Environmental Storytelling: Role of Observational Drawing in Big Hero 6 Production

Walt Disney Animation Studio always strives for enthralling experience in a real world setting, so realism is the most important element in most of their animation. Recently, Walt Disney Company became partners with Marvel, and thus they produced their first superhero movie, Big Hero 6. Big Hero 6 is set in an intricate urban environment made out of a creative fusion between two metropolitan cities, Tokyo and San Francisco. Scott Watanabe, the art director of Big Hero 6, the design of the set in Big Hero 6 is hugely inspired by the background art of futuristic Japanese animation like Tekkonkinkreet, Ghost in the Shell and Akira which are fictional, but still have the realistic look. 

To deliver a realistic experience to the audience, the concept artists must be able to visualise correctly the details from the places of reference. A first hand experience, such as going down to the site that they are basing their film on, would help them to scrutinise and assimilate the historical and cultural aspect of the site. As the Hollywood film and animation industry is internationally acclaimed, there is a pressing need to give an accurate depiction of the cultures and history to cater to international audiences. Moreover, observational drawings could be used as better references than photographs for the artists to further develop the set design as they serve as records of the artists' visual response to their experience on the actual set.