Bambi (1942)

WALT DISNEY STUDIO
Bambi (1942) 
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 "Bambi's Mother / For Proportions Only" was made at the Disney Studio during production of Bambi, and it was issued to animators "5-31-40" for use in drawing the central character's mother, who falls to a hunter's shot. Bambi was in development and production for nearly five years, and enormous time and talent went into making the setting and animation of the characters believable. This model sheet was issued over two years before release of the film and provides a glimpse of the artists' meticulous work.