They Drew As They Pleased: The Hidden Art of Disney’s Mid-Century Era

They Drew As They Pleased is a digital art book about Disney animation and visual development during the 1950s and 1960s. Written by Didier Ghez, this PDF edition is available for instant download.

The book brings together artwork and research on five Disney artists: Lee Blair, Mary Blair, Tom Oreb, John Dunn, and Walt Peregoy. It also includes a foreword by Eric and Susan Goldberg.

Artwork in the volume comes from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library or the Walt Disney Archives, unless otherwise specified in the captions.

Book Overview

They Drew As They Pleased examines the artistic changes taking place at Disney during the mid-century era. The book considers how artists developed designs, layouts, backgrounds, color approaches, character concepts, and visual ideas for animated films, television projects, and related Disney work.

Its five main chapters focus on Lee Blair, Mary Blair, Tom Oreb, John Dunn, and Walt Peregoy. The contents also include a 1954 section, a foreword, a preface, acknowledgments, notes, an index, and information about the authors.

This art and animation history book is intended for readers interested in Disney production art, animation design, concept art, and the artists behind mid-century Disney projects.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• Lee Blair’s concept art for Pinocchio, Fantasia, and other Disney productions.
• Mary Blair’s distinctive use of color, shape, and design across projects including The Three Caballeros, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and selected shorts.
• Tom Oreb’s character designs for Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom and Sleeping Beauty.
• John Dunn’s story work, humor, and contributions to Disney science-fiction projects including Man in Space and Mars and Beyond.
• Walt Peregoy’s background work and color styling for One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
• Mary Blair’s design work for Disneyland attractions, including it’s a small world.

Why This Book Matters

The book documents artists whose contributions to Disney’s mid-century visual development have received less attention than the studio’s work of the 1930s and 1940s. It places their artwork and professional experiences within the period when Disney explored new artistic directions in animation, television, and Disneyland.

By focusing on individual artists and their surviving work, the volume provides a visual record of changing approaches to character design, backgrounds, color, layout, and story development.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download with no physical shipping. Access is available after purchase through a compatible reading app.

The PDF can be used on desktop computers, tablets, and mobile devices with suitable PDF or reading applications. It may also work with appropriate Kindle apps, depending on device and app support.

FAQ

When can I access the book?
Access is available after purchase, and the PDF is provided as an instant digital download.

Will I receive a physical copy?
No. This product is a digital PDF, so there is no physical shipping.

Which devices support the file?
You can read it on compatible desktop, tablet, mobile, Kindle, PDF, or reading apps.

Explore this documented study of Disney’s mid-century artists and their contribution to animation design.

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