"Rio" Art Director Tom Cardone at Blue Sky Studios. Photo by Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.

Recently, Curator of Archival Collections Corry Kanzenberg and I had the pleasure of spending the day with Thomas Cardone, the talented art director of the recently released animated blockbuster, Rio, which opened just last month to popular and critical acclaim. Seen here at the offices of Blue Sky Studios in Greenwich, Connecticut, Tom took some time out from his busy schedule to help us curate a selection of drawings that trace the development of the film’s main characters, from the heroic blue Macaw named Blu to Linda, his devoted caretaker.

With credits ranging from “Aladdin” and “Beauty and the Beast” to “Ice Age: The Meltdown” and the current hit “Rio,” art director Thomas Cardone’s experience may seem high-tech, but he speaks passionately about craftsmanship, and is responsible, with the director, for the look and feel of the film in its entirety. Aside from his breathtaking work in digital animation, he also creates painterly works on canvas, the old fashioned way. We were thrilled to have his involvement and guidance in developing this exciting exhibition, and hope to see you all here to enjoy the artistry of Blue Sky Studios at the Norman Rockwell Museum this summer.