Interview: Blaine Gibson (Disney animation starting in 1939)

Blaine Gibson began his Disney career in animation in 1939, and worked on some of Disney’s early classic features, animated shorts and even military films during World War II. Eventually Blaine began sculpting for Disney, creating the pirates in Pirates of the Caribbean, ghosts in the Haunted Mansion, Abraham Lincoln for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, all the president before Barrack Obama for Hall of Presidents in the Magic Kingdom, Mark Twain and others for the American Adventure in Epcot, and much more. Blaine also sculpted the Partners statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse in Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom.

Blaine Gibson (left), On the Disney Studios lot, Blaine Gibson, Shani Wolf, Scott Wolf, Harriet Burns (right)
Blaine Gibson (left), On the Disney Studios lot, Blaine Gibson, Shani Wolf, Scott Wolf, Harriet Burns (right)

AUDIO INDEX

1:11 Blaine Gibson’s start in Disney animation; His first drawing

5:26 Learning that he got a job for Disney while chopping wood in 1939

9:44 At the Disney studio on Hyperion Avenue; Beginning in “traffic”; Listening to the Philadelphia Symphony recording for “Fantasia”; Exploring the Disney Studios

12:35 Getting into production as an in-betweener; Working on his first scene in the Pluto short “Bone Trouble”; Fantasia, Pinocchio and Bambi

14:26 In-betweeners/assistant animators/breakdown men and about the animation process; working for Ken Hultgren on Bambi; Art classes at the Disney Studios, and instructor Rico Lebrun

17:57 Walt’s goals in animation; Believability – not real, but believable

26:56 Sculpting, starting at five years old; The thrill of drawing; Effects animation; World War II films; Becoming assistant to great animator Frank Thomas

Interview: Barry Lane (1960s Disneyland tour guide and Jungle Cruise skipper)

 

interview-barry-lane and connie-lane

Barry Lane worked at Disneyland in the 1960s, when Walt Disney would still wander the parks, and was a tour guide there, one of the last male tour guides for many years to follow. Barry also was a skipper on the Jungle Cruise and worked in Disneyland’s historic Golden Horseshoe Revue!

AUDIO INDEX

:59 Barry Lane’s start with Disneyland; Interviewed and was hired as a tour guide; Barry begin in April 1960, and was the last male tour guide for years to come

3:32 Giving his first tour at Disneyland without training, due to high park attendance

5:36 Becoming a skipper on the Jungle Cruise, because they had the best parties; Was laid off of his job 13 times

9:19 Worked at the Golden Horseshoe in foods, and ushering Guests into the building; Became a foreman at the Golden Horseshoe

11:53 Encounters with Walt Disney

13:50 Golden Horseshoe memories

15:15 Serving mint juleps on the Mark Twain

15:46 Meeting his wife, Connie

Interview: Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi (Voice actors in Tangled)

Here’s two interviews tangled together in one… Zachary Levi, the voice of Flynn Rider, and Mandy Moore, the voice of Rapunzel. Enjoy the photos below and as always, see the Audio Index.

Interview with Zachary Levi, voice of Flynn Rider and Mandy Moore, voice of Rapunzel in Disney's Tangled
Interview with Zachary Levi, voice of Flynn Rider and Mandy Moore, voice of Rapunzel in Disney’s Tangled
"I See the Light" scene from Disney's Tangled
“I See the Light” scene from Disney’s Tangled
Zachary Levi recording for Disney's Tangled
Zachary Levi recording for Disney’s Tangled
Mandy Moore and Alan Menken, recording for Disney's Tangled
Mandy Moore and Alan Menken, recording for Disney’s Tangled

AUDIO INDEX

1:49 Zachary Levi explains if Flynn Rider’s look was modeled after him

2:37 Working with Mandy on music and dialogue; Working with the orchestra; He was new to professional singing, this was Zach’s first professional singing job

5:28 Singing Alan Menken’s music in Tangled, but a huge fan of Menken’s work

6:42 Zach’s audition process

9:11 Changing his voice for the role

10:45 Mandy Moore discusses performing as a voice role vs. an on-camera role; She only had sketches and oral explanations for character reference; Recording the dialogue; Directors Bryon Howard and Nathan Greno

13:50 Mandy’s audition process; Becoming a Disney princess

15:16 Seeing the finished movie; Being a part of a Disney legacy and Mandy’s feelings about her character, Rapunzel; Differences from other animation she’s worked

18:05 Mandy’s favorite memories working on Tangled, and how part of it was a career highlight