“So much can be expressed through a walk, you know. I think that’s one of the things that a lot of animators don’t do these days, is actually crack the walk so that it actually says something about the character.”
Eric Goldberg is one of the most admired animators working today. After years of developing his craft in the commercial business in London, he exploded on the feature animation scene with the Genie in Aladdin. After that, he co-directed Pocahontas and later directed two classic sequences from Fantasia 2000 - Rhapsody in Blue and Carnival of the Animals. Eric was also responsible for animating Phil in Hercules and he is currently animating on the upcoming film The Princess and the Frog.
Continue for Show Notes, audio file download links, and comments…
Get the MP3 here: Show 29: Eric Goldberg, Part One
(40.2MB, 1:27:39 minutes)
Or get the enhanced version playable only with Quicktime, iTunes, or iPods.
(Includes chapter breaks, pictures and links in addition to the audio.)
Get the enhanced podcast here: Show 29: Eric Goldberg, Part One
(42.2MB, 1:27:39 minutes)
SHOWNOTES
- 00:00 The Intro Voice
- 00:05 Sponsored by -
- 00:21 Theme Song by DJ Sweettooth (Joe Moshier)
- 01:05 Introduction
- 02:00 Character Animation Crash Course
- 08:34 On TV as a child animation prodigy
- 12:09 Early animation
- 13:28 Learning animation at age six
- 17:12 Searching out animation
- 21:10 Career goals
- 24:36 Ken Harris and Art Babbit at Richard Williams’ Studio
- 31:03 Richard Purdum, Russell Hall
- 34:55 Workflow at Richard Williams’ Studio
- 40:25 Dick Williams - master of analysis
- 43:33 How to analyze footage
- 45:11 Expression through walks
- 49:09 Pizazz Pictures
- 52:48 Catching the eye of Disney
- 54:44 Being cast as the Genie
- 57:39 Grim Natwick’s 100th birthday party
- 59:42 Voicemails/Feedback info - Email Clay - Link to Voicemail
Ryan from Austin - Reanimators Podcast - 1:07:23 What Clay is up to - BOLT - ADAPT Conference, Montreal
- 1:08:25 Sponsored by -
- 1:08:44 Closing
I could not be happier. It’s downloading now and I’m listening to it tonight. Thanks in advance!
Fantastic!!! I received the book today, just about to crack it open while listening to the new show, it will be a long and enjoyable night..;). Thanks Clay!
Clay,
Great podcast today, I really like these podcasts and I have definately been listening to these while animating and when I need some refreshing on my animation batteries. It feels like you are out to lunch with him and these podcasts are awesome stuff man keep it up and I really look forward to hearing the next one.
Oooh places to eat in Montreal :D!
First off, try the poutine. It’s the best meal ever invented by the Quebecois. The classic is French fries top with cheese and gravy. Virtually every eatery there sells the dish but I liked a place called “La Banquise”
But it’s very popular apparently! The place gets packed soon so you should get there very early.
There is also a very popular restaurant there called Au Pied de Cochon (At the Pig’s Feet) serving…pigs. Regrettably I have not been there at all.
Try also Montreal style bagels at the Jewish quarter there
It’s different from New York bagel.
Montreal is great. It’s gorgeous and everyone is friendly. If you can sneak a visit, try to visit the Biodome and Old Montreal.
Great show Clay! This has so much information and Eric’s a riot to listen to! I’ve been reading his book and I’m really enjoying it too.
Oh, and Bolt looks great, the hamster is really funny!
Amazing. These podcasts are power house of knowledge and such a gr 8 gr8 inspiration and definitely a charger for our animation passion.
CAN ANY ONE TELL ME FROM WHICH WEBSITE I CAN BUY THE ERIC GOLDBERGS BOOK SINCE AMAZON SAYS OUT OF STOCK.
THANX A LOT
Man, a pretty funny guy,”Allo is this piss-ass pictures?” . Thanks for the podcast!
