Article from Asbury Park Press - June 17, 2005
An "Incredible" career

Sculptor helps to bring Disney drawings to life

The "eureka!" moment.

Many people who work in the animation industry had one at a young age.

Sculptor Kent Melton — who has worked on "Aladdin," "The Lion King" and "The Incredibles" — has heard the story over and over from colleagues.

Recalls Melton: "Friends that I've worked with at Disney have told me, "You know, when I was 7 years old and I saw "101 Dalmatians," I knew right then that that's what I wanted to do with my life.'

"I just say, "Well, when I was 7 years old, it never occurred to me that those characters were drawn. I just thought they were real.' "

Kelton — who has worked for Disney, Warner Bros. and DreamWorks — is scheduled to appear Saturday at Cel-ebration! Animation Gallery in Red Bank. New figures by Melton from the "Walt Disney Classics Collection" will be available for purchase.

While working on a film, Melton's job is to sculpt three-dimensional maquettes based on character sketches, which are used by animators to produce the finished animation.