sabato 17 dicembre 2011

Orphan's Benefit (1934)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Orphan's Benefit (1934)
original production animation drawing
pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 2.5" x 2.25"
This original final animation drawing of Donald Duck was created by a Disney Studio animator in production of the animated cartoon directed by Burt Gillett, and a cel painting was made directly from it. Donald successfully recites "Mary Had a Little Lamb" but can't get through "Little Boy Blue" without inciting unruly behavior in the assembled youngsters; this drawing is from the opening moments of his third attempt. A color version of Orphan's Benefit directed by Riley Thomson with new animation was released in 1941. The animator wrote the studio designation “4” at lower right to indicate this original's place in the scene.



Quick Draw McGraw (1959-62)


HANNA-BARBERA STUDIO
Quick Draw McGraw (1959-62)
original production animation layout drawing
pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 7" x 10.5"
This original animation layout drawing of Quick Draw McGraw and Baba Looey was created by a Hanna-Barbera Studio artist in development of a scene in an episode of the first series of Quick Draw McGraw cartoons that aired from 1959 to 1962. The artist wrote the designation "12FC" at upper right to indicate the field size of the scene.



Alice in Wonderland (1951)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Alice in Wonderland (1951) 
original production animation drawing
brown and black pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 7" x 4.75"
This handsome rough animation drawing of Alice was created by Disney supervising animator Ollie Johnston in development of a scene in Walt Disney's animated feature based on the stories by Lewis Carroll. Ollie Johnston, one of Walt Disney's master animators known as his Nine Old Men, supervised the animation of Alice in most scenes during conversation with the Doorknob while in pursuit of the White Rabbit. Interestingly, Ollie and Frank Thomas alternated animating Alice in three scenes as she reads the directions on the bottle: "Hm...better look first, for..." (OJ), followed by "...if you drink much from a bottle marked poison..." (FT), then "...it's almost certain to disagree with one sooner or later" (OJ)." This is one of Ollie Johnston's drawings of Alice from the last of the three scenes. Frank Thomas animated the Doorknob. The animator wrote the number "202" at lower right to indicate this original's place in the scene.



Hercules (1997)

WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Hercules (1997) 
original production animation drawing
red and black pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 8.5" x 6.5"
This exceptionally nice final animation drawing of Hera, Queen of the Gods, holding the baby Hercules was created by a Disney Studio animator in production of the animated feature; it is an animator's extreme drawing with grid at upper right. It is a very finished and polished drawing yet retains the animator's red-pencil construction lines and shading. This red pencil could have been removed in the computer animation process, or a final clean-up may have been made and scanned. The animator wrote the studio designation “H60” at upper and lower right corners of the sheet to indicate this original's place in the scene. 


The Little Mermaid (1989)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
The Little Mermaid (1989) 
original production animation drawing
pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 9.25" x 5.5"
This original rough animation drawing of Ariel was created by a Disney animator in development of a scene in the animated feature. This scene occurs during Ursula's "Poor Unfortunate Souls" musical performance as she draws Ariel close and whispers: "Now, here's the deal..."



sabato 10 dicembre 2011

Lady and the Tramp (1955)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Lady and the Tramp (1955) 
original production animation drawing
brown and black pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 5" x 6"
This full-figure original rough animation drawing of Bull was created by Disney animator John Lounsbery in development of a scene in Walt Disney's CinemaScope animated feature. John Lounsbery, one of Walt Disney's master animators known as his Nine Old Men, supervised the animation of Bull in this scene in the dog pound, and this is one of this drawings. After Nutsy has been led through the "one way door," the English bulldog remarks "Oh well, a short life and a merry one!" The animator wrote the designation "9" at lower right to indicate this original's place in the scene; additional animator's note "shoulders up" is written to right of the image. 



Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) 
original production animation layout drawing
red, blue and black pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 8.75" x 9"
This original animation layout drawing of the wicked Queen as the Old Witch was created by a Disney Studio artist in development of a scene in the climax of Walt Disney's first animated feature. After poisoning Snow White, the Old Witch flees from the Seven Dwarfs into the mountains where, during a sudden rain storm, she attempts to pry loose a huge boulder and roll it down upon her pursuers. Three poses of the character are shown in this layout drawing as she picks up a tree branch from the ground to use as a lever on the boulder. The position of the character was changed during production of the film, and a 2.5" wide section of brown paper tape, punched with the Studio registration system, was added to the bottom of the sheet to raise the Witch in the field. The artist wrote the designation "14J Sc 22" at upper left to indicate this drawing's place in the film; other production notes also appear on the drawing.



sabato 3 dicembre 2011

Pinocchio (1940)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Pinocchio (1940) 
original production animation model sheet
photostat on paper, dimensions: 11" x 14"
Since the early 1930s the Disney Studio has produced model sheets of its animated characters and/or atmosphere and concept art for circulation among artists and animators working in production of an animated film. Before the 1970s they were reproduced by a photostatic or printing process. They were made when a character or setting was in development and to help animators maintain a consistent look to the character throughout the film. This photostat model sheet of Geppetto was made at the Disney Studio during production of Pinocchio, and it was issued to animators for use in drawing Geppetto, the kindly wood-carver who makes Pinocchio and becomes his father after the puppet is brought to life by the Blue Fairy. Disney's great animator Vladimir Tytla supervised the animation of Geppetto, and the images reproduced in this sheet are likely his work. It is punched with the Studio's registration system along the bottom and stamped "Return to Character Model Dept." in lower right corner.


Sleeping Beauty (1959)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Sleeping Beauty (1959) 
original production animation drawing
pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 9" x 4.25"
This original rough animation drawing of good fairy Fauna in castle dress was created by a Disney animator in development of a scene in Walt Disney's Technirama animated feature. The animator wrote the designation "110-F" at lower right to indicate this original's place in the scene.



Fantasia (1940)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Fantasia (1940) 
original production animation drawing
pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 3.75" x 3"
This original rough animation drawing of Hyacinth Hippo was created by a Disney animator in development of a scene in the Dance of the Hours segment of Walt Disney's landmark animated feature. The drawing is by Preston Blair who, with lead animator Norm Ferguson, animated Hyacinth in this scene in which the lead ballerina goes into her solo dance on the lawn outside the palace of the Duke Alvise. Mr. Blair wrote the designation "80" at lower right to indicate this original's place in the scene.


Pinocchio (1940)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Pinocchio (1940) 
original production animation model sheet
photostat on paper, dimensions: 11" x 14"
Since the early 1930s the Disney Studio has produced model sheets of its animated characters and/or atmosphere and concept art for circulation among artists and animators working in production of an animated film. Before the 1970s they were reproduced by a photostatic or printing process. They were made when a character or setting was in development and to help animators maintain a consistent look to the character throughout the film. This photostat model sheet titled Gendarme F-3 Seq. 4c was made at Disney Studio during production of Pinocchio. It was issued to animators on "9-20-38" in development of the sequence in which Geppetto searches for Pinocchio. This sequence was shortened considerably during production, and the Gendarme does not appear in the film. The studio's "Return This Material to Art Props Dept" stamp appears at upper right.


Puppy Love (1933)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Puppy Love (1933) 
original production animation drawing
pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 4" x 3.5"
This original final animation drawing of Mickey Mouse was created by a Disney Studio animator in production of the animated cartoon directed by Wilfred Jackson, and a cel painting was made directly from it. Dick Lundy animated this scene of Mickey playing the piano to accompany Minnie singing the title song, a jazzy tune that likely was composed for the cartoon.
Mr. Lundy joined the Disney Studio in 1929 and within a year became an animator. He handled scenes for the shorts of the 1930s and was credited for animation on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). In 1939 he became a director, and his first carton wasSea Scouts. He directed a number of Donald Duck cartoons from then into 1943 (his last was The Flying Jalopy) when he left to work at the Walter Lantz Studio and, later, M-G-M. The animator wrote "Scene 16" below the image to indicate this original's place in the film; "488" is written at lower right to mark the drawing's place in the scene. 



