The Little Mermaid December 11, 2010

One of the modern masters of Disney animation, Glen Keane has given the screen some of its most enduring illustrated heroes and heroines during his more than three decades with the studio. After serving as an apprentice to several of Disney's “Nine Old Men” on THE RESCUERS (1977), Keane went on to make his mark with the incredible bear fight finale in THE FOX AND THE HOUND (1981). From there, he designed and supervised the animation of the title characters in many of the films from Disney's second animation renaissance: THE LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN, POCAHONTAS and TARZAN. Keane's magic can be seen in the studio's upcoming release TANGLED, Disney's 50th full-length animated feature, on which he served as animation supervisor (along with Clay Kaytis and John Kahrs). For that film, Keane helped to raise the bar for human animation in CG by bringing the expressiveness and nuance of hand-drawn animation to the process.

THE LITTLE MERMAID, 1989, Walt Disney Pictures, 83 min. Dirs. Ron Clements, John Musker. Headstrong young mermaid Ariel (beautifully designed by animating legend Glen Keane) can't contain her interest in the mortal world above the waves, or her boredom with her everyday life under the sea. Entering into a risky bargain with Ursula the Sea Witch (who rivals SLEEPING BEAUTY's Maleficent as the ultimate female Disney villain), Ariel trades her lovely voice for a pair of legs in the hopes of nabbing her land-bound love, Prince Eric. With original score by Alan Menken including the classic songs "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl" and "Poor Unfortunate Souls." [35mm]

Following the flm, animation historian/critic Charles Solomon (Tale as Old as Time: The Art and Making of Beauty and the Beast; The Art of Toy Story 3) will lead Keane in a discussion of his career accompanied by a visual tribute to his 35 years of creativity and artistic milestones.

Trailer

Official Website: http://www.americancinematheque.com/mastercalendar.htm