Real prototypes of Disney characters

The appearance, mannerisms and personality traits of Disney characters were drawn from various sources. Some were literally copied from real people - actors or models invited specifically for this purpose. The prototypes were filmed, the animators studied their plasticity, and only then created cartoon images.

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Source: mixstuff

1. Marge Champion - Snow White

When the animators started work on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, they had very little experience in creating more or less realistic images of people. To fill this gap, Disney hired a "live model" - a young dancer named Marge Champion. The actress, dressed as Snow White, was filmed in several scenes (mostly those requiring dancing), and these shots served as a model for creating a cartoon character.

Later, another character was drawn with Champion - the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio.

2. Eleanor Audley - Evil Stepmother and Witch Maleficent

Disney animators often get inspiration from watching voice actors, or even filming them, to find interesting details for their respective cartoon characters. Eleanor Audley's majestic demeanor, for example, was perfect for portraying the villainous stepmother in Sleeping Beauty.

3. Helen Stanley - Cinderella, Princess Aurora and others

Helen Stanley began working with Disney animators at the end of her film career, and this collaboration turned out to be extremely fruitful. She became the prototype for such cartoon characters as Cinderella and her half-sister Anastasia, Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty and Anita Radcliffe in 101 Dalmatians.

4. Margaret Kerry - Tinker Bell Fairy

There were rumors that the Tinker Bell fairy from Peter Pan was "copied" from Marilyn Monroe. In fact, the actress Margaret Kerry served as the prototype of this mischievous creature - moreover, the animators adopted not only her appearance, but also gestures, and even some character traits.

5. Hans Conried - Captain Hook

Another case where an actor who was invited for voice acting becomes a model for a character. Before there was a cartoon image of the eternal enemy of Peter Pan, he was filmed by actor Hans Conried. An actor dressed as Captain Hook performed a pantomime, which the artists then repeated in an animated version.

6. Sherry Stoner - Ariel and Belle

Sherri Stoner was a live model for the main characters of the cartoons "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Little Mermaid". Posing for Ariel, Stoner swam in front of the artists in a specially arranged water tank.

7. Real deer - Bambi and Faline

Disney animators also used live models to create the cartoon images of animals in Bambi (realistic and stylized at the same time). A whole zoo was arranged on the territory of the studio, in which, along with other animals, two four-month-old deer were settled - the prototypes of Bambi himself and his girlfriend Falin.

However, later it was decided to abandon the keeping of animals on the territory of the studio, and now Disney artists are looking for inspiration in zoos and other places where professionals take care of the animals.

8. Ordinary mongrel - Tramp

At first, the artists could not find the image of the main character - the dog for the cartoon Lady and the Tramp. With an aristocratic spaniel named Lady, everything was more or less clear, but no one knew what the Tramp should be like until the artist Ed Penner picked up a spotted stray dog on the street, which everyone immediately considered the ideal prototype. True, the prototype of the Tramp turned out to be a girl, but this did not bother anyone. After the end of his film career, the dog lived the rest of his days in Hollywood, in a shelter for retired animals.