Peter Pan (1953)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Peter Pan (1953) 
original production animation drawing
red, blue, green, pink, and black pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 11.5" x 11"
This rare, large-image final animation drawing of Peter Pan holding the gift containing Captain Hook's concealed bomb was created by a Disney Studio animator in production of the animated feature based on the story by J. M. Barrie, and a cel painting was made directly from it. Eric Larson, one of Walt Disney's master animators known as his Nine Old Men, supervised the animation of this scene in which the package begins to vibrate and smoke as Tinker Bell heroically flies into the scene to whisk the bomb away from Peter Pan. The package was partly colored to indicate the effects and vibration of the package. The animator wrote the studio designation "93" at lower right to indicate this original's place in the scene; "B-93" written at lower left identifies the visual effects that were likely painted on a separate cel level.


Peter Pan (1953)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Peter Pan (1953) 
original production animation drawing
pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 10.75" x 9.5"
This lively rough animation drawing of John Darling, Wendy and Michael's brother, was created by a Disney animator in development of a scene in Walt Disney's animated feature of J.M. Barrie's classic story. Disney animator Hal King supervised the animation of this scene, and this is undoubtedly one of his drawings. Huddled with the Lost Boys, John pontificates on his strategy for dealing with the natives just as he is captured by a brave concealed inside a tree: "We simply surround them and take them by surprise." The animator wrote the designation "61" at lower right to indicate this original's place in the scene.



Sleeping Beauty (1959)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Sleeping Beauty (1959) 
original production animation drawing
red and black pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 8.5" x 4.5"
This superb rough animation drawing of Maleficent and her familiar, the raven, was created by a Disney animator in development of a scene in Walt Disney's Technirama animated feature. It is an animator's extreme drawing with two grids at lower right. Marc Davis, one of Walt Disney's master animators known as his Nine Old Men, supervised the animation of this scene in King Stefan's castle at the gathering of "royalty, nobility, the gentry, and...even the rabble." After Merryweather blurts out that Maleficent's presence was not wanted, the evil fairy feints taking her leave. The Queen asks "And you're not offended, your Excellency?" to which Maleficent replies: "Why no, your Majesty." The animator wrote the designation "33" at lower right to indicate this original's place in the scene. 



Pete's Dragon (1977)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Pete's Dragon (1977)
original production animation drawing
blue pencil on an untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 9.5" x 10"
This handsome rough animation drawing of Elliott, the film's animated dragon who was designed by Ken Anderson, was created by a Disney animator in development of a scene in the animated and live-action feature film. The animator wrote the designation "9" at lower right to indicate this original's place in the scene


sabato 12 novembre 2011

The Little Mermaid (1989)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
The Little Mermaid (1989) 
original production animation drawing
blue and black pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 8.5" x 7.5"
This large-image rough animation drawing of Ariel was created by a Disney animator in development of a scene in the animated feature. It is from a scene early in Sebastian's song "Under the Sea" as he sings "You dream about going up there, but that is a big mistake." The animator wrote the designation "0497 004-10 A-63" along the bottom of the sheet to identify the film and this drawing's place in it. The animator's note at top indicates that two of the flower petals Ariel wears in her hair show above her head. 


