Legendary Disney Animator Mark Henn Speaks At SCADFILM ‘Storyteller Series’ About The Evolution Of Animated Princesses
Among the many arts vocations made accessible by SCAD, animation has seized the imaginations of students to the point of becoming the college’s most popular degree. Appropriately, it’s the focus of this summer’s SCADFILM Storyteller series, a virtual online event hosting conversations from film and TV industry insiders. “City Lights” producer Summer Evans was joined by featured guest Mark Henn — the legendary Disney animator who worked on “The Lion King”, “Mulan”, “Aladdin”, “The Little Mermaid” and many other classics — and Leigh Seaman, Senior Executive Director, SCADFILM.
At this year’s Storyteller series, Henn, along with SCAD animation professor and former Disney trainer Tina O’Hailey, will present on the subject of animated princesses and how the trope has evolved through cultural changes since the medium took shape. The two speakers will bring a multidisciplinary perspective, exploring princesses through character design, movement and storytelling.
“The types, the style of story has evolved as our culture has changed over the years. I look at the early princesses — which would be Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, Aurora — they’re very much contemporary for their time,” said Henn. “And now, starting with Ariel, the Little Mermaid, things changed. But I look at the first group of princesses… as largely in a more reactive role. The stories happened to them, and they reacted to things a little more. Whereas starting with Ariel and going forward… they’re more proactive. I think you would see that they make decisions that move the story forward.”
Seaman expanded on Henn’s point, describing a screening of “The Little Mermaid” SCAD had hosted, that clued her in to the particularly compelling subject of these central female characters’ progressions throughout Disney films. “The screening was packed. I mean packed, standing room only,” Seaman recounted. “So we asked afterward… ‘What drew you to this screening, compared to others?’ And it was very interesting to hear so many, both male and female, talking about the empowerment of the character of Ariel.” She went on, “And that really planted the seed for this event… We have found that this kind of conversation really resonates with our student population, who are looking for ways to have their voices heard.”
“That’s just kind of a reflection of our current culture and society, that we enjoy watching a stronger female character in these stories,” Henn said. “It just makes it much more compelling.”
Seaman hopes the SCADFILM Storytelling series, and discussions like these, will illuminate cultural benchmarks and inspire students everywhere — not just in Georgia. The decision to keep the event virtual, even as pandemic restrictions are lifting, was deliberate, she said; SCADFILM’s organizers felt that the universal access the online platform provided was a feature worth keeping. “We have interested, prospective families, students that are interested in these fields as areas of study who are all over the country — all over the world… By keeping it virtual, and allowing anybody to tune in no matter where they are, we open up this conversation to that many more people.”
“At SCAD, animation is the most popular degree program, with film coming in a very close second,” Seaman said. “By bringing in industry stalwarts, and notable producers, and writers, and actors, and animators… and across all these extraordinary programs and professions, then we are able to show what’s possible.”
SCADFILM’s Storyteller series begins on Tuesday, July 20 at 5 P.M. ET with Mark Henn. Information is available at https://www.scad.edu/guests-and-gusto/events.
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