This is an unused drawing from the Disney animated short film "John Henry" (2000).It is from the moment in the film when John thinks he's won, but hasn't, and Polly inspires him to keep on going. I was searching for a visual way to get that idea across, and this idea of passion popped into my head and I scrawled it down on paper. And as much as I liked the drawing , it didn't fit in the rhythm of the story. In the end, it worked better for her to pick up his hammer and start the song reprise.
There is a lot wrong with the drawing:
• Polly is too large (even though he's on his knees, her head is huge!)
• The Hammer handle is bent (oops)
• John's left shoulder looks dislocated (I was attempting foreshortening)
• What's going on with the fold in her kerchief?
However, I like the drawing. It's one of the rare ones where I felt I captured the energy I was going for. I like the angle of their bodies, creating a visual tension. I like the tilt of Polly's head and the slight rise of her right shoulder as she pulls John's face closer. I even like the way I attempted to make John's shoulders relax and fall back.
But what I like most of all is what it teaches me about drawing. Sometimes the energy and dynamic of a composition can override the technical perfection of the drawing. The emotion exhibited here overshadowed my shortcomings.
Of course, it would've been better to have both, but given the choice, I would rather create an emotionally powerful piece than a technically perfect one.
Of course in the world of an animated film production, a story drawing can be left like this. The visual perfection will be added later in layout & animation. The hope is that the artists who follow up with your scenes will keep (and hopefully enhance) the emotion that created the moment.
