Milton Erwin "Milt" Kahl was an American animator for the Disney studio, and one of Disney's Nine Old Men.
Kahl is often considered the finest draughtsman of the Disney animators. He would often refine the characters sketches from Bill Peet with the ideas of Ken Anderson. For many years the final look for the characters in the Disney films were designed by Kahl, in his angular style inspired by Ronald Searle and Picasso. He is revered by contemporary masters of the form, such as James Baxter, Andreas Deja, and Brad Bird, who was his protégé at Disney in the 60's. In the behind-the-scenes feature "Fine Food and Film" shown on the Ratatouille DVD, Bird referred to Kahl as "tough", but in a gentle way, as he often gave Bird advice on where he could improve in animation whenever he came up short.
In the book The Animator's Survival Kit, the author Richard Williams makes repeated references and anecdotes relating to Kahl. The centenary of Kahl's birth is being honored by the Academy on April 27, 2009, with a tribute entitled "Milt Kahl: The Animation Michelangelo" and featuring Brad Bird as a panelist.
Characters[]
- Mickey's Circus: Mickey Mouse
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Forest Animals, The Prince, the dwarfs dancing with Snow White
- Pinocchio: Pinocchio, Pinocchio as a real boy, some scenes of Jiminy Cricket, Gepetto in the Monstro chase sequence
- Bambi: Adult Bambi, Adult Flower, Adult Thumper
- Saludos Amigos: Donald rides a Llama sequence
- Tiger Trouble: Tiger
- Make Mine Music: Grace Martin
- Song of the South: Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Bear, and Br'er Fox (The Tar Baby sequence)
- Fun and Fancy Free: Lulubelle, Lumpjaw
- Melody Time: Johnny Appleseed, Johnny's Guardian Angel, Pecos Bill, Slue Foot Sue
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad: Water Rat, Mole, Angus MacBadger, Brom Bones
- Cinderella: Fairy Godmother, The King, The Grand Duke, Prince Charming
- Alice in Wonderland: Alice, Dodo, Flamingo, Caterpillar (one scene with Alice)
- Peter Pan: Peter Pan, Wendy Darling, John Darling, Michael Darling, Mr. Darling
- Lady and the Tramp: Tramp, Lady, Trusty, Beaver
- Sleeping Beauty: Prince Philip, King Hubert (his scene with Philip), King Stefan, Samson, Goons, Forest Animals
- One Hundred and One Dalmatians: Roger and Anita, Pongo (scenes with Roger)
- Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color: Ludwig Von Drake
- The Sword in the Stone: Sir Ector, Sir Kay, Madam Mim, Merlin, Wart (a.k.a King Arthur), Archimedes
- The Jungle Book: Shere Khan, Kaa, Mowgil, Baloo, Bagheera, King Louie, Vulture, Rocky
- The Aristocats: O'Malley the Alley Cat, Edgar, Georges Hautecourt, Madame Adelaide Bonfamille, and Duchess
- Robin Hood: Robin Hood, Maid Marian, The Sheriff of Nottingham, Little John, Alan-a-Dale (the rooster)
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Tigger
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks: King Leonidas
- The Rescuers: Penny, Brutus, and Nero, Madame Medusa (who was based on his ex-wife), and Mr. Snoops
Note: At the time these films were produced, it was common for one animator to animate every character in the shot.
Gallery[]
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Miscellaneous[]
Trivia[]
- Kahl's second wife, Phyllis Bounds, was the niece of Lillian Bounds, Walt Disney's wife. She would be the inspiration for his depiction of Madame Medusa.