Bunnies Abundant (1962)


HANNA-BARBERA STUDIO
Bunnies Abundant (1962)
two (2) original production animation layout drawings
blue and black pencil on two (2) untrimmed animation sheets, image sizes: 5" x 6.25"
These two (2) consecutive animation layout drawings of Loopy de Loop and a rabbit were created by a Hanna-Barbera artist in development of a scene in the animated cartoon. The Loopy de Loop cartoons were the first theatrical releases produced by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera after they left Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and set up their own studio. The series starring the French wolf debuted in 1959 and ran into 1965. In this cartoon the kind-hearted Loopy rescues cute rabbits who are being chased by a gruff and hungry wolf. These drawings were created for scene 14 in which two identical rabbits thank Loopy for his efforts, then are distracted by the wolf barbecuing their cousin Louie. The artist wrote the designations "K-28 cut to Sc 14" and "K-28 Cont Sc 14" in the right margin to indicate the production number and each original's place in the film. 



Peter Pan (1953)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Peter Pan (1953) 
original production animation drawing
brown and black pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 9.5" x 5.25"
This original rough animation drawing of Mrs. Darling, mother of Wendy, Michael and John, was created by a Disney animator in development of a scene in Walt Disney's animated feature of J. M. Barrie's classic story. Marc Davis, one of Walt Disney's master animators known as his Nine Old Men, supervised the animation of this scene, and the brown pencil in this drawing is undoubtedly his work. In the Darling family nursery her husband George shouts "Mary, look!" when he sees that John and Michael have drawn a map of Never Land on his shirt front. She turns to look at him and exclaim "George!" in response. The animator wrote the designation "3" at lower right to indicate this original's place in the scene



sabato 5 novembre 2011

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) 
original production animation drawing
red and black pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 4.75" x 2.5"
This original final animation drawing of Snow White was created by a Disney Studio animator in production of Walt Disney's first animated feature, and a cel painting was made directly from it. Myron "Grim" Natwick supervised the animation of this scene in which Snow White comes out onto a balcony of the castle to look upon the Prince as he sings: "One song only for you...one heart tenderly beating." The animator wrote the studio designation “42” at lower right to indicate this original's place in the scene; studio stamp at lower left identifies the production, sequence and scene numbers.



101 Dalmatians (1961)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
101 Dalmatians (1961) 
three (3) original production animation character drawings
pencil on three (3) animation sheets trimmed to 12.5" x 8.5", 12.5" x 7.25" and 9.25" x 11.5", image sizes: 8" x 8", 8" x 4.75" and 9" x 11.25"
These three (3) original animation character drawings of Anita Radcliff, Nanny, and the art student, who bears a striking resemblance to her Afghan hound, were created by a Disney artist in development of the characters in the animated feature based on the book by Dodie Smith. The artist wrote the names and/or brief descriptions of the characters on the sheets: "Anita (Roger's wife)", "Nanny cook", and "Art student & dog




sabato 29 ottobre 2011

The Banana Splits in Hocus Pocus Park


HANNA-BARBERA STUDIO
The Banana Splits in Hocus Pocus Park (1972)
original animation model drawings
pencil on 10.5" x 19.5" animation sheet, drawing image size: 8.25" x 15.5"
This original model drawing of Snorky, Bingo, Fleegle and Drooper, all four members of the animal character group, The Banana Splits, was created at the Hanna-Barbera Studio as a model of the four stars in their live-action and animated film that was first broadcast on November 25, 1972. In 1968 Hanna-Barbera launched its first show to combine live-action and animation: The Banana Splits Adventure Hour. It ran two seasons during which The Banana Splits appeared only in live-action segments while the remainder of the show presented cartoon series such as The Three Musketeers and The Arabian Knights. The Banana Splits first appeared as animated characters in The Banana Splits in Hocus Pocus Park. This drawing represents a redesign of the characters for animation, most particularly as regards Snorky. The special was filmed at Kings Island amusement park in Cincinnati, Ohio. The art is titled "'Banana Splits' Lineup," each is named beneath the image, "© 1970 Hanna Barbera Prods., Inc." is written next to the title, and "OK for ink / W.I." is written in red pencil. The art is shown below in two complete images and two details. 