Here are some great drawings of eric:
al hirschfeld =
http://bp2.blogger.com/_Sar8IPNlxOY/Rh4AAyzvoRI/AAAAAAAAAZE/hC9ActE6Imk/s1600-h/eric_goldberg_by_hirchfeld.jpg
dave coleman =
http://bp1.blogger.com/_8ojYCeN-y3g/RwU0Gwin3oI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/P1n3KWfY2VA/s1600-h/EGsketch.jpg
eric goldberg =
http://www.asifa-hollywood.org/blog/eric1.jpg
Anyone else got anymore?
cheers for the podcast clay!
WOW,Clay! It was awesome like always…thank you sooo much!
I really enjoy every second of your podcasts.
Good luck
Keep it up
Hey Clay! Awesome Podcast! (as usual)
I couldn’t believe when I heard last month you would have Eric Goldberg on the next show!
Keep ‘em coming! Just waiting for the next one!
Yay! DLing now.
/me Tips a beer at Clay.
Cheers,
andy
Another goldmine of animation tips & info. Thnx Clay
Dear Eric. You’re a good man and damn eloquent. All the best, mate.
You’re animating Bolt? I didn’t even know you worked at Disney.
Hey Clay,
Been listening to the ‘cast since the 3rd Andreas Deja episode but this is the first time I’ve decided to post . I’m not gonna reiterate everyone else and say I like it , but that I love it so much and it is such an inspiration that I check the site every couple of days for a new podcast and am PISSED if there too long a time between episodes . I also listen to each podcast randomly whenever I feel like talking about animation or somtething , gives me something to think about and so on . Listened to each show about 4-5 times, with my favorite animators being Andreas, Nik, Glen and Burny .
Anyways , I wont rant on . I wished to ask you some advice on a certain issue I’m facing . I’m really interested in 2d Animation , specially in a style derivative of Japanese Animation i.e. Anime as they call it . I realize that since this style hasnt percolated that much into the west it would be difficult to study it there, but with the current craze behind various shows such as naruto and Airbender if you’ve heard of those , it seems that it has a bright prospective future .
I’m currently reside in India and am making an effort in getting admission to Vancouver Film School for studying Classical Animation . My current plan is that I finish classical animation from VFS and while I’m am working in the same field, I do the Animation Mentor course which is what I’m highly interested in and take it from there on . I’ve done a no. of intensive courses here and am pretty aware of the different specializations and professions in the pipeline and realize that I want my main focus on Character animation in 2d as well as 3d . With this plan I’m trying to hit 2 birds with one stone i.e get my 2d upto mark as well as get to Canada where the enviorment is more supportive of such endeavours and plus so that I can get better education than I can here .
Anyways, thats that plan anyways . If you could add something onto it , like some advice , I’d be terribly grateful . And again , thanks for keeping up such a great podcast .
Cheers and keep up the great work .
Hi Eric. Good to hear your voice! All your voices, I should say! I’m amazed by your Art, Russell and the others, it’s uncanny! Looking forward to Part 2.
awesome man, thanks :D. I must get that book! but it’s so hard to find right now :(. Anyhow, awesome show, Eric is the man, and I’m looking forward to Bolt. It looks gnarly
I got to meet Eric for the first time at Comic-Con for his book signing a few weeks ago. What a fun guy! I hope I can meet him again someday & talk with him a little more than I did then.
I read his book cover to cover the other day, & just from reading it that one time, I became so inspired by it that I’ve been drawing & animating like mad ever since! & on top of all that, your latest podcast is like the icing on the cake! Thanks for getting Eric on the show, Clay! I know it was probably very difficult to get a hold of him, but it was a real treat to listen to while at my drawing board. Can’t wait for Part II!
Great stuff Clay! Slowly but surely you’re ticking off all these great animators - also I cannot wait to hear the end of Nik Ranieri’s interview later this year. Also - is it possible please to post links to the other animation podcasts you mentioned at the end of Ken Duncan 3?! Thanks so much!
