Brother Bear Co-Director Spends Three Years Animating Stunning New Short Snow Bear
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Former Disney director Aaron Blaise spent three years hand-animating 11,000 drawings for his new solo short film, Snow Bear, which is available now on YouTube with an accompanying Kickstarter card game.
Solo passion projects in animation are rare beasts, but veteran Disney director Aaron Blaise has just delivered a masterclass in dedication. Known for his work on classics like The Lion King and Mulan, the co-director of Brother Bear spent three years crafting Snow Bear entirely on his own. As originally reported by Polygon, Blaise personally drew over 11,000 individual frames for the eleven-minute, wordless short film, which is now live on YouTube.
The short follows a lonely polar bear wandering the Arctic in search of connection, ultimately building a friend out of snow. Beyond its striking visual style that draws heavily on Blaise's background as a painter, the project carries a clear environmental message. Created in partnership with the advocacy group Polar Bears International, the film highlights the very real threats that a changing climate and disappearing ice caps pose to arctic wildlife.
For players and creators who appreciate the grind of independent artistry, the project extends beyond the screen. Blaise teamed up with Oscar-winning composer Mark Mancina for the musical score and even expanded the universe into a physical companion card game currently funding on Kickstarter. It is a refreshing reminder of what independent creators can achieve when they return to their roots without corporate interference.
Tags: Animation, Independent, Disney, Film, Culture
Original article: Polygon