The Nine Old Men: Lessons, Techniques, and Inspiration - Animation

In this review Andreas Deja's The Nine Old Men is presented as a focused study for artists and animators who want direct access to the thinking behind classic Disney character work. The book's single biggest asset is its authoritativeness: Deja apprenticed with those animators and uses that experience to guide readers through figure drawing, acting and story choices. For anyone serious about traditional 2D character animation this is a highly instructive and inspiring resource that complements foundational texts and archive collections.

Key Features

• Firsthand perspective: Written by Andreas Deja, who apprenticed with Disney's core animators, the book delivers insider commentary that clarifies artistic decisions.
• Analytical case studies: Each of the Nine Old Men receives focused analysis of technique, helping readers apply those methods to modern character work.
• Figure drawing emphasis: The book highlights figure drawing and acting, which aids animators looking to refine believable movement and performance.
• Story and execution insights: Deja connects structure and execution, giving practical context for staging and timing choices in animation.
• Archive materials: Rare sequential drawings from studio archives provide visual examples that enrich the written analysis.

Who It's For

The Nine Old Men is best for intermediate to advanced students of traditional animation and professional animators who want to deepen their understanding of character acting, timing and craft through historical examples. Illustrators and figure drawing students will also find the book valuable for its focus on anatomy and movement.

Beginners seeking a step-by-step how-to primer might want a more basic instructional manual first; likewise, readers primarily after animation history without technical emphasis may prefer a broader historical survey rather than Deja's close analytical approach.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Insightful commentary from an animator who trained under the Nine Old Men, providing rare practical lessons.
• Beautifully presented artwork and sequential sketches that illustrate motion and design decisions.
• Useful focus on figure drawing, acting and story structure that directly informs character animation practice.

Cons

• Not a beginner's step-by-step workbook; readers without foundational knowledge of animation may find some sections dense.

Specifications

Title	The Nine Old Men: Lessons, Techniques, and Inspiration
Author	Andreas Deja
Focus	Character animation, figure drawing, acting, story structure
Content highlights	Analyses of Nine Old Men work and rare sequential drawings from studio archives
Best for	Traditional 2D animators and advanced animation students
Category hint	Books; Arts & Photography; Drawing; Figure Drawing

Our Verdict

Andreas Deja's book is a valuable, well-illustrated study for animators who want to learn directly from the masters behind Disney's most enduring characters. It pairs archival visuals with thoughtful technique analysis, making it good value for serious 2D practitioners and anyone looking to deepen performance and drawing skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for beginners?
The book is best for readers with some animation or drawing foundation; true beginners may prefer an introductory manual first.

Does it include original artwork?
Yes, the book contains rare sequential drawings from studio archives that illustrate motion and technique.

Will this help with character acting?
Yes, Deja emphasizes acting and performance alongside drawing, making it useful for improving believable character animation.