logo
Disney's Tony Bancroft reveals animated comedy secrets at SAC

Disney's Tony Bancroft reveals animated comedy secrets at SAC

Sharjah 2402-05-2025

Held in SAC's 'Mecha Lab', the session provided an invaluable masterclass, blending comedic precision with the timeless practice of classic animation, and drawing a diverse crowd of students, professionals, and enthusiasts eager to decode the alchemy of humor in motion.
Comedy, an art and a science
Bancroft, an animator and film director whose accomplished 35-year career spans Disney classics like Mulan (which he co-directed) and The Emperor's New Groove, opened the workshop with a showreel and history of his work. Noting that comedy is both an art and a science. 'Every laugh starts with a pose,' he declared, sketching a stretched and surprised scene of Pumbaa in real time. 'A character's form and traits are a punchline waiting to happen.' He demonstrated how Pumbaa's rounded, lumbering form inherently communicates warmth and clumsiness, contrasting how Iago's sharp angles and exaggerated eyebrows instil the feeling of mischief. 'Your line of action is the backbone of the joke,' he explained with a pun.
Bancroft framed the animated gag as a mini-story; quite often posed in a three-part format, including the setup, problem, and punchline. Clarity of poses and timing were paramount, but contrast; shifts in speed, scale, or attitude; fueled surprise, and surprise fueled laughter. He outlined gag varieties, from the escalating tension of a running gag; like Kronk's recurring shoulder-angel bit; to callbacks that reward attentive audiences. Action gags thrived on physical absurdity; think Pumbaa's warthog charge; while freeze-frames such as Mushu's petrified grin stretched a beat for comic effect. 'A gag that builds,' he added, 'is like a snowball; start small, add twists, and let momentum deliver the payoff.'
The UAE's growing animation scene
Cultural connection anchored the discussion, with Bancroft applauding the UAE's growing animation scene. He highlighted how regional comedic flavors and the wit of Arabic wordplay could universalise stories. As SAC 2025 continues through May 4th, Bancroft's masterclass delivered exclusive insight into the inner workings of animation, positioning the conference as a major component for animation's future in the region.
For more insights about guests and further information about the SAC 2025 agenda; featuring over 35 workshops and 16 panel discussions from global luminaries, alongside world-class concerts of your favourite animated soundtracks; visit https://www.sharjahanimation.com/.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Here are Campaign Middle East's Work picks from May
Here are Campaign Middle East's Work picks from May

Campaign ME

time6 hours ago

  • Campaign ME

Here are Campaign Middle East's Work picks from May

Every month, Campaign Middle East selects a collection of 'Work' to display in its monthly issue. The same selection then gets offered to industry professionals for their review in Campaign's Private View section the following month. These are the picks from May – featuring work from Talabat and Kitopi, MG Egypt, Boutiqaat, RAM and McDonald's Saudi. Talabat x Kitopi: See, Eat, Repeat In partnership with Talabat, Kitopi highlighted its top 10 restaurant brands, offering best-selling items for AED 10, for 10 days. The goal? To bring Kitopi's food experiences to the masses. With Hypermedia as the campaign's media partner, Kitopi executed a full-blown out-of-home (OOH) takeover in the UAE. Kitopi also tapped into influencer marketing to amplify messaging across different demographics. The campaign helped Kitopi acquire more than 100,000 new customers. MG Egypt: Well Known, Even If Not Owned To launch the automotive brand's new range, this campaign takes a humorous approach for the Egypt market, highlighting how people who don't even own MG cars, know so much about each of the cars and love them. Given that car prices in Egypt are hitting new highs, and for many people in the nation, owning a car feels out of reach, this campaign aims to make the dream of car ownership possible again. This resonates with Egyptians, showcasing how they talk about cars – like true salespeople – as if they all know the specs, features, and prices, as if they're ready to sell the cars themselves. The campaign was carried across billboards, social media channels, digital channels and TVCs in Egypt. The campaign was brought to life by DDB Egypt, Kino Films, The Barber Shop and Keeva Casting Agency, under the direction of Amr Haddad. Boutiqaat: Ya Hala Campaign This campaign used unconventional Arabic humour to drive app purchases and achieved more than 1 million organic views, making it Boutiqaat's first commercial blockbuster without paid promotion. The campaign aimed to engage audiences through a humorous and engaging narrative, emphasising the festival's excitement and the opportunities available for shoppers. With exaggerated slapstick that includes repeated visual gags, such as characters being thrown through a window, this commercial took the comedic route – a detour from the region's dependance on cultural references. The campaign, brought to life by Shareet Studios, was primarily distributed on social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok. RAM: RHO Airlines – The Shortest Flight RAM Trucks took to the skies – briefly – to launch its latest performance vehicle with this bold campaign. The creative stunt turned the desert into a runway for what is being described as the world's shortest flight, lasting just 1.2 seconds. The hero film depicted an immersive airport experience in the middle of the desert, complete with check-in counters, security, ground staff, air traffic control and cabin crew. The only thing missing was a plane. Instead, at the centre of the experience was the new RAM RHO 1500. The stunt featured Saudi Arabia's popular influencer duo, The Saudi Reporters: Abdullah and Abdulaziz. In partnership with Publicis Middle East, the spot marks the first phase of a wider brand campaign from Stellantis' RAM in the region. McDonald's Saudi: Menuless The objective of this campaign was to demonstrate how consumers in Saudi Arabia know what their favourite McDonald's products are without having to look at the menu. Therefore, the brand removed its menu across all its restaurants in the Kingdom. Created in collaboration with Leo Burnett Dubai, the campaign ran across outdoor billboards, digital channels and social media, and had an immediate impact, driving a 37 per cent increase in footfall. Outdoor billboards outside the McDonald's drive-thrus displayed messages such as, 'You didn't drive all this way to experiment,' while the in-store menus that are usually displayed on the space behind the counter were replaced with a single line, 'You know what you want.'

