Frank Thomas' views Computer Animation (1984)

[Mike Borjon]

Here is a link to an article authored by Frank Thomas, one of the "nine-old-men" at Walt Disney. Although he had serious reservations as to what artists using computers could or would be able to accomplish, he held out some promise.

His concern lay in to whether or not computer animators would be ever able to bring endearing characters to life with stories that would truly entertain an audience. Of note was one visit to a fledgling company named "Pixar" in which he left it with a somewhat negative view of computers.

Very hard to believe. Here is the link to the article.

http://thepixartouch.typepad.com/mai...ouch-A-250.pdf

Enjoy.

[faulknermano]

thomas's expectations might have been higher than what was possible at that time.

at any rate, the article was very good! clearly, i like the way he explained the problems of animation and what they did to overcome them.

[hydroclops]

Interesting article. Frank Thomas lived another 20 years after he wrote this. I wonder what he thought later on. Someone knows...