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Disney is the place where creativity is a living, breathing, normal state of being. The people who work there are inspired and motivated on the daily basis. Keeping their minds open to allow for the NEW ideas to come in, Disney has created the Magical place on Earth where Anything Is Possible!

One of the genius minds and legends in animation is Eric Goldberg. Known best for his incredible Genie creation for the Aladdin animation feature film, this person examplifies what a Dreamer can accomplish when mind and intention are working hand-in-hand.

Having had a beautiful opportunity to meet the Legend of Disney Animation Eric Goldberg, sparked more creative thoughts inside of me. Eric Goldberg showed how to draw a Genie from Aladdin in a few short strokes of a pencil.

Here’s a Genie from the original Aladdin feature movie.

Here’s a sketch in pencil as done by Eric Goldberg himself.  And next to his Genie, there’s my own interpretation of the Genie. Being able to draw this phenomenal character gave me an incredible joy and liberation of my own artistic skills that opened up imagination and allowed things to be and to happen.

When Eric Goldberg shared his creative process of creating Genie for the Aladdin feature movie, he shared his experience of working with Robin Williams who voiced over the Genie character.

Per Eric Goldberg’s words, “Aladdin is the most improvisational movie I’ve ever worked on!”

Working on the Genie character without any rest, Robin Williams would do 4-hour sessions at one sitting! The rifts he was navigating through while providing the Disney crew with on-the-spot fresh ideas and impersonations were out-of-this-world.

What was threading throughout the conversation was how much Creative Ideas Robin Williams was able to supply the Disney Animation Studio in the process of developing and moulding the character of a Genie.

Watch these never-before-seen outtakes with Robin Williams improvising in the recording studio. The 23 year went by incredibly fast, since the phenomenal Genie was conceived and written specifically for Robin Williams in mind without him even know that. His gift and genius will be forever alive. And Genie is one of his gifts to the world.

As a tribute to Robin Williams rare genius, Eric Goldberg created this drawing. Done with love and gratitude, it is as touching to us as to the Animator himself.

As Genie was the very first Disney project Eric Goldberg started his career at this, very imagineering place, it would forever have a special place in his heart, as the animation Legend shared.

“As I create any character, research, develop them, they are like my children. How can you decide which child is your most favorite?”

Here are a few Fun Facts about the Genie character and its creation.

• As Eric Goldberg has been a huge fan of the art work by Al Hershwild, Genie shape was the reflection of the style the latter. The shape of this multifaceted character was created to reflect a one-hand stroke technique, i.e., it was drawn without any interruption. Fluidity, movement, and conspicuous “shapely” behavior – that was the foundation of the amazing Genie character.

• Robin Williams was thought as the first choice to voice Genie in Aladdin. To illustrate the concept of the story, Eric Goldberg created a black-and-white animation of the future character with a humorous side of it. Robin Williams so much responded to this humorous gesture, that he signed on the line right there and then.
Genie and all the positive characters in Aladdin are created in a Hollywood Arabian style using hues of blues and torqoiuse. The negative characters utilize the dark and grey shades in their appearance.

First, Genie was created as an all-dressed-up persona. Yet when Eric Goldberg started to experiment with “undressing” the character on the paper, he found out that the less Genie wore, the better he looked! The fluidity of body movement was much better controlled when the less clothes on Genie!

Many children are on the way to become illustrators and creators of all kinds of films and story telling. Take these few words of wisdom, as they come from the Legendary Disney Illustrator Eric Goldberg.

“Learn to observe, caricature, and watch movement of things around you. As technology changes, some things will stay constant. Embrace and practice them.”

Being such a generous soul, Eric Goldberg likes to sketch for fun and express his imagination on the paper. He is a regular contributor of his inspiring and uplifting work to the kids who are burn victims or to the Make A Wish Foundation. He also likes to surprise his friends with a hand-drawn or sketched Birthday card. Being a giver, his characters reflect that side of him as well.

Take advantage of making this Disney Diamond Anniversary Celebration Edition of Aladdin your own! You will be amazed how many BONUS pieces you’ll be exposed to! Some of the most precious is Robin Williams takes on his voice-over character Genie.

Aladdin on Blu-Ray DVD
Released October 13, 2015

Disney is the place where Dreaming Never Ends. Eric Goldberg  and Robin Williams are some of the biggest and most prolific Dreamers I’ve ever known in my life.

Celebrate Disney Diamond Anniversary
With Aladdin!