They Drew As They Pleased: The Hidden Art of Disney's Golden Age

They Drew As They Pleased: The Hidden Art of Disney's Golden Age examines the work of Disney's concept artists from 1937-1941. The book focuses on four artists who shaped the visual development of Disney's early animated films: Albert Hurter, Ferdinand Horvath, Gustaf Tenggren, and Bianca Majolie. Through never-before-published artwork and production materials from Disney's archives, this volume reconstructs the creative process behind classics like Snow White and Pinocchio. The text incorporates original correspondence, studio documents, and interviews with Disney artists to provide context for hundreds of sketches and concept paintings. The artists' personal histories and professional experiences at Disney Studios reveal the collaborative nature of animation production during this era. Their contributions went far beyond individual film projects to establish artistic approaches that influenced animation for decades. This deep exploration of Disney's artistic development illustrates how innovative visual concepts transformed from rough sketches into cinematic storytelling. The book demonstrates the vital role of concept artists in creating the distinctive look of Disney animation.

Readers appreciate the book's extensive research and rare artwork from Disney's earliest artists, particularly highlighting Albert Hurter, Ferdinand Horvath, Gustaf Tenggren, and others whose work shaped Disney's visual style. Positives: - High quality reproductions and printing - Previously unpublished concept art and sketches - Detailed biographical information about lesser-known artists - Strong historical context for Disney's artistic development Negatives: - Some found the writing dry and academic - Price point considered high by several readers - A few mentioned wanting more analysis of the artwork itself - Limited coverage of certain artists Ratings: Goodreads: 4.5/5 (234 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (185 ratings) Common reader comment: "The artwork reproductions alone are worth the price." Notable criticism from an Amazon review: "While thorough in historical detail, the text can get bogged down in minutiae rather than discussing the artistic techniques and creative process."

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✧ Albert Hurter, one of the artists featured in the book, was Walt Disney's first concept artist and helped establish the visual style of early Disney animated films like Snow White and Pinocchio ✧ Author Didier Ghez spent over a decade researching Disney's archives and conducting interviews to uncover many previously unpublished artworks and sketches featured in the book ✧ The "Golden Age" referenced in the title spans from 1937 to 1941, a pivotal period when Disney Studios transformed from producing short cartoons to creating revolutionary feature-length animated films ✧ Many of the concept artists highlighted in the book were European immigrants who brought their distinctly Continental artistic sensibilities to Disney's American productions ✧ The book reveals that numerous innovative character and story ideas developed during this period were shelved but later resurfaced in Disney films made decades later, showing how the studio's creative legacy evolved