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 two rough animation drawings of Geppetto was made at the Disney Studio during production of Pinocchio, and it was circulated to animators for their use in the animation of Pinocchio's "father." "Return to Character Model Dept." is stamped on the sheet at lower right corner; the date "May 21 1938" and "Return to Grizzly Flats R.R. Co." are reproduced in the sheet at lower right, the latter indicating the original came from the desk of animator Ward Kimball (principal animator of Jiminy Cricket).