Talk about an elegant drawing technique--Cynthia Wells is among today's animation elite because of her distinctive line drawing and elegant pencil technique.

TOP TO BOTTOM: The Queen herself, Tallulah Le Rous; Jake; Tallulah preening in a mirror; a waiter. (Click for larger view)

The first woman in the history of the Annie Awards to be nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Animation and Short Film, Wells is not only an internationally exhibited artist, but she is also an award winning animation director, with over 80 film and TV credits.

Fox Feature Animation, Richard Williams, Turner, Film Roman and Warner Bros. are just some of the studios for which she has put her pencil to paper for. In 1998 alone, she had credits on Warner's Quest for Camelot and Space Jam, Fox's Anastasia and "A Sense of Life," a documentary that was nominated for an Academy Award. She was previously an Animation Director at Rhythm and Hues Studios.

Wells has created the character Tallulah Le Rous, who in 1994 starred in Wells's film, Interview with Tallulah, Queen of the Universe. Wells cast her Talullah character again in her latest film, The Shadow of Doubt. Tallulah -- whose vivacious personality is as brilliant as her red head, which contrasts against her alabaster skin, is highly stylized.

The character drawing in The Shadow of Doubt takes full advantage of Wells' strong draftsmanship making for an elegantly rendered spare pencil drawing technique. Tallulah speaks with her hands as much as with her voice. The hands are elongated, emphasized, and graceful -- showing the importance that Wells places on hands and their gestures. The vibrant, detailed backgrounds in The Shadow of Doubt complement her characters. The colors are well chosen in contrast to Tallulah's limited palette. At first one would think we were viewing an oil painting.

"I wanted to combine what I've been doing in my painting with my animation," explains Wells. "Geoff [my husband] and I created Tallulah fifteen years ago," continues Wells. "She really hasn't changed much. She came out as a fully developed character and has let us know what to do with her," explains Wells.In "The Shadow of Doubt" Tallulah is cast as a blues singer who prepares to go on stage at a Paris club where she got her break years before. A ghost that plays on her artistic insecurities confronts her. She overcomes this, and goes on stage realizing that its life's insecurities that make singing the blues worthwhile. The animated short has become a collaboration of love as well as an opportunity for eager students to gain experience working under an animation director. "I recruit inbetweening talent at animation schools, and by word of mouth," explains Wells. "People get involved to gain experience, get a credit, and to have their work shown."

After a year and with only a couple months left of ink and paint and post-production, Cynthia Wells plans to send her latest film on a tour of festivals including the Mecca of animation, Annecy. With that strategy in place, and after recovery from a year on the road, Tallulah might be discussing feature film and television projects with her producers . . .

Jennifer Champagne is Executive Producer/Partner at Max Ink Cafe LLC in Venice, CA. She can be reached at Champagne@MaxInkCafe.com. The company's web site is http://www.MaxInkCafe.com.