From: an569@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Mr. John James Whelan)
Newsgroups: rec.music.beatles
Subject: How to draw John, Paul, George, Ringo
Date: 25 Feb 1997 00:16:04 GMT
Backgrounder: By the close of 1964 there was hardly a branch of the
media that hadn't rolled over and offered its soft underbelly to those
loveable Moptops, usually in anticipation of an impressive cataract of
cash to follow.
One such entrepreneural foray came from King Features Syndicate, famed
American distributors of comic strips and film animation, who hit on the
wizard wheeze of a Beatle cartoon TV series. Licence granted, they
announced, in November 1964, that work was already under way, that work
was already under way. The series would loosely follow the tone of
A Hard Days Night and feature two songs per half-hour episode, each of
which would take 70 artists a month to complete.
Artist Peter Sander drew up the character templates and style sheets were
dispatched to animators in London - who made half of the 52 episodes - and
independant teams in Canada and Australia. Supervising director Jack
Stokes decreed that the stories would revolve around the available songs.
He admitted that getting The Beatles to ad lib dialogue and build the shows
from there would have been nice but may been "too offbeat."
As it turned out, American actor Paul Frees supplied the voices of John
and George while British comic actor and stalwart of That Was The Week
That Was, Lance Percival, took on the roles of Paul and Ringo....
The series premiered the following September, instantly topped the US
ratings, and sat there unchallenged for quite some time. It re-ran for
some time in the States -- Lennon used to enjoy watching the repeats while
living in New York = but was seldom seen in the UK (Granada ran a few in the
70's and LWT showed some about seven years ago on their Night Network
Series) and hasn't been seen anywhere else for many years.
NOW, HOW TO ANIMATE THE FAB FOUR:
JOHN:
John, especially when delivering important lines, really
looks like the leader. Feet apart, hands on the hips, chin
up, looking down his nose. With a slightly mocking
expression. (This pose can be also used when he is pointing).
When facing front he uses a sly, sideways look to talk to
somebody.
Pulls funny faces especially after giving orders, which he
immediately wipes off. He also looks the other way before
giving you an order.
Slightly queer 'showbiz' gestures can be used in long shot.
Mostly with hands. Gives the feeling that John doesn't
take his job as leader seriously.
John never sit, he slouches.
PAUL:
Paul is the most poised and stylish Beatle. When he talks he
uses his hands, with fingers spread to express what he is
saying. He always looks straight at whoever he is talking
to. He is the one who gets excited when John suggests
anything.
He doesn't really walk - he skips.
Paul sits as though he is ready to jump up and get on with
whatever is happening.
When he is making his own suggestions and comments, especially
ones suggesting mischief, he covers up by assuming a mock
innocent look, eyes wide and head tilted to one side.
He tends to put his hand in his mouth when he is excited.
GEORGE:
George never looks at who he is talking to. But his shoulders,
which are hunched when he is in a standing or leaning pose,
can indicate the direction.
Head always tilted forward.
George is the same height as Paul.
George is very loose-limbed and angular when he walks.
Remember his legs are long and thin. Emphasis on the knees
will help the angular appearance.
He often closes his eyes for short periods when he is
talking.
George nearly always gives the impression of frowning.
This is because his eyebrows thicken as they reach his nose.
Notice distance between the nose and the mouth. His mouth is
always lopsided.
George always leans against something. Shoulders hunched,
hands in pockets. Legs crossed.
RINGO:
Ringo is the nice gentle Beatle, although he always looks
rather sad.
Ringo looks a bit disjointed whether walking or standing.
Ringo walks in a Groucho Marx pose.
Keep upper lip protruding. Keep Ringo's neck thin to help
the disjointed look. Keep hair at back long and shaggy.
Keep mouth in a wavy line.
When Ringo laughs, having made of a funny remark, he squints.
His clothes tend to look as though they are a bit to big.
Normally, Ringo is always deadpan but should expression be
required the main movement is arching the eyebrows.
