This was a very quick little doodle I did for a neighbor's child that is having a rough time with the Coronavirus safety guidelines. His mom was lamenting she had to take him with her to the store to pick up groceries but he refused to wear a mask or use the hand gel. He is a new fan to the original Disney Afternoon. He is binge watching with mom during the quarantine and especially loves the old DuckTales and Darkwing Duck series. I sent this over via email, keeping that 6 foot distance they recommended, and he loved it!
He even washed his hands now!
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Friday, August 9, 2019
Mickey Mouse D23 90th Tribute
Mark Henn and his official 90th piece |
3 weeks later I met the same wonderful person and was about to show them the image on my phone of the finished painting when they shared that they had hired “a well known animator” to do the piece. I was shocked and beyond disappointed.
My tribute to a special little fellow |
My painting featured Mickey sitting on one of the old Hyperion era director's chairs on a mockup set from the old Mickey Mouse Club. He's holding an iphone as a nod to his bridging decades of innovation right up to the current class of electronics. It may not be the official 90th portrait of the mouse but it at least will be seen in public. The original painting and limited edition prints will be available for purchase! I’m beyond thrilled, Mickey has been and continues to be a large part of my life! Thank you Mickey and D23!
Thursday, June 13, 2019
Mickey's All Stars! A 90th Tribute
Just published, a marvelous birthday gift, to celebrate an exceptional mouse!
A few top panels for the new collection by Mike Peraza |
Front cover of the book |
Mike Peraza chose to tell his story from the golden age of Disney animation of the 1930s. He drew his Mickey as he looked in those early years as well as other characters including a couple of famous animators who were well known for their stellar work with the mouse. A lot of research went into his backgrounds as he wanted to include a tribute to the Hyperion studio of that time period both interior and exterior detail where under Walt's guidance, so much of the magic took place.
Mike Peraza in front of a vintage Disney Animation Studio storyboard with some of his concepts for the Mickey All Stars |
50 international talents including Bertollucci, Brüno, Camboni, Cestac, Clarke, Dab's, De Poortere, Domecq, Keramidas, Lapone, LeDessineux, Munuera, Nesme, Parma, Peraza, Pirus, Supiot, Tebo and Zanzim and many others have been assembled in an exceptional tome for their collective tribute to the one and only ... Mickey Mouse!
Saturday, May 18, 2019
Darkwing Duck joins the new DuckTales!
Last year I was sitting down at a clandestine meeting with the new DuckTales
crew. They quietly closed the door, and after making sure no one was
listening at the keyhole, told me they were planning to have Darkwing Duck officially join the cartoon cast. I was ecstatic after all I was a key member on his development team back in the day. So after being sworn to secrecy (following the initiation ceremony of the ancient Order of the Junior Woodchucks),
they showed me the boards. The story they had come up with did a fine
job of connecting loose ends and creating a thrilling back story. When
the torches were relit, one of the hooded figures told me they wanted me
to create a Darkwing Duck “comic book” for that special
episode. He explained that a young Darkwing fan who admired the winged
scourge would be reading the comic on the show. As the quack chants grew
louder I was then blindfolded and led back to my car.
So here are some of the panels from that imaginary “comic book” I illustrated. Sorry I couldn’t say anything over the last few months to my Darkwing Duck fans, but after all, wasn't it an exciting surprise? Thanks Frank, Matt, Sean, Suzanna, Tanner and the entire new DuckTales team for inviting me once again to be part of the terror that flaps in the night!
So here are some of the panels from that imaginary “comic book” I illustrated. Sorry I couldn’t say anything over the last few months to my Darkwing Duck fans, but after all, wasn't it an exciting surprise? Thanks Frank, Matt, Sean, Suzanna, Tanner and the entire new DuckTales team for inviting me once again to be part of the terror that flaps in the night!
Darkwing comic by the original Darkwing Duck concept artist Mike Peraza |
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
The 55ers: The Pioneers Who Setteled Disneyland
This is a brand new large-format coffee table book celebrating Disneyland's original employees of 1955 by well known Disney author and historian David Koenig. Walking through Disneyland of today you'll see cast members dressed as cowboys in Frontierland, jungle explorers in Adventureland, and small-town shopkeepers on Main Street. But back when the park first opened in 1955, the employees weren't pretending. They were true-to-life characters, hand picked for their roles because of their amazing backgrounds.
Now for the first time you will get to see these fascinating personalities and hear their stories in the new coffee-table book, "The 55ers: The Pioneers Who Settled Disneyland" by David Koenig. In this collection of never before seen photos and rare interviews you'll meet close to 700 "Year One" cast members from every department in the Disneyland Park. Anecdotes from firemen, ticket sellers, newsboys, ride operators, show performers and many more. The book is nearly 300 pages of glossy magic with a full color jacket of original art designed expressly for this book by Mike Peraza.
