Amy Mebberson - Belle

2013.10.11 Comic Con, NYC
Belle - Art of Disney:Friendship fdc 2004

Prior to attending the NYCC, I usually try to do some research on the artists I am interested in. By chance I looked up Amy Mebberson's contribution to the comic industry. Originally from Australia, Amy has served as cover artist, penciller and illustrator for Walt Disney/Marvel Comics (Toy Story #2), Little Brown and Co (Muppet story books), APE Entertainment (Strawberry Shortcake, Sesame Street, Casper the Ghost, Richie Rich), IDW (Doctor Who: A Fairytale Life (cover), Dorothy of Oz), Boom Entertainment (Monsters Inc, Muppet Peter Pan, Muppet Sherlock Holmes, Muppet Show Comic Book, Darkwing Duck (cover), Tokyopop (Princess Ai: Rumors From the Other Side, Return to Labyrinth, Legends of the Dark Crystal)....

All that is great, but what drew me to Amy was her Pocket Princesses. I enjoy the different approach to the Disney Princesses being treated like real people, a little strange, a little over the top, a lot of fun...

Check out her drawing of Belle as  a Blue Lantern, and her other sketches as well, it's all great...

Amy choose to draw Belle, from "Beauty and the Beast" for me...1991 Disney produced the animated feature "Beauty and the Beast"  based on the traditional fairy tale first published in 1740. The first English translation appeared in 1757, with an opera being produced in 1771. The classic story has been adapted many times for the stage, film and television. The first film production was in 1946. George C. Scott appeared in a 1976 television production, Susan Sarandon and Klaus Kinski followed with a 1984 production for television...

In 1994 Beauty and the Beast became the first Disney animated film to be adapted for the Broadway stage, followed by several more direct-to-video stories...

2006.04.01 the USPS issued a set of 4-stamps in the Art of Disney series featuring Disney's Beauty and the Beast characters...

The Art of Disney stamp series - Friendship (Goofy, Mickey and Donald; Bambi and Thumper; Lion King and Simba; Pinocchio and Jimminy Cricket) Celebration (Mickey Mouse and Pluto; Alice and Mad Hatter; Ariel and Flounder ; Snow White and Dopey) Romance (Beauty and the Beast; Lady and the Tramp; Mickey and Minnie Mouse; Cinderella and Prince Charming) Magic (Sorcerer's Apprentice, Peter Pan and tinker Bell, Dumbo, Aladdin and Genie) Imagination (101 Dalmatians, Mickey Mouse, Sleeping Beauty, Mowgli and Baloo) were designed by illustrator Peter Emmerich, who has been associated with the Walt Disney Co., for many years. Emmerich has designed Disney Dollars and the iconic Mickey Salutes America!

A great interview with Amy at Ziggy Nixon...