Should Disney bring back its hand-drawn animations?

A pencil test for Moana
(Image credit: Disney)

Disney movies have become icons of cinema. The studios released Snow White and the Seven Dwarves all the way back in 1937, and ever since has been creating adorable and fun-loving animations for all the family to enjoy. But as the digital age moves forwards, will we ever see Disney use its traditional process to create animated films? 

A user on Twitter has shared four screenshots of the pencil test animations from the Disney films Tangled, Frozen, Moana and Encanto. The pencil tests are used as a way for the animators to check if the sequence works, but they've also left fans wondering whether we will ever get to see a hand-drawn Disney animation again. If you'd like to have a go at animating, then make sure you check out our roundup of the best animation software.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Amelia Bamsey
Staff Writer

Amelia is Creative Bloq’s Staff Writer. After completing a degree in Popular Music and a Master’s in Song Writing, Amelia began designing posters, logos, album covers and websites for musicians. She now enjoys covering a range of topics on Creative Bloq, including posters, optical illusions, logos (she's a particular fan of logo Easter eggs), gaming and illustration. In her free time, she relishes in the likes of art (especially the Pre-Raphaelites), photography and literature. Amelia prides herself on her unorthodox creative methods, her Animal Crossing island and her extensive music library.

Read more
Logo for Disney Plus
How could Disney dropping DEI affect the future of animation? Tell us what you think
Image from Disney Snow White remake
Disney should own Snow White’s character design backlash
Snow White film poster
Hear me out, but I'm actually fawning over Snow White's posters
Still from new Shrek 5 teaser
The new Shrek 5 character design proves DreamWorks has lost its edge
An image showing styles of animation with Avatar, Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Wallace and Gromit, South Park, Metal Slug, The Simpsons, South Park and the Magic Roundabout
The 9 best animation styles
Walt Disney animation movie posters
How to use Disney's 12 principles of animation
Latest in 3D Animation
Linearity Move screenshot
5 reasons why you should try the new animation software Linearity Move
Quill tutorial
10 tips to get started in Quill for VR artists
Houdini 20 review; a render of feathers
Houdini 20 review: surprisingly impressive new animation features
Blender 4.0 review; a bike rendered to in a 3D app to look like an illustration
Blender 4.0 review: still free to all, and still incredible
Houdini, everything you need to know; a snowy and rocky mountain scene
Houdini: everything you need to know
a white creature in front of some trees
Discover the future of 2D Animation with Motion Pilot – Cartoon Animator
Latest in News
Sonic Adventure Redux
I'm not saying this Sonic Adventure Unreal Engine 5 remake is the best thing I've ever seen, but I'm not not saying it either
Screenshot from InZOI video game
Nvidia's AI characters are about to transform how we see video games
An image from Half-life 2 RTX demo
Nvidia to show off powerful video game remix capabilities in Half-life 2 RTX demo
iOS 19 concept
Apple's dramatic iPhone homescreen redesign is long overdue
iPhone 13 Pro
Apple tells iPhone users to urgently update iOS – your phone is vulnerable to attack
Trump stood in front of a red Tesla next to Elon Musk
Trump and Elon’s White House ad proves Tesla is getting desperate