James Baxter

Of all the animators out there, I would have to pick James Baxter as my all time favorite. Not just because he inspired me to become an animator but I think his work perfectly embodies the purpose of 2D animation. He is a British animator who worked for Disney during the height of its 2D Era. He is most well-known for his amazing understanding and execution of perspective as well as his ability to keep characters moving in it.  He was one of the key animators of the famous ballroom scene from Beauty and The Beast. He also had a hand in many other Disney Classics including but not limited to The Little Mermaid, The Lion Kind, and the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Recently, he was a featured animator on several Cartoon Network shows that ranges from Steven Universe to Adventure Time. To me his most memorable and impressive work will always be the ball room scene from Beauty and The Beast. I included a video of a rough pencil test from it. https://vimeo.com/78018499