Remember when animation had soul? When each frame felt like a labor of love, not just another algorithm-generated product? Aaron Blaise does. And he's spent three years proving it with Snow Bear—a breathtaking, 2D animated short that just dropped its first trailer.
Blaise, a Disney legend who helped bring The Lion King, Aladdin, and Mulan to life, has gone rogue. Snow Bear is a one-man passion project, entirely hand-drawn, painstakingly animated, and refreshingly old-school. No AI shortcuts. No corporate meddling. Just one artist, a dream, and years of dedication.
Set in an unforgiving Arctic landscape, Snow Bear follows a polar bear searching for a friend. The animation, dripping with nostalgia, calls back to the golden age of Disney, yet feels distinctly personal—like an artist whispering a story directly to you. And if you think hand-drawn animation is dead, Blaise is here to prove you wrong.
It's worth noting that Blaise isn't just some indie animator. His resume reads like a Disney Hall of Fame list—Beauty and the Beast, The Rescuers Down Under, Brother Bear—the man has pedigree. But while Hollywood moved on to CG and motion capture, Blaise doubled down on the craft, proving that 2D isn't just a relic—it's a revolution waiting to happen.
So, what's next for Snow Bear? After premiering at the Playgrounds Film Festival in the Netherlands, the short will eventually be released online. If the trailer is anything to go by, it's going to be a must-watch.
Hand-drawn animation isn't dead—it's just been hibernating. Snow Bear is its wake-up call.
What do you think? Does hand-drawn animation still have a place in today's world? Drop your thoughts below.
