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Draw Your Sword: 
Stage Combat in Early Disney Animation

National PCA/ACA 2025

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Abstract * References

Abstract

Before CGI helped Elsa "Let It Go" (2013), and before motion capture allowed Ashoka to realistically wield a lightsaber (The Clone Wars, 2008), Disney artists relied heavily on live-action reference footage and rotoscoping to make animated characters move realistically. Surviving reference footage from films like Sleeping Beauty (1959), Aladdin (1992), and Hercules (1997) include violence choreography appropriate for live stage combat, and that style is reflected in the animation in these films. Using these and other Disney films as case studies, as well as interviews by Jim Korkis and other Disney historians, this paper proposes that combat sequences in early animated Disney films have their roots in theatrical combat. My presentation will examine the use of live-reference footage in several Disney animated classics, the resulting animated scenes, and compares them to practical techniques taught to stage actors to safely give the illusion of violence.

Abstract
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References

Resources
Bib
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Sources:

Deja, Andreas. “Hercules Pencil Tests.” Deja View, 29 May 2015. https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2015/05/hercules-pencil-tests.html?m=1 

 

–. “Marc Davis II.” Deja View, 9 June 2011, https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2011/06/marc-davis-ii.html?m=1 

 

–. “Rotoscoping.” Deja View, 30 March 2021, https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2021/03/rotoscoping.html?m=1 

 

Flynn, Errol. "Errol-Flynn." LiveJournal, 13 June 1937. https://errol-flynn.livejournal.com . Accessed 17 March 2025.

 

Gilbert, Richard and David Barefoot. Theatrical Violence Design. Routledge, 2025.

 

Jones, Gerard. Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy, Super Heroes, and Make-Believe Violence. Basic Books, 2002.

 

Korkis, Jim. “Live Action Reference.” Cartoon Research, 9 Sept 2022, https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/live-action-reference/.

 

Lane, Richard. Swashbuckling. Limelight Editions, 1999.

 

Langill, Tina. “They Fight: A Brief History of Stage Combat.” Trinity Repertory Company, n.d., https://www.trinityrep.com/they-fight-a-brief-history-of-stage-combat/amp/.

 

Martinez, JD. The Swords of Shakespeare. McFarland & Co Inc, 1996.

 

Najarian, Robert. The Art of Unarmed Stage Combat. Focal Press, 2016.

 

Thomas, Frank and Ollie Johnson. Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life. Abbeville Press Publishers, 1981.

 

Yang, Panpan. “Rotoscoping Body: Secret Dancers, Animated Realism and Temporal Critique.” Technologies of Knowing, ed. Sonia Mista and Maria Zalewska, Spectator vol 36, iss 1, Spring 2016, 33-42. https://cinema.usc.edu/spectator/36.1/4_Yang.pdf 

 

Further reading recommendations:

Gilbert, Richard. A Poetics of Violence: Representations of Violence as Storytelling and World-Building Tools of the Theater. 2020. Loyola Univ, PhD Dissertation. https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss/3860/

 

Shaw, Rachel Louise. “Making Sense of Violence: A Study of Narrative Meaning.” Qualitative Research in Psychology, Vol 1, Iss 2, Jan 2004, 131-151. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233372440_Making_sense_of_violence_A_study_of_narrative_meaning 

 

McArthur, David L, et al. “Violence and its Injury Consequences in American Movies.” WJM, Vol 173, Iss 3, Sept 2000, 164-168.

 

Slocum, J David. “Film Violence and the Institutionalization of Cinema.” Social Research, vol 67, iss 3, Fall 2000. JSTOR.


Vander Kaay, Chris. “Violence and Its Relationship with Film.” Scriptophobic, 17 May 2018. scriptophobic.ca/2018/05/17/round-table-violence-and-its-relationship-with-film/ Accessed 2/26/25.

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Images in PPT Presentation:

Special thanks to SAFD members Matthew Dray and Sean Maio

Phillip production drawing: https://www.animationartgallery.com/Disney-Production-Drawing-of-Phillip-Samson-p/wddcs396.htm

Phillip footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62BNgEnOimU

Phillip Live ref:  https://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2013/10/prince-phillip.html

Phillip side-by-side footage: https://youtu.be/62BNgEnOimU?si=5hXgNHgG9IFa-QD-

Reference collection, maybe something useful here: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/collection-of-70-rotoscope-liveaction-photostats-of-ed-kemmer-for-sleeping-beauty--126171227032266952/

Eddie Collins: https://snowwhitemuseum.com/about-the-film/live-models/dwarfs-live-models/

Hans Conried: http://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2020/04/roland-dupree.html

Dopey: https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Dopey

Eleanor Audley: https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Eleanor_Audley

Jodi Benson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgXmxbgyt1Y

Flynn and Rathbone Robin Hood: https://llamasandmystegosaurus.blogspot.com/2015/10/eight-versions-of-robin-hood-ive-seen.html

Sleeping Beauty ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlifsQvvadE

Sleeping Beauty poster: https://mondoshop.com/products/sleeping-beauty-poster

Aladdin poster: https://www.limitedruns.com/original/movie-posters/animation/aladdin-3/

Herc poster: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1427173367719785&id=346243132479486&set=a.358366651267134

Fred Cavens: https://benersonlittle.com/tag/fred-cavens/

Bob Anderson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Anderson_%28fencer%29

Aladdin Live ref side-by-side: https://youtu.be/etZzkEvUBbg?si=4xfYCJV9bCTO5lxv

Aladdin “One Jump” sequence: https://youtu.be/IQDfabokzZg?si=9MaZ2Q3R-wDAWUxo

Hercules reference: https://youtu.be/NaKYs-F64WQ?si=DVPYHZcy4GQQy7O4

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