Interesting Stuff

Higher res HERE Wtf is wrong with tumblr resizing images ?! :(

Here it is, The Disney Elite’s FOURTH original interview, and what an interview it is! We’ve got the wonderful PAUL BRIGGS, Head of Story on Disney’s Frozen and Big Hero 6.

Yes, you read that right: Head of Story on both Frozen AND Big Hero 6.

Talk about an over-achiever!

Confession: I’ve been quietly pursuing this interview for quite some time. My first emails with Paul happened back in early November, and we’ve been trying to lock it down ever since. Paul told me the interview was going to happen and I totally believed him, but I was afraid to announce it here for fear that I might jinx it. Then, last week, completely out of the blue, it happened. A nice, long email full of answers, anecdotes, photos and illustrations arrived in my inbox. I was at work at the library, so I couldn’t dance around screaming an impromptu song of joy like I wanted to. (That had to wait ‘til the car ride ride home.) Still, I was DELIGHTED. I am STILL delighted. I’m also super excited to share it with you, so without any further ado…

Part 1: The Early Years

The Disney Elite: Hey, Paul. I remember the first time I really took notice of your work. It was during the mile-long credits for Frozen. You were not only the Head of Story on that film, you were also the voice of my favorite sub-zero side-character – Marshmallow!

In the years since, I’ve pretty much mined your Twitter and your tumblr for every drawing you’ve ever put on the internet. Now I find myself curious about the man behind the snow-monster. Would you please tell us a bit of your background? Where did you grow up? Was your family full of artists, or were you the uncontested King of Crayons in your home?

Paul Briggs: I grew up in Texas, and I come from a large creative family. I have four sisters who are all very creative, and my dad is an architect, so I was surrounded with drawing supplies. My mom was my biggest supporter of drawing, though. She bought me The Illusion of Life by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston when I was 8, and that book had a huge impact on me.

The Disney Elite: On behalf of everyone currently enjoying Disney’s ‘Second Renaissance,’ THANKS, PAUL’S MOM!

The Disney Elite: When did you first become ‘serious’ about art? Not so much ‘When did you start staring at large canvases painted black and nodding appreciatively?’ as ‘When did drawing become less of a hobby and more of an obsession?’

Paul Briggs: I think I’ve always been fascinated with drawing. It was just a way I could communicate without having to talk. From a really young age I was always drawing and loved movies. They both were fascinating ways of emotional communication. Films like E.T. and Raiders of the Lost Ark had a huge impact on me.

The Disney Elite: Growing up, who and/or what were some of your artistic inspirations?

Paul Briggs: I loved comics when I was little – Walt Simonson, John Byrne and Alex Toth were a big impact on me. I loved Bill Watterson’s work so much growing up, too.

When I got The Illusion of Life, I discovered Marc Davis’ work for Disney and it blew my mind! There was this amazing level of caricature and storytelling that I really admired. It ultimately led me to the same college that he went too.

The Disney Elite: Where did you go to college, and what was your primary focus there?

Paul Briggs: I went to a private Art School in Kansas City called the Kansas City Art Institute. It’s predominantly a fine art school, so while I was there I was lucky to draw from cadavers to understand anatomy. My major was illustration, but I also did a lot of work in sculpture and ceramics – so my portfolio to Disney animation was mainly figure drawings, but I included some drawings that I had welded, too!

The Disney Elite: “I was lucky to draw from cadavers” would make a GREAT click-bait title for this inter–

No. Wait. Never mind. My gal, Mishka, is furiously shaking her head ‘no’ at that idea. Instead, let’s just let that line linger in our heads until…

Wednesday: In Part 2 of our interview, Paul Briggs tells us about his career thus far at Disney – first as part of the Animation Training Program, then as a member of the Effects team, all the way up to his current role as Head of Story. He’ll also offer some GREAT advice for folks hoping to make art their life. If this sounds like YOU, make sure to come back + check it out! I hope you’ll join us!

1. Don’t shy away from finding inspiration for characters in yourself and the people you love.

“If there’s a character that you like in something else, they probably remind of you someone you know or yourself. So if you can zero in on that and then use that to make your own original character that has those qualities, but maybe even more specific to you, then do that.”

2. You can find inspiration through the things you enjoy, especially when you’re facing a creative block.

“I love to just put on music and draw, when I get stuck, sometimes I’ll do that. I like looking at art that’s not the medium of cartoons, and kind of absorbing that, and making cartoons while thinking of that.”

3. Even though it’s not the most exciting work, learn fundamentals and traditional drawing skills.

This is excellent advice Rebecca’s received from comic artists like Eric Larson, Mike Mignola, and Eric Powell.

4. And most importantly: Make. More. Stuff.