Animation Source Forums

Looking at Balto, which coat color would you classify him as? I personally label him as a sable, but it's possible that he could a wolf grey as well. Although I think he resembles a sable more than a wolf grey colored Husky.

Thoughts?

if you want his exact official colour then please see this page on my site: http://fluke.theicecave.org/pcolourkeys.shtml

His colour in the movie certainly isn't consistent as he is definitely brown while out and about in Nome and then definitely grey later on when in the wilds of Alaska. As the colouring was all done digitally then I would assume a base colour was used and different filters were applied to reflect varied levels of light. For me I've always felt that it was symbolic to the environment, Nome being the warm haven in the harsh environment and when out of town, Balto's coat was very much darker and colder to match the scenery.

It could also be suggested that he gradually becomes greyer as he gets closer to accepting his wolf side, his coat taking on more and more of the wolfy colours than a brown dog.

Yeah, I'm aware of the color call-outs. I use them from time to time

I do think your observation (Balto becoming more grey as he starts to accept his heritage) is interesting. That's something I never really thought of before.

Ac, she may have been referring to markings/colors rather than just artist/animators colors I think. To wit (and note the table of pictures and links as you scroll down):


http://huskycolors.com/colors.html

I always found those ones very unrelaiable, even if it's said to be official colour sheets, Balto looks much brighter and more warm brown than he is in the movie. His eyes in the movie are darker yellow while on the sheet they're almost white and his ears are uncolored. Also according to these sheets Steele's fur is blue...


Anyway, Balto reminds me the most of those wolf-looking Agouti huskies, but I don't think he was meant to have any particular husky coloration. I always found Balto having colours of a wolf. The wolves shown in the first movie have the same markings and similar colours as Balto.

Just to clarify, I am talking about what color Husky he would be classified as. Of course there is his wolf heritage to factor in, but I feel he looks more like a Husky than a wolf when it comes to markings and coloration.

I thought about Balto possibly being agouti colored, but I think he's too light of a color to be considered that. I think he's closer to sable or wolf grey, depending on the lighting.

Ah I see - kind assumed the age old "is he grey or brown" topic had come up again