Moscow sees increase in UAE tourists; offers tailored experiences for Gulf visitors
Moscow sees increase in UAE tourists; offers tailored experiences for Gulf visitors

Al Etihad

time10 hours ago

  • Al Etihad

Moscow sees increase in UAE tourists; offers tailored experiences for Gulf visitors

10 June 2025 12:25 MOSCOW (WAM) Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, Evgeny Kozlov, confirmed that the Russian capital witnessed a notable rise in the number of tourists arriving from the UAE, with 62,100 visitors in 2024 compared to 18,000 in to WAM, Kozlov highlighted the tourism offerings available in Moscow, especially those tailored for visitors from the Gulf pointed out that the city is home to lots of halal restaurants, and that Arabic-speaking services are readily available to enhance the comfort of Gulf visitors. For example, five tourist information centres have been opened in the capital, including locations in the city centre, at the river stations, and in the Dream Island amusement information centre specialists provide support in English and Arabic. A new Tourist Information Centre with Sber's banking services has opened, where travellers can get a Tourist card and 2024, a Muslim-Friendly Guide to Moscow was prepared for travellers from the Middle East, which features recommendations on restaurants and hotels, popular winter and summer activities, sights, parks, and shopping also highlighted the availability of electronic visas (e-visas), which have simplified the entry process for citizens of many countries, making travel to Moscow more convenient and further noted that Moscow offers a variety of cultural, fashion, and culinary experiences, in addition to year-round entertainment and international summer Moscow has launched a vibrant season of festivals and cultural events. The Moscow Estates Festival offers immersive programmes hosted at more than 40 historic estates across the Boulevard will feature 600 performances by 3,000 artists across 14 outdoor venues with a record-breaking 92-day Gardens and Flowers Festival turns city spaces into blooming landscapes with rare plants and floral art."Street. Dance and Street. Art" projects bring open-air dancing, musical evenings, and plein-air art sessions to life in central Moscow, with free master classes and exhibitions on Strastnoy addition, Moscow offers a rich variety of cultural and historical landmarks for visitors including key sites such as the Kremlin, Red Square, and Alexander Garden. Tourists can explore the Bolshoi Theatre and visit the Moskino Film Park, offering immersive cinema tours. Moscow-City adds a contemporary touch with skyscrapers and one of Europe's highest observation visitors can also explore 14 'Made in Moscow' art pavilions, offering locally crafted souvenirs and unique gifts. The Green Market showcases more than 700 top brands from the "Made in Moscow" mentioned that Moscow is one of the greenest megacities, with over 140 parks and natural like Zaryadye Park and Gorky Park combine ecological design with public engagement. Smart lighting, waste management systems, and ecological transport contribute to sustainability goals. Moscow, he added, remains committed to providing a welcoming, comfortable, and modern tourism environment for travellers from across the world.

Circus 1903 is coming to Dubai for the very first time this June
Circus 1903 is coming to Dubai for the very first time this June

What's On

timea day ago

  • What's On

Circus 1903 is coming to Dubai for the very first time this June

Roll up! Roll up! Looking for a performance the whole family will enjoy? The critically acclaimed Circus 1903 is coming to Dubai for the very first time this June. Taking place for three-days only, Circus 1903 and it's a dazzling show you don't want to miss. It takes place from June 20 to 22, 2025 with a limited five-show run. And tickets are already on sale on for a starting price of Dhs125. Why you shouldn't miss it? Circus 1903 is by the same creators of The Illusionists, and so you can expect a show packed with plenty of daring acts, and classic thrills. Credit: pmeworld You will teleport back in time to the gold age of circus and watch acrobats, knife throwers, contortionists, high-wire daredevils during this thrilling 90-minute show. In total, 30 world-class performers will take to the stage, leaving you and your little ones with vivid memories. And if your wondering about elephants… Credit: pmeworld Yes, Circus 1903 does feature elephants… but, in the form of life-sized puppetry. It is bought to life by the award-winning puppeteers behind War House. In fact, the show explains itself as 'The Greatest Showman meets War House' in one dazzling treat. Show details: Friday, June 20, 2025 – 7.30pm Saturday, June 21, 2025 – 3.30pm and 7.30pm Sunday, June 22, 2025 – 11am and 3.30pm Ticket prices There are six prize categories to pick from Bronze: Dhs125 Silver: Dhs199 Gold: Dhs299 Diamond: Dhs599 Platinum:Dhs799 VIP (as close as you can get to the stage): Dhs999 Circus 1903, Coca-Cola Arena, Citywalk, Dubai, June 20 to 22, prices from Dhs125, Want more? Disney on Ice – Into The Magic This September, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are heading to Dubai with all of their friends for a performance at Coca-Cola Arena. The Walt Disney characters will take audience members, both young and the… well, not so young, on an expedition across raging seas, snow-covered mountains, and the marigold bridge in Disney On Ice. Expect to see Disney's Moana, Frozen, Coco, and Beauty and the Beast with other beloved Disney characters on ice skates in an action-packed extravaganza. Read more here. > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store