Batman '66 #5: 'King Tut Barges In' (2014).
Rubén Procopio is an American animator and sculptor with a long association with Walt Disney Feature Animation. During the 1980s and 1990s, he worked on over 25 Disney feature films, along the way restoring the maquette process to feature animation film production. Since 2003, he has worked through his own Masked Avenger Studios, designing collectable sculptures of popular characters, continuing his work in the animation industry and drawing comics and graphic novels. In the 21st century, his work in comics has included his own creation 'Chameleon Man' (Silver Comics 2004), and work on classic characters like 'The Phantom', 'Zorro' and 'The Green Hornet' (Moonstone Books), as well as 'Batman '66' (DC Comics).
Early life and career
Rubén Procopio was born in 1961, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, into a family of Italian immigrants. At age four, he moved with his family to Los Angeles, California, becoming an American citizen in 1976. Initiating the move from Argentina to the USA for better career opportunities, father Adolfo Procopio had a successful and influential career at Walt Disney Imagineering as a sculptor and mold-maker. During a period of 35 years, Rubén's father participated in the creation of Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, MGM Studios, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris, contributing to almost every classic Disney ride, like the Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise and Space Mountain. Rubén's mother Lidia was a fashion designer and seamstress, working with the Wilson Brothers at Wilson's House of Suede and Leather in Beverly Hills. Within this artistic household, both Rubén and his sister Vivian were raised with a strong work ethic and a lasting appreciation for craftsmanship. Like their father, both Procopio siblings enjoyed long careers at several divisions of the Walt Disney Company. While Rubén joined the Disney Animation Studios, Vivian Procopio had a career at Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) and as Research Administrator in the Walt Disney Feature Animation Research Library.
Character sketches for animation.
Much of Rubén Procopio's early artistic training came from his father, who guided him in drawing, anatomy and sculpture from a young age. As a child, he also attended Saturday classes at Samsel's Art School in North Hollywood, run by an accomplished painters couple. As a teenager, Procopio received a scholarship to attend the high school life drawing program at Art Center College of Design. In addition, he was awarded a scholarship to enroll at the California Institute of the Arts, though his time there lasted only about three months. Concurrently, he had applied to Disney and was accepted for a mentorship program at age 18. There, he was trained by Eric Larson, one of Disney's legendary "Nine Old Men", and other animation veterans. Early in his career, Procopio worked in the model department under Jim Willoughby on 'The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show' (1979).
While he regards his father as his main graphic influence, Rubén Procopio's further influences have included the comic artists Alex Toth - later in life, the two became close friends -, Neal Adams, José García-López, Irv Novick, Jim Aparo, Nick Cardy, John Romita Sr., and John Buscema. In animation, his influences have included Blaine Gibson (Head of Sculpture at Disney Imagineering and his father's supervisor), Eric Larson, Jim Willoughby, Walt Stanchfield, Art Stevens, and Bill Tytla. In sculpture, he admires Antoine-Louis Barye, Paul Troubetzkoy, Rembrandt Bugatti and Frederic Remington, and in concept car design his friend Dean Jeffries.
Disney Animation Studios
Rubén Procopio's training at Disney kicked off his 23-year career with the company. During this tenure with the Disney Animation Studios in both California and Florida, he has participated in the production of over 25 feature films, either as a sculptor, character designer, clean-up lead, storyboard artist or animator. Starting in the 1980s with work on 'The Fox and the Hound' (1981), 'The Black Cauldron' (1985), 'The Great Mouse Detective' (1986) and 'Oliver & Company' (1988), he subsequently contributed to the subsequent blockbuster hits 'The Little Mermaid' (1989), 'Beauty and the Beast' (1991), 'Aladdin' (1992), 'The Lion King' (1994), 'Pocahontas' (1995) and 'Mulan' (1998). As a sculptor of maquettes for animated films, Procopio is credited with restoring the maquette sculpting process to modern animation pipelines in the early 1980s. Many were the first sculpture ever of such characters as Ariel, Sebastian, Ursula, Belle, Beast, Gaston, Cogsworth, Ratigan and Marahute.
