Inktober 52 2023 Day #28: Mermaid

INKTOBER 52 2023 Day #28: MERMAID.

“I can’t say ‘The Little Mermaid’ was or is a favorite movie of mine, but I did see it in the theater and I do appreciate its place in pop-culture history. It marked a revitalization of Disney’s animation studios, which had been struggling for some years prior. It showcased some pretty breathtaking animation and some seriously catchy songs (I have ‘Part of Your World’ stuck in my head now after drawing this). I can’t remember what year it was, but on the second of two family trips to Disney World, we toured the animation studio. It was a huge deal for me as a young kid that idolized Walt Disney and who wanted to be an animator at the time. We hung back a little from the tour group that passed through for some reason, and I got to watch the animators work a bit longer. It just so happened that in the room with us was someone I didn’t know, but my parents told me was actor, comedian, and singer Buddy Hackett, who voiced the seagull Scuttle in ‘The Little Mermaid’.

This illustration is a twist on the scene where Ariel and Flounder seek out Scuttle to help them identify some human stuff from a sunken ship (particularly a ‘dinglhopper’ and a ‘snarfblat’). I think using a plunger for a hat would fit into this moment perfectly. I also really wanted to work a squid in there somewhere, but there just wasn’t enough room.

While I didn’t end up pursuing a career in animation, I still harbor some thoughts of animated projects. Now that the tools are digital and more accessible, who knows? Maybe there will be a PMD animated short some time down the line?”