WEEKS, Clair

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Birth/Death

Birth: Sept 14 1911 in Mysore, India
Death: Aug 26 1996 in Los Angeles, California.

Occupation/Title

Assistant
Clean- Up Assistant
Consultant/ Advisor
Animator
Character Animator

Bio Summary

Spent 16 years at Disney as an animator.

Sometimes referred to as the “grandfather” of Indian animation.

Early Life/Family

Methodist missionary parents, so he lived in India until the early 1930’s when they relocated to America.

Education/Training

Career Outline


In 1936 he joined the staff at Walt Disney Studios as an assistant on Snow White (1931) under Marc Davis. Weeks continued to assist Marc Davis on Bambi (1942), Cinderella (1950) and Peter Pan (1953).

Took a brief break from animation to serve in the military during WW2, but came back in 1946.

Peter Pan was his first major Screen Credit (1952), listed as consultant/ advisor.

The 1952 short animation: “The Little House” credits list him as an animator. 

http://www.disneyshorts.org/years/1952/littlehouse.html
http://www.bcdb.com/cartoon/4068-Little_House.html

August 1952 leaves Disney- to see parting Disney gift/ scrapbook follow-
http://www.animationarchive.org/2007/02/biography-clair-weeks-goodbye-book-1952.html

In the early 50’s he traveled to the world as an animation ambassador over a 16- year period.
India 3 years
Nepal for 5 years
New Delhi for 2 years
Indonesia
Malaysia

In the 1956, former Disney animator Clair Weeks headed up and opened the countries first animation studio in India near the original ashram of Mahatma Gandhi, which unfortunately did not last long.

In 1956-1957, the governmental Films Division, with financial support of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific Organization) and an American government foreign aid program brought former Disney animator Weeks to the Cartoon Film Unit in Bombay (India) where he trained a core group of animators, including Ram Mohan, Bhimsain, Satam, Ezra Mir, A.R. Sen, and Pramod Pati.

During his time in India he made a film called The Banyan Deer, 1956-57.

Late 60’s and early 70’s he taught at the National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedebad.

Late 1970’s and early 1980’s worked in India (NID) teaching graphic designers and artists.

Comments On Style


To see some of his sketches follow-

http://www.animationarchive.org/2007/03/instruction-clair-weeks-animal-studies.html

Influences

Personality

Anecdotes

Miscellaneous

With the 70th Anniversary of the premiere of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs the family of Disney animator, Clair Weeks donated a scrapbook of material related to the picture.

http://www.animationarchive.org/2007/12/another-christmas-gift-snow-white.html

From the June 10, 1994 issue of the Disney Newsreel:

"Former Animator Brought Disney Magic Around the Globe"

The impact of Disney's animated feature films is felt throughout the world. Adults and children recognize and feel a connection to characters like Bambi, Snow White and Tinkerbell. Many of the animators who helped create this enthusiasm never left the Studio Lot; Clair Weeks , however, did it by actually taking the art of animation to many countries in Southeastern Asia. "Being able to introduce this art form to the developing countries was very challenging and very rewarding," Clair recently reflected.
Clair was born in India to missionary parents. He spoke Hindi before he spoke English and didn't come to the United States until he was 17 years old. After graduating from college, Clair headed west to California. "Disney was advertising for people because he (Walt) was getting into making Snow White," Clair explained. "I thought, 'What the heck, I'll get a job, anyway.'"
He was invited to try out, drawing sketches of a model. "When we were told we had made it, we were assigned to In-Betweening," he remembered. "After a couple of weeks, if we were showing any promise, we went across the street (to the main Hyperion Studio)," said Clair, who was assigned to work on the Snow White character. 
While the animators shared Walt's belief in Snow White, the times also demanded that they be dedicated for economic reasons as well. "It was a job, there was a depression, we knew our jobs were on the line," remembered Clair. Despite a brief hiatus during World War II, Clair contributed to several animated feature films, including Peter Pan, Fantasia, Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.
In 1956, the government of India wanted artists to help set up an animation studio to educate their large, mostly peasant population. Clair applied and was accepted. "My colleagues at the Studio thought I was absolutely nuts. Walt told me 'If it doesn't work out or you don't like it, you can always come back,'" Clair remarked. Walt was so supportive that he put Clair in touch with all his suppliers so that he could purchase the same materials the Studio used. Whenever Clair returned to the United States, he would return to Burbank to visit Walt and his former colleagues. "Walt was always very cordial, wanting to know what I was up to," said Clair.
Clair and his family spent three years in Bombay, where he set up an animation studio that made films for inserts in documentaries. Clair quickly found out that starting an animation studio overseas could be a challenge. Once the animation process was in full swing in India, he discovered the cel paint he had brought from California wouldn't dry. "I wrote to the Ink and Paint Department and even they couldn't figure it out!," he laughed. Clair finally went to a local bazaar and bought some poster paint, which dried.
Clair's globe trotting career would take him to Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia and Bangladesh before he returned home for good to Rossmoor, California. Wherever he went, Clair had to learn the native language, recruit artists from local schools, and settle down to lesson number one: learning how to draw. "I emphasized that this was an art of movement." he said. "You've got to know how people walk and run and get the essence of it." 
Despite the fame that his former colleagues, the "nine old men," attained during their long runs at Disney, Clair doesn't regret leaving at the apex. "I could have stayed on like the rest of them," he said. "I don't regret it, because I've had a wonderful career beyond it."
 

Filmography

Honors

Related Links

A-HAA: History: Clair Weeks- Pioneer of Indian Animation
A-HAA: Instruction: Clair Weeks Animal Studies 1940
A-HAA: Another Christmas Gift: Snow White Scrapbook
A-HAA: Biography: Clair Weeks' Goodbye Book 1952
A-HAA: Illustration: Disney Christmas Cards


Bibliographic References

Contributors To This Listing

Patricia L. Caplette
Rolf Ericksen

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