Disney’s 9 Old Men

Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men. They are the artists behind all the great original Disney animated movies. The ones who refined the 12 principles of animation, which is the foundation for all professional animators. Every one of them have been acknowledged as Disney Legends.

Learn from Master Animator & Director Don Bluth for a full year LIVE online! This also includes a one week in-person Masterclass at the end of the year! Classes start this at the end of the month, February 25th, 2026. Register here: donbluthuniversity.com

✨50K FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY✨ To celebrate 50,000 followers, I'm giving away one Elliot plushie and a signed Blu-Ray from Pete’s Dragon. How To Enter: 🐉 Follow me @DonBluth 🐉 Repost & Like 🐉 Comment Good luck! I will be doing another giveaway at 55k followers, and every major milestones after. - Don

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes. I love hearing from all of you. This has been a wonderful year, and I can't wait to show you what we have been working on. - Don

Happy 95th birthday Pluto!

What’s next.. Disney?! 😆

Studying animation will open your eyes in more ways than you can imagine. Our new full year class starts at the end of the month. Come join us and I will walk you through the thought process that I personally use to animate. donbluthuniversity.com - Don

Freddie Moore Friday! I love studying his art, especially Mickey Mouse. I always wonder what it would have been like at the Disney Animation studio back then. To work along side those giants. #FreddieMoore

Freddie Moore Friday! There are so many great animators throughout history, but most say none compare to the late, great Fred Moore. Quote: “Fred had great natural talent and tremendous appeal in his drawings.” He is most known for redesigning Mickey Mouse in 1938 for his role in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" in Fantasia. This design still remains Mickey's official look to this day. Here is one of my studies of his famous female art. #FreddieMoore

"Marry her?!" Robin Hood, 1973 by Milt Kahl.

Thank you GameOn Expo for a very uplifting time. And how exciting that it all happened here in Arizona. My first time drawing Winnie the Pooh at a convention, it brought back many wonderful memories. Thank you everyone who came by. - Don

Behind the Scenes at Don Bluth University with FOX 10 Phoenix News! Students learning 2d traditional animation! ✍️✍️✍️✍️ youtu.be/j9YLSC86hIg

FOX 10 News came by the Don Bluth University class and did a story about our school. Get a behind the scenes look at one of the classes in progress and meet some of our students. Hope you can join our next class and learn 2d traditional animation with us. Thank you for watching! - Don

Milt Kahl animation drawing of the wizards duel from ‘The Sword in the Stone’ (Disney, 1963)

Milt Kahl animation of Prince Phillip appreciation post.

Life drawing! I may sound like a broken record, BUT I can’t stress enough how important studying real life can be to an artist. Some say it’s boring, copying or unoriginal to study real life. Humans, inanimate objects, animals, even bugs 🐞. There is so much to learn and explore. So fill that brain up with as much as you can, and then see the results for yourself. It’s better to know, than to just make stuff up. (Like I used to, when I first started drawing. 😆) Thread 🧵

POP QUIZ! Name an animated character award Kimball animated?

Mr. Smee animation drawing by Ollie Johnston for Disney's "Peter Pan" (1953)

A very loose drawing of Grumpy! I can still remember getting Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on VHS as a kid. It was the 1994 home video release in that huge white VHS case. I was so excited to get it and watch it at home. Did you own any of those large VHS tapes/cases?

Rough animation drawing by Animator Marc Davis of Maleficent, the evil sorceress from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.