Disney THE RELUCTANT DRAGON Animation Model Sheet of Albert Hurter DRAGON Sketches,

WALT DISNEY STUDIO
The Reluctant Dragon (1941)
original production animation model sheet
photostatic reproduction 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 "Suggestions for 'The Reluctant Dragon'" was made at the Disney Studio during production of The Reluctant Dragon, and it was issued on "6-13-40" to further development of characters and situations in the animated film. All of the drawings shown are by Albert Hurter, Walt Disney's brilliant inspirational artist of the 1930s and early-1940s, and "AH" is reproduced in the studio's "Character Model Dep't" stamp at upper right. As in most cases, the filmed version of the characters is very different from Hurter's designs. However, that did not lessen his contribution. His work was valued by Walt Disney because his fertile imagination and quick pencil produced sketches of actors, situations, even inanimate objects that could jumpstart the thinking of other artists and drive story and character development