Learn How to Draw Disney Style with ‘Sketchbook’ on Disney+

Disney is making drawing tutorials an official series. Sketchbook, a new Disney+ original documentary series, will teach viewers how to draw Disney animated characters. The six-part series comes out April 27 on the streaming service and provides “an unprecedented look at what it takes to bring these beloved characters to life.”

“An intimate instructional documentary series, Sketchbook with Walt Disney Animation Studios takes us onto the desks and into the lives of talented artists and animators as they teach us how to draw a single iconic character from a Walt Disney Animation Studios film,” a description of the series said.

“Each episode focuses on a single artist illustrating a character that either they helped create or inspired them to want to be an artist at the Studio,” it continued. “As we learn the steps to drawing these characters, we also discover that the artists each have a unique story to tell about how they made their way to Disney and their chosen character. From the creators of Chef’s Table, this exclusive experience will give viewers of all ages a new understanding of how these beloved characters come to life on-screen while introducing them to a new cast of real-life characters along the way.”

Disney+’s Sketchbook features six Disney animators, story artists, and character designers. Some of the artists created the characters they’re drawing in the episode, and others grew up loving them. One of the participating animators is Eric Goldberg, who designed Robin Williams’ Genie in Aladdin and is considered one of the all-time animation greats.

Mirabel from Encanto will be taught by Samantha Vilfort, Olaf from Frozen will be taught by Hyun Min Lee, Kuzco from Emperor’s New Groove will be taught by Gabby Capili, Genie from Aladdin will be taught by Goldberg, Captain Hook from Peter Pan will be taught by Jin Kim, and young Simba from The Lion King will be taught by Mark Henn.

“This series is an unprecedented look at what it takes to bring these beloved characters to life,” Jason Sterman, Sketchbook director and executive producer, said in a statement. “We are honored to feature this incredible group of artists who trusted us not only with presenting their skillset, but with sharing their personal, and often emotional, stories with the world. We’re looking forward to audiences becoming inspired to hopefully pick up a pencil and put it to paper themselves.”

Sterman, David Gelb and Brian McGinn are executive producers for Supper Club. Amy Astley is executive producer for Disney Animation. And Sterman, Leanne Dare, and Andrew McAllister serve as directors.

Sketchbook, Series Premiere April 27, Disney+