Tarzan Animation Tests

Glen Keane's work on Tarzan shows a deep appreciation for the human form, and how it works. With the character of Tarzan, raised by apes, he needs to be shown having to adapt his body to their way of movement, while still being within human limitations, and moving as a human would in that situations. Of course, it is probably a little smoother than human movement in real life would be like that, but I still think that it is more accurate than if only an animal's body had been studied and applied to him. It was also important for Tarzan to be stylised enough to fit in with his animal family, but his proportions are surprisingly accurate to say that the character can move in the animalistic way he does. Keane has looked carefully at what a human can or can not do, and this is reflected deeply in the animation of Tarzan.

Above are some images of Keane's drawing exploring the way Tarzan moves. The image on the left is much more exaggerated I fell, but it really brings life to the character and puts an emphasis on the skills and way pf moving he has learned as he grew up. Below is Keane talking about his own pencil tests, and the thoughts he had as he was figuring out the character of Tarzan. He says that through his studies with various other professionals, this was one of the first times that would be animating an actual functioning human body with correct anatomy.