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As a child growing up, I have always loved my weekend cartoons. Cartoons such as Tom and Jerry, Yogi Bear, Super Hero’s, Fat Albert, Bugs Bunny, Smurfs, Richie Rich, Flintstones and so on have been my all time Saturday favorites. However, I also was in love with other cartoon characters from the Disney family. My favorite character was no other than Goofy! I know it sounds silly for a girl to be in love with the dog Goofy, but I was! Every time I went to Disneyland I had to take a picture with Goofy, and then the other characters. I absolutely loved the Mickey Mouse cartoon and friends, Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Peter Pan, and the recent cartoon movie Princess and the Frog. Even though I had my favorite Disney cartoons, I use to dream of meeting some one that drew them. I thought it would be fascinating to meet the creative artist to tell them how much I loved the characters they drew. Two years ago, the Princes and the Frog came out, making this one of the most memorable Disney cartoon out that reflected an African American little girl that later turned into a Princess.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not about being cultural judgmental, I just never seen a cartoon with practically an all African American cast. I believe it shocked many people no matter what culture you are. The cartoon was a big success! What I’m excited about is I was given the opportunity to interview one of the cartoon artists who helped draw some of the characters on “The Princess and The Frog”! It’s no other than Marshall Toomey who worked for Disney for 20 years as one of their big cartoonists, who worked on many cartoons that we are all so familiar with. To name several of his big hit cartoons, Mr. Toomey worked on cartoons such as Beauty and The Beast who won a Golden Globe award at the Oscars, and being the first animated movie ever nominated for best picture! He also drew cartoons such as The Lion King, Fat Albert characters, Fog Horn, Rescuers Down Under, Aladdin, Little Mermaid and so on. Mr. Toomey has been busy in his career doing 23 cartoon movies, and involved with three live movies. Let’s not leave out he’s also done freelance work building his career when he first started out as a cartoonist. Here is my conversation with the talented Mr. Marshall Toomey:
Monique: Hi Marshall! Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me today talking about your career as a cartoonist!
Marshall: Hi Monique! Thank you for talking with me. It is no problem. I love to talk about my career working with Disney as their cartoonists and other work I’ve done.
Monique: I have to ask, what made you want to draw professionally, and were you born with the gift to draw?
Marshall: It’s funny that you ask me that about both questions! First, drawing is a gift God gave me and I discovered it at the age of two. I drew everything and my family recognized I had a talent for drawing! All I know, I never stopped drawing and I wanted to be a cartoonist when I grew up. I left home and moved to California to pursue my dream and it happened!
Monique: Wow Marshall! Not many people can say they knew from such a young age what they was destined to do or be when they grew up.
Marshall: I just always knew! (LOL!)
Monique: Well, I wish I knew! (LOL!)
Monique: How did you get started?
Marshall: I got started after moving to California putting my drawings in newspapers and other publications. After awhile, I went to apply for a cartoon position at Disney and the rest is history! I had good years working at Disney.
Monique: What are some other things you have done for Disney?
Marshall: I have been on many cartoon movies working with other talented cartoonists. I’ve also traveled the world for Disney doing interviews auditioning people. One in particular I will never forget! I had to interview 92 people in France in one day for a one mans character for the character Milo for the movie Atlantis. That was a crazy day!
Monique: What! I know you must have been TIRED!
Marshall: That’s what I loved about working as a cartoonist, being creative and finding people to fit the right characters for voice-overs to play the characters.
Monique: Where did you draw the characters?
Marshall: I drew many of the characters in Disney’s featured animation building with my cartoonist co-workers in Burbank.
Monique: That’s fascinating! Did you get to supervise on any of your cartoon developments besides drawing them?
Marshall: Yes I did! As a matter of fact, I supervised as an art director with 18 animated production designers and many others that would take too long to mention.
Monique: I recall you saying Disney hired you back in 2009 after you retired to work on the cartoon movie “Princess and The Frog”. I loved this cartoon! My friend and I went on the Disney lot and watched the movie there with our kids. Then we were all invited to go in one of their stage warehouse to see the different live characters to take pictures with, and to see how cartoons are made. It was amazing!
Marshall: That was great! I hope everyone enjoyed the experience! The funny thing about that movie is I drew myself as the cook, but with weight! Sometimes cartoonists will implement themselves in cartoons to spice it up!
Monique: No! The cook? I’m going to check it out to see any resemblance. That’s creative!
Monique: Marshall, this has been an informative interview and I finally had one of my dreams come true!
Marshall: what’s that?
Monique: Actually meeting a cartoonist who drew some of my favorite cartoons! (LOL)!
Marshall: (LOL)! That’s great! That doesn’t come often I guess!
Monique: Two last questions, what advise can you give anyone who wants to draw and want to be a successful cartoonist? Also, what are you currently doing?
Marshall: I have my own editorial cartoon webpage up ready for all publications and businesses who need certain cartoons for their advertisements and so on. My prices are reasonable, and drawings creative. There are more things I am anticipating doing, but this is my first project I’ve been working on after finally retiring. The website is http://www.worldtoonsbymarshalltoomey.com/ People can also Google me for my past Disney work!
Marshall: Now, a word of advice!
Marshall: first, learn how to draw well by going to classes, and continue to draw everyday. It’s important that you love what you do. Develop a portfolio and build it to show your professional work! Never give up, just follow your dreams. Again, take drawing classes, even if you are an excellent drawer. You can always learn more!
Monique: Thank you Marshall for sharing with us who remembers the good old days cartoons, along with some new cartoons we love today!
Marshall: Thank you Monique, take care.
Monique: Take care Marshall!
There you have it! A sweet conversation about cartoons and drawing that can lead to some amazing careers in life.
One love!
Monique Williams
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