We got sent a brand new series to check out what’s currently available on the streaming platform. Here’s our Disney Plus Sketchbook review.
An intimate instructional documentary series, SKETCHBOOK takes us onto the desks and into the lives of talented artists and animators. Each episode focuses on a single artist teaching us how to draw a single iconic character from a Walt Disney Animation Studios film.
In this brand new Disney+ original series we get to know various animators who not only discuss their back stories but teach us how to draw numerous iconic Disney characters with each episode focusing on one particular character that had inspired them in some way.
The series dives into the lives of the animators and what led them to end up working at the Walt Disney Company.
Featuring six episodes we hear from the animators of Kuzco, Olaf, Genie, Simba, Captain Hook and Mirabel as they teach us how to draw these magical characters.
What I loved about Sketchbook is the easy way each animator explained how to draw each character. Using set shapes, not being too fancy and sketching as a guide certainly helped me when I tried to replicate some of the drawings at home.
What I didn’t like about Sketchbook is that the drawing aspect wasn’t the sole focus of the series with way too much focus being put on the animators and their backstories.
As much as I’d love to learn about how they got a job at the company and how they came about creating each iconic character I certainly don’t want to hear about their entire upbringing.
The sketches suddenly became a shadow feature sent to the back of the room whilst the animators got way too much camera time.
As a show that is marketed purely to teach us how to draw these characters, you’d think the emphasis would be on the drawing tutorials but it’s not.
It’s great to get a behind the scenes look at the world of Disney and how these very talented individuals got to become a part of the company but I’m here to learn how to draw first and foremost. Not learn about the medical and family history of one particular animator.
The animators deserve recognition for their art but I feel as though this wasn’t the type of show where that should come to the fold. It should be an accompaniment to the tutorial which should take centre stage.
Still worth a watch but I’d certainly fast forward through a lot of the dross if you want to learn how to actually draw these iconic characters.
Disney Plus Sketchbook review by Sean Evans
Our Rating
Summary
More waffling than instructional as the Disney Plus Sketchbook series seems consulted in back story and getting to know the animators which distract from the whole point of the series, learning how to draw iconic characters. Lots of fast-forwarding needed if you want to actually learn how to draw some of your favourite Disney characters with way too much waffling in between the genuinely useful tips, tricks and drawing tutorials.
