Elysian Waters

Spirit of the Waterfall

Fantasia concept of the spirit of the waterfall.

Idyllic

Idyllic art for idyllic concepts.

Crazy Idea

This is a beautiful book I just saw up for bid over at Heritage Auctions, published in 1940. I'm sure it's entirely wishful thinking on my part, but I have this crazy idea that the cover could maybe have been illustrated by . . . wait for it . . . Walt Kelly.

It's just the kind of parade of characters he would do; he worked on Fantasia, the film, especially that roly-poly god of the grape there in the middle; the cherubs and fauns are somewhat of his style—and what isn't in his style (such as the Fred Moore centaurette) may just have been his emulating the rest of the film's characters; and Kelly has made mention that he was an illustrator-for-hire before doing comic books. It was published by Simon and Shuster, Kelly's publisher for all his "three foot shelf of books".

Aaa, if you know differently, please let me know. It's really a nice cover, isn't it?

Fauntasia

Speaking of fauns and lyrebirds, a Fantasia concept drawing:

Fantasia Long Shot

A Fantasia concept long shot for panning, from grotto to far meadows and beyond. All these lovely ladies are "centaurettes". The lyre birds are lovely too.

If I can't live in this mythological world, I can certainly see it in my imagination.

Reminiscent

Fantasia concept drawing of water nixies, looking very reminiscent of a Waterhouse painting.

A Place Spirit

Fantasia Fauns and Nixies

Fauns are place spirits of untamed woodland and Nixies are the feminine spirits of fresh waters in sacred springs and rivers.

Mystery and Decadence

Fantasia's pastoral conceptual artists developed a sense of mythological mystery and beauty and decadence that was scrubbed clean in production. I understand somewhat, because of the times and the intended audience, that caution had to be exercised. But still, to think of what might have been created in some alternate universe where maturity of theme is tolerated and appreciated by the masses.

Mythology to Muse Upon

This is one of my favorite concept production sketches of all time. This is mythology to muse upon. This is the world I want to be in. This is Fantasia as it could have been.

Spirit of the Mountain Waterfall

Let's Dive Right In

I'm just gonna dive right in (so to speak), with no particular order, to pull up some of the pre-production art for various segments of Disney's Fantasia that I find amazing and inspirational.

The Pastoral Symphony sequence, based on Beethoven's masterpiece, was/is my favorite. With its mythological subjects and locale, its a time and a land I would like to visit—but even more so if the film had been more loyal to the prep drawings such as the one above.