Hey all, just wanted to stop and say thanks for all the feedback. I’ll be back to the site in about a week or so to respond. Thanks for your patience.
-Clay
Thanks so much, this was a brilliant interview! Eric is just such a great and charismatic storyteller and I found myself giggling at several points (resulting in questioning stares from the co-workers around me).
Hey Clay, great interview as always!!
like the voicemail message said.. “so much great information.. that i couldn’t just listening in the background..” i had to pretend to work and keep listening to the info hehehe 
I am from Quebec and i am 3 hours away from montreal.. i lived there for 2 years.. and i am planning to go to Adapt this year… I am originally from Peru.. and i know great restaurants over there.. it would be an honor to meet you and geek about animation
all the very best!!
hello!
I just finished listening to the podcast and it was great!
I live in montreal and hope to be able to get an adapt pass trought my company (because they are stupidly expensive). I can tell you that the forum where it’s going to be held is very near to downtown so you will have no problem finding great palces to eat and shop.
I attended the Bolt pannel at san diego comic con and I can tell the animation looks great! So congratulations on everything, keep up the good work and maybe I will see you at adapt.
p.s. D’ont forget that september is a bit cold here in Montreal haha!
Hi Clay, just wanted to say how much I enjoyed listening to this month’s podcast. Like James Baxter’s interview, I’m sure this one is gonna take a couple of extra listenings to fully digest all the great information and advice that Eric has. I appreciate you getting this stuff out to us all.
Also, I’m not sure if he’s already down on your list of people to interview, but if you don’t mind and could make it at all possible, I’d love to hear from Rodolphe Guenoden at some point. His skills with a pencil are just incredible and I’ve been an admirer of his work for a long time. Thanks!
Hey Clay, i have not been on this site in forever man! Been busy.
I have so much catching up to do, SO MUCH!
Thanks for keeping the show going, ive no idea what ive been missing.
Hopefully i can catch up before the summer is over.
PeaCE
Clay,
Eric also directed the animation of “Looney Tunes: Back in Action.”
Thanks for intervewing Eric. Can’t wait for more.
First time posting. Just wanted to say I’ve loved all of your shows and guests and please pass a huge thank you on to Mr. Goldberg.
I’ve been animating for years, even completed my own 5-minute short in pen and charcoal but I’d never really quite got character animation to click. After listening to the first show, I got a copy of his book, and I’m going to put it up there with Kit Labourne’s Animation Book and Frank and Ollie’s Illusion of Life as books that have _REALLY_ taught me something, got me excited, and made things click.
Right now, I’m counting the minutes at my ‘day job’ so I can go home and spend an entire weekend animating. (Housework be damned!
Thanks for a great interview, cant wait to get my hands on that book!
It’s amazing how many of the current generation of animation stars worked under Richard Williams. I’d love to hear a podcast with him if possible.
I hope “the crunch” is treating you okay.
Ryan
Where’s part 2?! I’m eagerly awaiting the rest of the interview!
One small request. Can you please equalize the file before putting it up? Eric has such a loud laugh and speaks so softly sometimes that I found my ears ringing!
Keep up the good work!
Great as always, Clay.
I save the podcast so that I can listen to them on the plane. I enjoyed your interview with Eric on my flight to Walt Disney World in Orlando.
I’ll be flying north to see Diane Disney next week. Maybe part two will be ready by then.
I’ve met Eric once. Thanks for posting this & previous entries.
Are you able to post the next part, or do poeple need to donate money to hear it?
Thanks again.
I think Clay’s just really busy right now and he’ll get to the new episode as soon as he can, Jeff.
Hey Everyone, as you can see, Part Two is up now. I was in Africa for a couple weeks. IT WAS AMAZING!!!! Thanks for being patient.
It’s good to see you back at the podcast, Clay, and just as I was starting to feel the time crunch of my latest project. It’s always nice to be reminded of what you’re working towards during those long hours. Thanks again, and congrats on Bolt! Can’t wait to check it out.