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To create the realistic characters of Bambi, Walt Disney brought his artists living animals to study and draw direct from life. In that tradition, we're bringing in live animal models—goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, rabbits, guinea pigs, pot belly pigs and more—to provide you with the unique opportunity to observe and sketch them, just as the Disney artists do.

In observance of Father’s Day, Ted Thomas has contributed this reminiscence about his “Disney Dad,” Frank Thomas. I remember clearly a college break when I was helping my father with brush clearing at our family’s vacation cabin in the hills near Julian, California. I was in the middle of studies, but far enough along to be thinking about, and dreading, being out in the working world.

In observance of Father’s Day, Chris Crump has contributed this appreciation of his “Disney Dad,” Rolly Crump. I was very young. Hard to say exactly—maybe six or seven years old. In school, the question was asked in class: “What does your dad do for a living?” My response—that my father worked for Disney—probably got the best reaction of all of the kids...

As we celebrate Walt's timeless and beautiful feature film Bambi, author and historian J.B. Kaufman will be visiting our museum to discuss the visual styles and work that went into animating the film, which includes a discussion about the anatomy of an animal and how artists would study live animal models at the studio to get their movements and mannerisms just right.

On June 11, 2011, The Walt Disney Family Museum had the great privilege of hosting not only Charles Solomon, noted author and animation historian; Paul Felix, art director at Walt Disney Animation Studios; and Ralph Eggleston, animator, storyboard artist, and production designer at Pixar Animation Studios, but also the incredibly humble and astounding inspirational artist, Tyrus Wong.

Each month, The Walt Disney Family Museum staff takes a closer look at an artifact or exhibit within our galleries. Throughout June, the Museum has celebrated Walt Disney’s brilliant and timeless 1942 animated feature, Bambi. In this posting, Museum Interpreter Mary Beth Culler offers an appreciation of the Bambi art of Tyrus Wong.

It was a fulfilling day for those who spent the morning of Saturday, June 25 outside The Walt Disney Family Museum, learning to draw animals from live models, and returning in the afternoon for WDFM historian JB Kaufman’s lecture, The Anatomy of an Animal: Animating a Deer. When asked if they enjoyed the live study session, the assembled crowd voiced a resounding "Yeah!"

The 1962 film Moon Pilot has a unique place not only in Disney history, but also in the history of Radio City Music Hall. But just what made ticket sales soar for this film is a little known and fascinating story.

Even though the characters and culture he created have become global (and in many ways a sovereign entity all their own), Walt Disney was a uniquely American creation. We have often heard about Walt’s love of country, and his sense of pride in the United States of America—and throughout his career he displayed his deeply-felt patriotism over and over again.

Disney historian and author J.B . Kaufman will introduce six of Walt Disney’s first cartoons—including two recently discovered and restored by New York’s Museum of Modern Art—at July’s Silent Film Festival at San Francisco’s legendary Castro Theatre, July 16, 2011, courtesy of The Walt Disney Family Museum and MOMA.

Each month, we ask a museum staff member to answer five questions about their position at The Walt Disney Family Museum, their fondest Disney memories, and personal tidbits. This month in our series titled "What Do YOU Do?", we're highlighting Corinne Leles, who was—until recently—known as Corinne McCoy (congrats)!!

They shared a stage at Disneyland five days a week for nearly three decades, and passed away within a day of each other. Betty Taylor, who played Slue Foot Sue in the long-running "Golden Horseshoe Revue," passed away on Saturday, June 4—just a day after the death of Wally Boag, who played her character's sweetheart, Pecos Bill.

My parents were married on July 13, 1925. It seems that all—or nearly all—of mother's large family were present at the wedding in Lewiston, Idaho...

On July 15, 2010, The Walt Disney Family Museum published its very first blog post here on STORYBOARD. Exactly one year later, we celebrate STORYBOARD's first birthday by asking it, "STORYBOARD, What Do YOU Do??"

On July 16 and 17, The Walt Disney Family Museum was filled with the vibrant, ragtime stylings of Rod Miller, Disneyland's first and only full-time pianist. For nearly four decades, Rod charmed guests of Disneyland with his innovative talent and delightful personality.

One of the many treasures to be found in the galleries of The Walt Disney Family Museum is the breathtaking model of Disneyland. The model is officially named the "The Disneyland of Walt's Imagination," and represents the park with attractions that existed or were in development during Walt's lifetime...

Each month, we’ll introduce you to one of our Members, so you can see the varied and frequently fascinating people, who have come together to learn and experience more about the life, work, philosophies, and ideals of Walt Disney. This month, we'd like you to meet Sheri Dirden.

For years, two of the most authoritative Disney Historians on the web were Jim Korkis and Wade Sampson. Then, in 2010, a huge secret was revealed—the two were actually one!

In observation of this month’s celebration of Walt’s visionary ideas about space, progress, and the wonders of the future, we share a conversation on that subject between two remarkable Disney aficionados and Walt Disney Imagineers, Vanessa Hunt (a Founding Member of The Walt Disney Family Museum) and Tony Baxter (a friend and frequent advisor of our museum).

Jim Korkis is no stranger to Disney History. His articles can be found all over the webisphere (including our own blog), but his first chance to see The Walt Disney Family Museum in person came this past weekend. During this time, 3pm on Saturday, he also managed to enthrall a packed room of Disney aficionados with stories of Walt’s Fascination with Outer Space.