Maquette sculpture of The Beast, by Rubén Procopio.
Masked Avenger Studios
In 2003, Procopio left Disney to founded his own Masked Avenger Studios, reflecting his lifelong passion for classic masked heroes. Specializing in sculpture, animation and design services, he was joined in the company by his father Adolfo and his sister Vivian, making it a true family enterprise. Among his wide range of clients have been motion picture, animation and television studios, comic book publishers, as well as manufacturers and designers of toys and collectible statues. An important client has been Warner Bros. Animation, for which he has worked as storyboard artist on several 'Tom and Jerry' and 'Scooby-Doo' films and series, as well as the 2021 'Space Jam: A New Legacy' film and animation projects related to DC Comics properties. This has included work on 'Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders' (2016) and 'Batman vs. Two-Face' (2017), which both had the original 1960s Batman portrayer Adam West as voice actor.
'Chameleon Man' by Rubén Procopio.
Comics
Through his Masked Avenger Studios, Rubén Procopio has also served as a pencil artist and inker for comic books. Recurring themes in his work include transformation, dual identity, justice and a deep affection for classic masked heroes. As an artist, he also enjoys exploring the more fun and theatrical side of characters he works with.
In 2004, he appeared with his own creation 'Chameleon Man' in issues #3 and #5 of 'Silver Comics', the indie superhero title published and initiated by Juan Ortiz. Since then, he has continued to work on this creator-owned character in his spare time. In 'Chameleon Man', Procopio blends classic pulp adventure with a playful sense of mystery. Originally a private investigator known as the Crimson Mask, the character evolved into the elusive Chameleon Man, a master of disguise who can be anywhere.
Artwork for 'The Green Hornet'.
Between 2006 and 2011, Procopio provided artwork to annuals and series related to classic characters for Moonstone Books, including 'The Phantom Chronicles', 'Tales of Zorro', 'More Tales of Zorro', 'The Green Hornet Chronicles' and 'The Green Hornet Casefiles' (2011). In 2014, he drew three issues in the 'Batman '66' series by DC Comics, a retro-flavored comic series written by Jeff Parker in the style of the campy 1960s 'Batman' TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward.
'Five Days of the Dragon, Chapter One' (The Phantom Annual 2007).
Sculptor
Besides sculpting working material for Disney movie projects, Procopio was also a key contributor to the Walt Disney Classics Collection (WDCC), a series of collectible sculptures. Among the pieces he designed were characters like Shere Khan, Elliott, Maleficent, and Ursula, as well as works related to 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. In addition, Procopio designed the Disney Heroes Action Figures for the Disney Stores, and was sent by Roy E. Disney to collaborate on and supervise work for the Disney Monument at the Madrid Zoo in Spain. His further sculpting work has included work for collectibles in Electric Tiki Design's Classic Heroes Collection, including characters such as Flash Gordon, Dick Tracy, The Green Hornet & Kato, Mandrake the Magician, Prince Valiant, Tarzan, The Shadow, Doc Savage, The Phantom, The Lone Ranger, Lassie, Zorro, and Captain Action, as well as Mighty Mouse, Popeye, Underdog, Mr. Magoo, and Darkwing Duck.
Chester Gould's 'Dick Tracy', sculpted by Rubén Procopio for Electric Tiki Design's Classic Heroes Collection.
Recognition
As a child, at age 11, Rubén Procopio won first place in a drawing contest depicting the President of Mexico, Benito Juárez, earning a trip to Mexico for himself and his family. He also received second place at the Toluca Lake Art Festival for one of his paintings, and was part of the team nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award for 'Beauty and the Beast' and Best Animated Short Film for 'Lorenzo' (2004). While he has not received awards personally, Procopio sculpted the Sergio Award, presented by Sergio Aragonés for the Comic Art Professional Society.
The Ursula maquette Rubén Procopio sculpted for 'The Little Mermaid' is part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution.
Rubén Procopio (right) visiting comic store Lambiek in Amsterdam, 2000s. On the right, store founder Kees Kousemaker.