This one is the legendry John Henry! He was Disney's first animated African American hero in their history! After him came another African American male figure that was featured in a full length animated classic movie - and he will also be a part of the Heroes Collection soon enough.

John Henry appeared in a Disney short movie titled "John Henry". The short movie was released on the DVD title "Disney's American Legends" on February 2002. It was a new short among other classic Disney shorts telling the story of some of America's true pioneer heroes. The DVD was presented in 1.33:1 or full-screen format that was so unbelievably degrading for this short that was created in widescreen (1.85:1). Up to this day I didn't get the chance to see this short in it's original aspect ration. 

But on in it's own the "John Henry" short is a marvellous creation. The animation in it is presented in it's full "rough" stage, with no "clean-up" process, and it gives it something extra special and so pleasing to look at. I wanted to keep that feeling, so I had made this one a little bit more "rough" too, but in it's attitude!  

So, (In creating my version of this hero as you see above) I focused more on the movement of Henry's body, lifting his big hammer high up there, and heaving this rough look on his face... Other thing that I really loved in the short was Henry's over sized body design, that I tried as hard as I could to stay true too, while still keeping it realistic.

I gotta say it was so much fun drawing him - this was my first time drawing John Henry EVER - he has great facial features, and using these dark chocolate colours in the Heroes series was such a welcome change and I loved every part of it...

Click on the image to see the film

More of David's work is in our creative culture section as one of our featured artists.