I will google too but it's always nice to hear opionions

 

[minnie1012]

Actually I had been thinking about how much animation is computer based these days. Since she's just turning 7 I don't know that we're ready to invest the big bucks just yet, but if she continues to really have the drive it would be something to look into. We only have an iPad, laptop, and Wii U if anyone can suggest any good starter software for art/animation. I will google too but it's always nice to hear opionions

I'm not sure if she is too young but the another thread recommended this for my DD13:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Wacom-In...18770019583750674614&affillinktype=10&veh=aff

 

[agavegirl1]

My daughter is an animator and illustrator who was inspired when they were actually drawing Mulan at HS back in the day. During the question and answer period she excitedly asked the animator what she had to do to become a Disney Animator. He told her to draw every day, major in fine arts and read about famous animators. She was 11. Every year she received something art related. Focusing on Disney to start might be a good idea but I found she valued her colored pencils most when she was younger. We kept her with a supply of empty sketch pads. Start with smaller ones while she is little and encourage taking her pencils and pad with her daily. Charcoal or brown hue pencils are a little messy for little ones. Don't buy the cheap pencils, get something like Prismacolor. They are can be used for shading and are a little softer. You can get them in craft departments, art stores or online.

Other gifts she received as she got older...easel and canvasses with acrylic paints, drafting table, nonstop refills of said sketchbooks and pencils (the sketchbooks kept getting bigger), animation computer software, as well as stuff I had no idea about while she was in college that was on her Amazon wish list.

Being an artist/animator/illustrator does require drawing every day and recording your vision of the world. Don't be afraid to buy comic books. Many illustrators and animators practice form by copying from them. Illustrated Disney stories such as the "Golden Books" series from which she can practice would work as well.

She does not work for Disney. That is a tough gig to get. She has worked on projects for Nickelodeon. She is in California and is a member of the "Women in Animation" council there. Most animators are men. It takes special commitment to break into this market as a woman. With new focus on more "realistic female characters, even Disney is seeking more women in the field. Good luck to her.

 

[MomToOne]

I also have an artist for a daughter. But I have found what she enjoys has changed over the years - currently it's drawing (but she's starting to show more interest in photography), in the past she was more about painting. I would say just buy a good supply of general art supplies (paper, pencils, paints, canvas, etc.) and let her be creative. Let her experiment and find her own style right now.

 

[Azjenn]

I think I saw that you have an ipad. if you want to venture into digital animation get her the iPad pencil and download the app for it. it is amazing and will start getting her used to digital animation

 

[Lain]

I think I saw that you have an ipad. if you want to venture into digital animation get her the iPad pencil and download the app for it. it is amazing and will start getting her used to digital animation

Doesn't the Apple Pencil only work on iPad Pros? There are a number of other good stylus options out there!

 

[Azjenn]

Doesn't the Apple Pencil only work on iPad Pros? There are a number of other good stylus options out there!

Oh it might I'm not sure!

 

[rnorwo1]

Actually I had been thinking about how much animation is computer based these days. Since she's just turning 7 I don't know that we're ready to invest the big bucks just yet, but if she continues to really have the drive it would be something to look into. We only have an iPad, laptop, and Wii U if anyone can suggest any good starter software for art/animation. I will google too but it's always nice to hear opionions

They have some really inexpensive models out there. We bought our DS a $1k one But he's working on his portfolios and stuff for art school scholarships. I would just start with a $30 one at 7 years old. The technology is constantly changing.