Alice in Wonderland HANNA-BARBERA STUDIO


HANNA-BARBERA STUDIO
Alice in Wonderland (1966)
original production animation character drawing
pencil and watercolor on 10" x 12.25" paper, image size: 7.5" x 10"
These original animation character drawings of Alice and Fluff were created by a Hanna-Barbera Studio artist in development of the characters for the animated television special based on the stories of Lewis Carroll and subtitled What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This? A comedic and hip version for the '60s, the show featured new music and songs by Lee Adams and Charles Strouse plus voice talent including Bill Dana, Sammy Davis, Jr., Zsa Zsa Gabor, Harvey Korman, Daws Butler, Don Messick, Alan Reed and others. These drawings were created early in development, and producer David Sontag circled, OK'd and initialed two of the images of Fluff. He wrote the number "7" at upper right. Alice ended as a more conventional-looking blonde for the show. Included is a photocopy of a 1995 letter from Mr. Sontag describing his role in development of the special. 


Pinocchio


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Pinocchio (1940) 
original production animation model sheet
lithography on paper, dimensions: 12.5" x 15.5"
Since the early 1930s the Disney Studio has produced model sheets of its animated characters and/or atmosphere and concept art for circulation among artists and animators working in production of an animated film. Before the 1970s they were reproduced by a photostatic or printing process. They were made when a character or setting was in development and to help animators maintain a consistent look to the character throughout the film.
This rare printed model sheet titled "Revised Sheet - Temporary Models - The Blue Fairy / Pinocchio F-3" was made at the Disney Studio during production of Pinocchio, and it was issued to studio artists for use in the development of this character. The drawings reproduced in this model sheet are the work of Gustav Tenggren, the inspirational artist who profoundly influenced the look of Pinocchio. He worked primarily on the backgrounds and settings, yet his work extended to the styling of characters as well. His signature is reproduced in the model sheet at lower right. Interestingly, comparative size drawings at top center show Tenggren's version alongside the rotoscoped version based on the live-action film of Marge Champion in the role of the Blue Fairy. 


Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) 
original production animation drawing
red, blue and black pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 4.5" x 4"
This expressive original animation drawing of Grumpy was created by a studio animator in production of Walt Disney's first animated feature, and a cel was made directly from it. In the Seven Dwarfs' bedroom Grumpy objects to the unexpected presence of Snow White: "Angel, huh! She's a female - an' all females is poison. They're fulla wicked wiles." Fred Moore, one of Walt Disney's finest animators of the 1930s and early-1940s, supervised the animation of this scene. The animator wrote the studio designation “15” at lower right to indicate this original's place in the scene; the studio's stamp appears at lower left denoting production, sequence and scene numbers. 


WALT DISNEY PRODUCTIONS


WALT DISNEY PRODUCTIONS
Walt Disney (1933)
photograph, 10" x 8"
This is an original black-and-white glossy photograph on single-weight paper of Walt Disney at the Mid-Winter Snow Carnival held at Lake Arrowhead, California, in January, 1933. He is seen pushing the large Mickey Mouse doll made by Charlotte Clark in a sled; later during the festival he awarded a smaller Mickey doll to Mildred Chanter, winner of the Mickey Mouse snowman building contest. The event was promoted through the Mickey Mouse Clubs that had been organized at theatres across the USA during the early-1930s. This photograph was likely distributed to a newspaper for publication, and a caption is handwritten in pencil on the back. 



sabato 22 ottobre 2011

Pocahontas (1995)


WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Pocahontas (1995) 
original production animation drawing
pencil on untrimmed animation sheet, image size: 7" x 13.5"
This original rough animation drawing of Pocahontas embracing John Smith was created by Disney animator Glen Keane, supervising animator of Pocahontas, in development of a scene in the animated feature. The image of John Smith is lightly sketched in and was likely animated on a separate level or was a held cel. It is an animator's extreme drawing with grid drawn at upper right. The animator wrote the designation "P161" at lower right, "161" at upper right, and "arm extreme" at the top to indicate this original's place in the scene and the way this drawing fits into the animation process.