Lion Models for Lion King
Rich_Car...@cup.portal.com
newsgroup.
South Carolina Lion Models for Disney's "The Lion King"
Inman, S.C., 6/22/94 (AP) -- When Walt Disney Co. animators needed a
real lion to model for the star of "The Lion King," talent scouts
searched as far as Africa for one with just the right qualities.
They found the perfect subject here, a 3-year-old lion prince
nicknamed Chewy.
When moviegoevers watch the full-grown Simba, the star of the
animated film, they'll actually be seeing movements modeled on
those of Chewy, whose real name is Max.
Over and over, Disney's animators in Orlando, Fla., watched Chewy
sit, said David Meeks, director of Inman's Hollywild Animal Park
where the lion was born.
"That was so they would know how a lion's back haunches move when
he sits down," Meeks said. "That's the kind of details they were
looking for.
"The animators wanted to see all the movements that Max makes.
They said they wanted their animated lions to be as natural as
possible, with all the little moves and expressions that lions make."
- - -
The Real Lion King
By Mary Lyon and Michael Weinfeld, Associated Press Writers
Inman, South Carolina, 6/23/94 (AP) - [Repeated details from the
above story deleted.] Chewy's trainer says some of the animators
even went so far as to put their heads on Chewy's chest to hear
how his heart beats and how he breathes, so they could draw his
slightest movement perfectly. The trainer's wife adds -- "this was
after they had fed him more than 20 pounds of pot roast from the
studio commissary." "The Lion King" opens nationwide tomorrow.
(End of quoted material.)
--Rich Koster ()_()
FDC Walk-Around Mickey Mouse (_)
E-mail: Internet: rich_...@cup.portal.com or ri...@yensid.ness.com
or rich_car...@cup.portal.com
UUCP: ri...@yensid.UUCP Fidonet: Rich Koster 1:390/5.10
* "So prepare for a chance of a lifetime
* "Be prepared for sensational news.
* "A shining new era is tiptoeing nearer." -The Lion King, "Be Prepared"
MartyW3679
writes:
The Lion model for Mufasa is named Josef, and he lives in Salinas
Calif. He is seven years old and he is the coolest cat around. He was
at the Disney cast wrap party, and will be at DL for the LK parade
kickoff. His owner is Charlie Sammet, and I know this cause my sister
has worked with him since he was 3 yrs. old. He is now 8.
Tigger
>
> The trainer's wife adds -- "this was
> after they had fed him more than 20 pounds of pot roast from the
> studio commissary."
Hey, we all knew pot roast had to be good for *something*, right?
--
| Greg Orman gr...@pomona.claremont.edu |
| A man's best friends: a Harley, a Beretta and a Gund. |
Rich_Car...@cup.portal.com
> The Lion model for Mufasa is named Josef, and he lives in Salinas
> Calif.
And so, do you think they flew him to Florida so that the animators
working on TLK there could observe him? I doubt it. Doesn't it
make sense that the Disney Studio in Florida would have an East Coast
lion to model?
--Rich Koster ()_()
FDC Walk-Around Mickey Mouse (_)
E-mail: Internet: rich_...@cup.portal.com or ri...@yensid.ness.com
or rich_car...@cup.portal.com
UUCP: ri...@yensid.UUCP Fidonet: Rich Koster 1:390/5.10
* "And if he falls in love tonight, it can be assumed
* "His carefree days with us are history.
* "In short, our pal is doomed! (Waaaaaaaaah!)" -Timon, "The Lion King"
Jan Penovich
>
> > The Lion model for Mufasa is named Josef, and he lives in Salinas
> > Calif.
>
> working on TLK there could observe him? I doubt it. Doesn't it
> make sense that the Disney Studio in Florida would have an East Coast
> lion to model?
>
While they were making the movie, there was an article in
the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, in which they interviewed
the animators up in Orlando. And yes, Rich is correct, they
went down to Miami's Metro Zoo in South Dade and used the
lions down there as models.
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TTFN, * jpen...@encore.com
jan penovich
* Encore Computer Corp.
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MartyW3679
Penovich) writes:
If you look at any of the making of shows, and the beginning of
Aladdin video, you will see Charlie Sammett, Jim Fowler and Josef the
Lion in those clips,along with a young cub as well. May I remind you
geniuses that Disney has quite a substancial animation dept. in
Burbank where the majority of that research was done. Also the Spring
and Summer Disney magazines have pictures, and I might add the
monkey"Piper" used as a model for Abu in Aladdin is in full view in
the making of Aladdin book. Thanks anyway.