Tony Bancroft: Former Disney Animator and Director

Hello and welcome to Enchanted Ears Podcast where we talk about anything and everything Disney. This week we're delighted to share our interview with Tony Bancroft with you, but first, Disney News.

This week in Disney News, The Jungle Cruise is going to be undergoing an update similar to, but not nearly as extensive as, Splash Mountain to make it more PC. This needed change will not have anything to do with the Jungle Cruise movie set to come out this summer.

In rides-on-the-fritz news, The Three Caballeros continues to delight guests (a phrase that hasn’t been used about this ride maybe ever). After The Donald Duck animatronic broke, he was replaced by a plant. Now, all three animatronics are gone and replacing them? Cardboard cutouts. I’m glad to see that even a company as seemingly perfect as Disney has to phone it in every now and again. 🤣

Our guest this week is the ultra-impressive Tony Bancroft, lead animator of Pumbaa and Kronk, one of the directors of Mulan, author of Directing for Animation: Things You Didn't Learn in Art School, and co-host of The Bancroft Brothers Podcast. Dang...the accomplishments...what am I doing with my life?

Tony gives us some incredible insight into what it's like to be both an animator (you may or may not get taxidermied warthog heads in your office and be in danger of getting mauled by a lion) and director of a Disney animated film when you're at the ripe old age of 26.

We also learn about his mentor and how he got into designing comedy characters. He gives us interesting insight into what it's like watching a movie you helped create, and it's not all rainbows and butterflies. And have you ever been the boss of your twin brother? Tony has! Find out what it was like to manage Tom during what was certainly a pressure-cooker of an experience. Lastly, he gives some tattoo-on-the-forearm-worthy advice about how to stand out in a creative endeavor.

Once again, we want to thank Tony for letting us steal some time and talking to us. We learned a lot and had a blast (and also received some amazing free entertainment during a brief audio issue at the beginning of our call).

And lastly, if you wouldn't mind, pop over to your pod-delivery service and leave us a nice review. It helps us get into more ears and gives us the ability to talk to amazing people like Tony!

Have a magical week!

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