Noted animation historian and author John Canemaker presents a lecture based on his recent book Before the Animation Begins: The Art and Lives of Disney Inspirational Sketch Artists (Hyperion, 1996). This is a behind-the-scenes look at the talented designers, painters, and illustrators who create the "look" of a Disney animated film: the appearance of the characters, the action's locale, the mood, and the use of color, in short, the film's aura and feel. With over 200 color slides, Canemaker presents some of the most beautiful and intriguing art to come out of the Disney studios. In addition, he chronicles these inspired concept artists in detail for the first time, situating them in the history of modern art and analyzing their lives and interactions with the studio (and with Walt Disney himself). Artists include Kay Nielsen (Fantasia), Albert Hurter (Snow White), Gustaf Tenggren (Pinocchio), Mary Blair (Alice in Wonderland), and Tyrus Wong (Bambi). To complement his lecture, Canemaker has chosen to screen a 35mm print of the rarely seen The Reluctant Dragon, a 1941 feature-length tour of the Disney dream factory at the height of its Golden Age, and starring humorist Robert Benchley. John Canemaker is also author of Felix: The Twisted Tale of the World's Most Famous Cat, Tex Avery: The MGM Years, Winsor McCay: His Life and Art, and Treasures of Disney Animation Art. He is a professor at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where he chairs the animation program.