Design, Story, and Animation: The Walt Disney Archive Series

I suppose to the kind employees at my local Barnes and Noble, I might be a creepy loner with nothing better to do during the middle of the week except wander around the cases of books that I can never afford on my meager college budget. It is sad but true, but while nearly everyone else parties it up on the weekend at my school, I often find myself in my dorm room in front of a blank sketch book and tearing myself apart when I can’t think of what to draw. It’s at that point that I always find myself behind the wheel of my car and driving down the long stretch of road to our beautiful bookstore. And in all honesty, this happens nearly every other week.

You see, I am having a secret affair in the back of the bookstore. It’s with the Film and Television section. It is here that I will sit on the ground and marvel at the creativity and the sheer passion of the artists whose work grace the pages of the art and visual development books for all of our favorite films. And it was in this location that I discovered the series of art books that have inspired and changed my life in ways I didn’t think possible.

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Inspiration takes hold during a visit to Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Was there ever a moment in your life when you felt so many happy feelings that you wanted to literally wanted to tell the world how you were feeling? Where you were so joyously overwhelmed that your eyes began to water and you didn’t care that over a hundred people saw you cry? If you were to tell me yes, I would have called you a liar. But I can’t say that anymore…that was me this past week when I literally saw and experienced my dream firsthand. It is easy to say that it was the most inspiring, heart stopping, incredible ten hours of my life.  And for the first time, I know that I will never be the same again. I am writing this from a brand new perspective and a renewed mindset. Yet, what could have been so life changing that could make me feel like such a different person?

Well, because on Thursday, May 31st I went to the one place in the world I want to be part of more than anything, Walt Disney Animation Studios.

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