As an illustrator, one of the most exciting moments of my career has been watching my Disney fan art series go viral—not just once, but multiple times. The project, which reimagines classic Disney animal characters as humans, took on a life of its own and eventually led to a feature on Good Morning America. Here’s the story behind it, how the idea came about, and how it connected with audiences on a global scale.
The Inspiration Behind the Series
It all started during a time when I was feeling creatively uninspired. I found myself scrolling through Pinterest, searching for something to spark my imagination. That’s when the idea hit me—what if I took some of these iconic Disney animal characters and reimagined them as humans?
This idea gave me the boost I needed. I was excited by the challenge of translating familiar animal traits into human form, while still keeping them recognizable. I’ve always been drawn to Disney’s incredible storytelling and character design, and this project gave me a chance to explore these beloved characters in a new way.
Bringing the Disney Animals to Life as Humans
I started by selecting some of Disney's most iconic animal characters, like Dory from Finding Nemo and Lady from Lady and the Tramp. My goal was to maintain the essence of these characters—their unique personalities and features—while transforming them into humans.
For instance, with Dory, I focused on her bright, inquisitive eyes and carefree expression, incorporating these elements into a human portrait. The process required a lot of creativity to find the balance between staying true to the original character and crafting something fresh and human. The response? Immediate and overwhelming.
Going Viral on TikTok and Instagram
As I began sharing my progress on Instagram, and especially TikTok, the reaction was far beyond anything I had imagined. People loved seeing these classic characters in a new light. One of my TikTok videos, a close-up of me drawing Dory, garnered over 9.2 million views to date! Each new character I released seemed to captivate a new audience, driving more shares and comments.
One reason I believe the series resonated with so many people is the way it bridges nostalgia with new creativity. Disney characters, especially animals like Dory or Lady, hold a special place in many people's hearts. Reimagining them as humans adds a new dimension to their personalities while keeping the charm that made them so beloved in the first place.
The Good Morning America Feature
The project’s viral success eventually led to an exciting opportunity—I was invited to be featured on Good Morning America! I couldn’t believe it. What started as a personal passion project turned into something that caught the attention of major media outlets. In my feature, I had the chance to talk about the inspiration behind the project and share my artistic process with a national audience.
You can watch the full feature here.
Reflecting on the Journey
It’s been incredible to see how far this Disney series has reached, and it’s taught me a lot about the power of creativity and connection. The internet has the ability to spread ideas in ways that we can’t always predict, and I’m so grateful for the chance to share my work with a global audience. Whether through fan art or my professional projects, I’ve always strived to create illustrations that evoke emotion and storytelling, and this series did just that.
Moving forward, I’m excited to keep pushing the boundaries of my work and exploring new ways to bring characters—both new and familiar—to life.
Final Thoughts
The Disney animal series may have been my first big viral project, but I’m eager to continue sharing my art and exploring new creative avenues. If you’ve been following along since the beginning, thank you for your support! And if you’re new to my work, stay tuned—there’s always something exciting on the horizon.
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