The "55ers" is a true labor of love and gratitude, recognizing those trailblazers who were the first to be able to call Disneyland their home. Over the past 30 years, more than 1,000 Disney cast members have shared their stories with me. What I soon realized was that the cast members themselves were the best stories of all. This book will be unveiled in time for this years D23 EXPO. Be sure to get your copy.
Also, check out the kickstarter that will help get this book published and in the fine style it so deserves:
Now for the first time you will get to see these fascinating personalities and hear their stories in the new coffee-table book, "The 55ers: The Pioneers Who Settled Disneyland" by David Koenig. In this collection of never before seen photos and rare interviews you'll meet close to 700 "Year One" cast members from every department in the Disneyland Park. Anecdotes from firemen, ticket sellers, newsboys, ride operators, show performers and many more. The book is nearly 300 pages of glossy magic with a full color jacket of original art designed expressly for this book by Mike Peraza.
The "55ers" is a true labor of love and gratitude, recognizing those trailblazers who were the first to be able to call Disneyland their home. Over the past 30 years, more than 1,000 Disney cast members have shared their stories with me. What I soon realized was that the cast members themselves were the best stories of all. This book will be unveiled in time for this years D23 EXPO. Be sure to get your copy.
Also, check out the kickstarter that will help get this book published and in the fine style it so deserves:
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Dreaming Tree Gala
Patty and Mike Peraza Keynote Speakers |
We welcome you to the 3rd annual Dreaming Tree Gala, supporting and raising funds for the Walt Disney Hometown Museum. In 2019 we returned to beautiful Walt Disney World, to celebrate in the American Pavilion located in the heart of the EPCOT World Showcase. Our keynote speakers were Mike and Patty Peraza. It was a night filled with amazing Disney stories, surprise visits and of course spectacular fireworks.
For many of us, Patty and Mike Peraza’s film and television credits are the very foundation of our childhood. From The Fox and the Hound to TRON, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast… The Black Cauldron to DuckTales and Goof Troop, their unique talents at an animation desk helped expand our own youthful imaginations and given many of fond memories of our childhood.
On Sunday October 6, 2019, Mike and Patty combined their talents for a nostalgic night of hilarious, magical and warm reminiscences of 80 combined years at Disney, set in the stunning and majestic rotunda of the American Adventure Pavilion in EPCOT. Among the treats they shared was a wonderful documentary they created for the event entitled, "Walking in Walt's Footsteps". It combined many photos of Walt's life we had never seen before with new animated segments they drew that were delightful!
The "Imagineering" documentary by the Peraza's |
Mike and Patty on stage at the American Adventure Rotunda |
After dinner all of our guests retired to the stunning Italy Isola for a private viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. Located in the Italy Pavilion, Italy Isola can be reached by crossing over a grand staircase that matches the beautiful architecture of the piazza. This private, exclusive area allows attendees to overlook the World Showcase Lagoon and enjoy a magical evening under the stars.
We love being spoiled by our friends at Walt Disney World, and we were very excited to return to Florida for the second time in our brief gala history. Disney knows how to do things right!
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Bugs Bunny Turns 75!
Working in the field of animation means you'll most likely have the opportunity to work for a few studios. The upshot of that of course, well besides staying employed, is that you'll get to experience much more diversity in styles, story telling and even subject matter. Plus you get to meet lots of different people. I've enjoyed working for the Walt Disney Studio for many years but also found happiness creating for Warner Brothers, Don Bluth Studios, MGM, ILM, Lucasfilm and others.
I was asked to create an illustration to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Bugs Bunny. What Mickey Mouse is to Disney, Bugs Bunny certainly fills the same role for Warner Brothers. As in most animated characters, Bugs was not the sole creation of any one person but rather developed by a few key people while appearing in shorts, one of the earliest being "Porky's Hare Hunt" directed by Ben "Bugs" Hardaway in 1938.
Mel Blanc gave the hare a voice and his wise acre delivery was somewhat inspired by Groucho Marx.
It may not have been the first but "A Wild Hare" directed by Tex Avery and released in 1940 is widely regarded as the first official Bugs Bunny cartoon. This short also heard Bugs utter for the first time his immortal line," Ehh... what's up Doc?" It was also honored with a nomination for Best Cartoon Short Subject the same year.
Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs |
I was asked to create an illustration to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Bugs Bunny. What Mickey Mouse is to Disney, Bugs Bunny certainly fills the same role for Warner Brothers. As in most animated characters, Bugs was not the sole creation of any one person but rather developed by a few key people while appearing in shorts, one of the earliest being "Porky's Hare Hunt" directed by Ben "Bugs" Hardaway in 1938.
Mel Blanc gave the hare a voice and his wise acre delivery was somewhat inspired by Groucho Marx.
Bugs' first appearance in A Wild Hare (1940). |
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