How to draw snow bear feature image

How To Draw Polar Bears, with Legendary Animator Aaron Blaise

December 9, 2024

Legendary animator Aaron Blaise has recently finished work on his new short film, Snow Bear. Inspired by the austere beauty of the arctic, and the graceful movement of bears in general and polar bears specifically, the soon-to-be-released animated short film centers around themes of isolation, found family, and the power of creativity.

Along with his team, he animated the entire short film on his own using his Wacom Cintiq Pro 32. From inspiration, to research, to storyboards, to rough animation, to finished drawings, to backgrounds, to color and lighting. In a previous video, he showcased his entire process. Click here to view that behind-the-scenes footage.

In this video, Blaise discusses his inspiration and process for designing and developing the primary polar bear character for his film. It all started with the inspiration, and then he moved into research: reading books, watching video, and even going to the zoo to watch a polar bear live. But how does he approach taking a very realistic polar bear design and turn it into an expressive character for his new short film? Watch along to find out.



Want even more insight into Blaise’s process and the film? Check out this recent webinar he collaborated on with us as part of Wacom Connected Ink 2024:


Aaron Blaise Headshot

About the artist

Aaron Blaise spent 21 years at Walt Disney Feature Animation, helping to create some of the greatest animated films ever made. During that time he worked as an animator or supervising animator on “The Rescuers Down Under,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “The Lion King,” “Pocahontas,” and “Mulan.” In 2003 he was co-director of “Brother Bear,” for which he earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film.

After “Brother Bear,” he helped to develop several projects but ultimately left Disney to pursue an opportunity back home in Florida. Aaron is currently involved in a number of film projects for various studios. He also recently developed a short animated film called “Snow Bear.”

He publishes tons of video content and livestreams on his YouTube channel, and you can follow him on social media on X (Twitter), Instagram, or Facebook. He also has countless art tutorials and lessons on his website, Creature Art Teacher.

Related posts:

No results found.

Connect with Wacom on social media

👀 Sneak peek time!⁣
Ever wondered how to animate a character sneaking around like they’re up to something? 🕵️‍♂️💨⁣
⁣
@fabgioffre is dropping a super fun sneak cycle tutorial using his brand new Wacom Intuos Pro — especially useful for beginners learning Toon Boom!⁣
⁣
In his YouTube video, he breaks down the basics of character movement step-by-step, so you can start animating with confidence (and style). 💻✨⁣
⁣
🎬 Hit the link in bio to watch the full tutorial!⁣
#WacomIntuosPro #ToonBoomAnimation #AnimationTutorial #BeginnerAnimator #2DAnimation #Wacom
Drawing grass with @lplucas, studio Ghibli style. 🌾✍️
#digitalartist #studioghibli #arttutorial #arttips #madewithwacom @clipstudioofficial @graphixly
✍️Ready to level up your video game concept art skills? ⁣
⁣
Join us for an exclusive webinar lead by Cecil Kim on techniques to establish an emotional connection with your audience through your artwork.⁣
⁣
Link In Bio!
Ready to draw your way through the week? 💻✨⁣
Whether you're sketching dreams, meeting deadlines, or just vibin' with a blank layer—remember:⁣
✅ Breathe⁣
✅ Stretch⁣
✅ Keep your Wacom tablet handy 😍⁣
#WacomIntuosPro #IntuosPro #ArtistLife #WacomTablet ⁣
Enjoy this gorgeous piece titled "Eternal Spring" by @joiceesketch, paired up perfectly with a soundscape by @kemos4be 🔈✅ 🐉⁣
Do you complement your artwork with music? ⁣
#DigitalArt #DigitalPainting #illustration #artistsoninstagram
The new Wacom Intuos Pro is built for artists who move fast and work across multiple setups. ⁣
⁣
With Bluetooth connectivity 🔗, you can switch between your laptop, tablet, and other devices seamlessly—no cables needed, just uninterrupted creativity.⁣
⁣
Plus, it’s compatible with third-party pens 🖊️, giving you even more ways to personalize your experience. Whether it’s precision 🎯, texture 🎨, or grip 🤲, you choose the tool that feels right for you.⁣
⁣
👉 See it for yourself—head to the link in bio to learn more!⁣
⁣
#WacomIntuosPro #IntuosPro
🤔 Thinking of starting your own webcomic? Leon Baker, creator of Beyond Arm’s Reach, breaks down 2 of the biggest things he wishes he knew before diving into a webcomic 👀 But the last 2? They're right here 👇⁠⁣
⁠⁣
3️⃣ Webcomics are a marathon, not a sprint – Pace yourself. Burnout is real, and sustainability is everything.⁠⁣
⁠⁣
4️⃣ Enjoy the process – Seriously. If it’s not fun, it won’t last. Finding tools and a workflow that bring you joy (like his switch to the Wacom One 13 Touch) can change everything.⁠⁣
⁠⁣
Which of these hits home the most for you? Drop your thoughts in the comments 💬⁣
⁠⁣
#WebcomicTips #DigitalArtAdvice #LeonBaker #WacomOne #BeyondArmsReach #WebcomicJourney #ArtistLife #ComicCreators #ClipStudioPaint #WacomPartner
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
Error: There is no connected business account for the user .