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Submitted: March 31, 2008
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Disney Heroes - John Henryby ~davidkawena

Fan Art / Digital Art / Drawings / Movies & TV

Another Disney Hero get's his place in the spotlights.

This one is the legendry John Henry! The first African American Disney Hero in the collection! He was also Disney's first animated African American hero in their history! After him came another African American male figure that was featured in a full length animated classic movie - and he will also be a part of the Heroes Collection soon enough. But the most amazing news I've heard was last year's revealing that the upcoming Disney classic "The Princess and the Frog" will feature Disney's first African American Princess - it's about freaking time right?! - Hopefully she will also have a hunky love interest

Back to mister Henry now - John Henry appeared in a Disney short movie titled "John Henry". The short movie was released on the DVD title "Disney's American Legends" on February 2002. It was a new short among other classic Disney shorts telling the story of some of America's true pioneer heroes. The DVD was presented in 1.33:1 or full-screen format that was so unbelievably degrading for this short that was created in widescreen (1.85:1). Up to this day I didn't get the chance to see this short in it's original aspect ration

But on in it's own the "John Henry" short is a marvellous creation. The animation in it is presented in it's full "rough" stage, with no "clean-up" process, and it gives it something extra special and so pleasing to look at.
I wanted to keep that feeling, so I had made this one a little bit more "rough" too, but in it's attitude!

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So I focused more on the movement of Henry's body, lifting his big hammer high up there, and heaving this rough look on his face... Other thing that I really loved in the short was Henry's over sized body design, that I tried as hard as I could to stay true too, while still keeping it realistic. I gotta say it was so much fun drawing him - this was my first time drawing John Henry EVER - he has great facial features, and using these dark chocolate colours in the Heroes series was such a welcome change and I loved every part of it...

I sure hope you'll gonna love this change too

Have A Wonderful Month Everyone

- David

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Photoshop CS2
"David Kawena" 2008

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~shadowsearcher01 May 18, 2013 New member

.......wow. I'm speechless. This is.......wow

~rababco May 13, 2013

Actually I'd say Kida was the first African-American princess, but the poor thing didn't get any attention.

~maddhattr07 May 11, 2013

These are awesome. I don't remember John Henry though; don't think I ever saw it. Still though, awesome!

~hlootoo May 8, 2013 Hobbyist Artist

DO WANT! OvO

~oHmega14 Apr 14, 2013 Hobbyist General Artist

Mama like... dat asssssss Why don't real men look like this? I know a John Henry (seriously) and he is the polar OPPOSITE of this! *sigh*, if only Disney men were real...