It’s Official: ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ has 20 Minutes of 2D Animation!

On the newest episode of The Bancroft Brothers Podcast, animator Tony Bancroft revealed: “We’ve hinted in the past that I’ve worked on this film, and I’m going to officially say it now because I’ve seen this out on social media…Yes, I can confirm the fact that Mary Poppins [Returns] has 20 minutes or so of 2D traditional animation in it, just like the classic, original Mary Poppins.

Myself and Sandro Cleuzo, Franz Fischer (sp?)…Andreas Wessel-Therhorn, Chris Sobet(sp?) and James Baxter did some work on it…and a bunch of other guys I’m drawing a a blank on.”

That’s pretty exciting news!

Always one to do minimal research, I checked IMDB for the names of the animation crew listed on the Mary Poppins Returns page. As you can see, Tony Bancroft isn’t listed, so this list is clearly incomplete…

James S. Baker…storyboard artist

Brandon Brocker…Animation Coordinator

Jim Capobianco…animation sequence supervisor

Alyssa Dalangin…animation clean-up

Ken Duncan…studio creative director

Stasia Fong…animation production assistant

Ketki Gokhale…character rigger

Bassem Hawili…animator

Simon Irvine…animator

Scott T. Petersen…animator

Marie Pillier…animator

Kaleb Rice…modeler

Pat Sito…animation checker

James Woods…character designer



The only BIG question this leaves me with:

Will this “traditional” 2D animation be pencil and paper or made on computers? My guess is digital, but I’d love it if they went full-on old school!