Disney’s Biggest Forgotten Rival Hid This Distracting Trick In SO Many Movies

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If you were raised in the 80’s and 90’s or have a soft spot for animated movies from those eras, chances are you encountered some of Don Bluth’s films. These classics are an integral part of our childhood memories, making it surprising that we didn’t catch this recurring theme earlier. Upon rewatching several of his films consecutively, you might notice something unusual. Numerous faces, particularly two male ones, seem to show up in various movies. Although their hairstyles and clothing may vary, the likeness is strikingly similar. It’s almost as if it’s the same face, which makes us wonder how we didn’t spot this connection before.

For several years, Don Bluth was a key player at Disney Animation. In 1979, he teamed up with Gary Goldman and ten other animators from Disney to establish Don Bluth Productions. Their dream was to build an animation studio that could match or even surpass Disney’s quality, but unfortunately, their efforts didn’t quite pan out as they had hoped. Over the years, this dynamic duo produced a wealth of fantastic (albeit often underappreciated) animated films like Titan A.E., Anastasia, Thumbelina, and The Secret of NIMH.

As a fervent fan, I can’t help but notice the unique fingerprint that Don Bluth and Gary Goldman have left on their animated creations. Unlike Disney or Pixar, they’ve crafted a distinct style all their own, one that’s immediately recognizable by its large, emotive eyes, sharply defined cheekbones, and elongated noses. Add to that their innovative use of rotoscoping and model sheets, and you’ve got a one-of-a-kind animation style that sets their work apart from the rest.

The Repeating Faces of Animation

It seems that Don Bluth and Gary Goldman often employed model sheets in their work. These are essentially detailed reference drawings used by animators to maintain a sense of uniformity throughout a movie or series. By using these model sheets across multiple films, they could account for the recurring similarities we notice.

Instead of stopping and examining the faces in some movies from this period, let’s focus on finding a specific face across three movies: Titan A.E., Anastasia, and Thumbelina. Beginning with Titan A.E., which is the most recent of these films, the story delves deep into post-apocalyptic science fiction, setting it apart from the other movies on this list in terms of plot. The protagonist of the movie is Cale Tucker, voiced by Matt Damon and Alex D. Linz.

Study carefully the features of Cale’s face. Now, consider Thumbelina, the 1994 animated film adaptation of Han Christian Andersen’s tale. Despite receiving mixed reviews, it made a notable impression on its viewers. The main love interest, Prince Cornelius (voiced by Gary Imhoff), bears quite a resemblance to Cale Tucker, doesn’t he?

Lastly, consider “Anastasia” (1997), a film that blended historical fantasy with musicals in an unprecedented way. This production has been widely admired and boasts recognizable actors such as John Cusack, Jonathan Dokuchitz, and Glenn Walker Harris Jr. portraying the character of Dimitri. Interestingly, Dimitri bears a striking resemblance to characters from previous examples. It’s worth noting that Anastasia might also resemble Thumbelina, although their similarities are less pronounced than those among the male characters.

Another Face in the Mix

It’s hard not to notice the resemblance between certain characters in Don Bluth films, and indeed, there seems to be a recurring male character design. One such instance can be found in “Anastasia,” where Vladimir Valya “Vlad” Vonitsky Vasilovich (played by Kelsey Grammer) appears frequently. Interestingly enough, he shares a striking similarity with Papa Mousekewitz (Nehemiah Persoff) from “An American Tail: Fievel Goes West.” While there are differences due to the human and mouse characters, it’s easy to see why some might draw comparisons between them. After all, we can’t help but love a good con artist like Vlad!

By the close of each day, we must acknowledge that these recurring faces in numerous classics do not lessen their influence in any way. In fact, it serves as a reminder of the immense effort and devotion poured into filmmaking. It’s worth noting that every creative artist will refine their distinctive style with experience. Also, in the realm of animation, certain shortcuts are essential to streamline and economize the production process.

Have you ever looked back at a childhood favorite and had a surprising realization? What was it?

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2025-07-20 22:57