Find Your Inner Mad Hatter
What we can learn from Ward Kimball
Ward Kimball is the opposite of Milt Kahl. Whereas Kahl was we planned and controlled in his work, full of restraint, Kimball’s pendulum swung in the opposite direction. His animation was wild, exaggerated, and spontaneous. Kahl preferred natural animation of humans and animals while Kimball thrived with the cartoony.
My favorite work of his is in Alice in Wonderland, where he animated the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb. He also created a marvelous animation of José Carioca, Panchito Pistoles, and Donald Duck in The Three Caballeros.
Kimball pushed expressions and poses beyond their limits. His over-the-top language in the right places amplified the comedy and the fun. It’s very easy to overdo this kind of animation, but Kimball had a keen sense of how to get the most out of the wildest distortion.
Kimball’s animation brimmed over with playful energy. His movements were without bounds, surprising and wonderfully spontaneous. His rhythms were unpredictable and mesmerizing.
Ward Kimball’s animation is just plain fun to watch. His passion and enthusiasm shines on every frame. You feel the joy in his creation.
Don’t be afraid to take some chances and have fun.