Aaron Blaise is an animator, producer and director best known for his work on films such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King and director of Brother Bear. Here we talk about animating the final appearances of Roger Rabbit, the challenges of animating the character Pocahontas, and why Mulan is his favorite Disney film he worked on.
Jason Anders: Let's start with your time spent as an assistant animator on the Amblin short, Roller Coaster Rabbit; what can you tell me about the making of that short?
Aaron Blaise: One thing to remember is that I was a pretty lowly rank and file guy during the time Roller Coaster Rabbit was done, so I don’t have a wealth of knowledge about such things as the dispute over which film it was meant to be released with. I can tell you how I ended up on that film, though. Backing up a bit... I was an illustration major at the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. I had, and still have, a passion for drawing and painting. My goal was to some day be a staff illustrator for National Geographic Magazine. I’ve always loved painting animals and nature.
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