The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

WALT DISNEY STUDIO
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949) 
original production animation model sheet
photostat on paper, dimensions: 14" x 11"

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 "Wind in the Willows" was made at the Disney Studio during production of The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, and it was issued to animators in 1946 for their use in drawing Ratty, J. Thaddeus Toad's stern, yet stalwart, friend. The drawings shown are likely those of Frank Thomas, one of Walt Disney's master animators known as his Nine Old Men, who supervised scenes of Rat and other lead characters; his "OK FT" is reproduced at upper left. This particular model sheet has the year "1946" written in blue ink at upper left, and the studio's "Return This Material to Art Props Dept." stamp in green ink appears at lower left. It is unusual to find individually stamped model sheets; in most cases, the "Art Props" stamp was placed only on the original and reproduced in making the photostatic prints.