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Saturday, December 27, 2014

Captain Hook Drawing From "Peter Pan," 1953 - "You’d fly away like a cowardly sparrow."


Original production drawing of Captain Hook from "Peter Pan," 1953; Size - Captain Hook 8 x 8", Sheet 15 1/2 x 12 1/2"; Three peg hole paper stamped PROD 2074 - SEQ 14 - SCENE 79 lower left and numbered in pencil 215 lower right.

To purchase this drawing or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE

Captain Hook was animated by legendary Frank Thomas and voiced by Hans Conried.  Conried was also the voice of George Darling, which is consistent with the roles of "Peter Pan" for the stage.  I remember seeing Conried acting on "I Love Lucy" where he played an English tutor as well as playing the character Wrongway Feldman on "Gilligan's Island."  His voice was so distinctive and so memorable that he was perfect for the role of Captain Hook; as he had a wonderful way of conveying both the rough gruff pirate role as well and the sly calculating villain.


Frank Thomas's first sketches of Captain Hook were much more menacing than the final product.  Walt Disney felt the character was going to be too frightening for children and so Thomas toned down his drawings.  The result is a wonderful villain and I would say that he is my favorite male villain in the Disney film world.  

This is a fantastic production drawing from the final battle between Captain Hook and Peter Pan aboard the pirate's ship, Jolly Roger.  Captain Hook, armed with is sword and his raised hook pursues Peter Pan into the rigging of the ship, daring Peter to face him.  As he climbs up the rope ladder he says, "Ha ha ha, you wouldn’t dare fight old Hook man to man. You’d fly away like a cowardly sparrow."


Close up of Captain Hook drawing.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Mad Hatter and March Hare Cels from "Alice In Wonderland," 1951


Original hand inked and hand painted production cels of The Mad Hatter & The March Hare set on a lithographic copy of a production background from "Alice In Wonderland," 1951; Size - Mad Hatter 6 1/4" x 4 1/4", Cel 9 1/2" x 10 3/4"; March Hare 5 1/4" x 3 3/4", Cel 9 1/2" x 12"; Background 10 1/2" x 16 1/4"

To purchase this cel or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE

The Mad Hatter and the March Hare are two of the most famous characters in the Walt Disney classic film "Alice In Wonderland," from 1951.  The story is taken from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (commonly shortened to "Alice in Wonderland"), a 1865 novel written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson who wrote under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll.  Disney reworked the story to fit with both a younger audience and a time frame suitable for an animated film (it's run time is 75 minutes).  Kathryn Beaumont was just 10 years old when she was chosen for the voice of Alice and Walt Disney was so impressed by her that she was also chosen to be a model for Alice.  The main villain of the story is the Queen of Hearts, however practically every other character functions as an antagonist towards Alice.


Close up of the two cels.

The Mad Hatter was voiced by Ed Wynn and the voice of the March Hare was provided by Jerry Colonna.  Ed Wynn is one of the most memorable voices in "Alice" and he is a real stand out for the film.  Wynn had a long history in Vaudeville and had developed his giggly, wavering voice in 1921 for the musical review, "The Perfect Fool."  He had several roles at Walt Disney Studios, including his most famous acting role there as Uncle Albert in the film "Mary Poppins," 1964.


Photograph showing The Mad Hatter cel without the background.

The animator Ward Kimball was a tour de force for the film "Alice In Wonderland," and he animated the following: Alice (one scene), the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Walrus and the Carpenter, the Oysters, and the Dormouse.  Kimball, was a superb draftsman, and he preferred to animate comical characters rather than realistic human figures.  Because of this, "Alice In Wonderland" was the perfect film for him as it was filled with wonderful creatures all acting odd and comical.  Animating came easily to him and he was constantly looking to do things in a different way; which lead Walt Disney to call Kimball a genius in the book "The Story of Walt Disney."


Photograph showing The March Hare cel without the background.

Both of the cels pictured here for sale are from the Mad Tea Party scene and it is one of the most famous scenes in the film, if not all of the Disney films!  The March Hare is from the scene where he uses a spoon and begins to conduct a band of tea pots in the singing of the Unbirthday Song.  The Mad Hatter is also from the Tea Party scene where he pours a cup of tea into a tea pot and then drinks the tea from the tea pot, while saying the following:

Mad Hatter: "Come come my dear, don't you care for tea?"
Alice: "Why, yes. I'm very fond of tea."
March Hare: "If you don't care for tea, you could at least make polite conversation!"

To see the Mad Hatter cel in the film, click on the short clip below:


To see the March Hare cel in the film, click on the short clip below:


Friday, December 12, 2014

Mad Madam Mim In Dragon Form Cel from "The Sword In The Stone," 1963


 A very rare, eyes and mouth open original hand painted production cel of Mad Madam Mim in Dragon form and an original hand painted production cel of fire flames effects from "The Sword In The Stone," 1963.  This cel is from the famous Wizard duel scene with Merlin, when both Mim and Merlin change into various creatures each trying to best the other.  Matted in original Walt Disney Art Corner mat with label sticker verso.

To purchase this cel or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE

Madam Mim was the villain in the Walt Disney 1963 film "The Sword In The Stone," based on T. H. White's novel by the same name.  Mim was voiced by Martha Wentworth a veteran actress with a long radio history dating back to the 1920's.  She was the voice of several Disney characters in "101 Dalmatians" including Nanny; and Mim was her final credited role.  Madam Mim was animated by two of Disney's greatest animators Milt Kahl (who also designed the character, refining storyboard sketches from animator Bill Peet), and Frank Thomas.  Kahl animated her first appearance in the film, her initial interaction with Arthur; while Frank Thomas oversaw her famous "Wizards' Duel" with Merlin.

Although Mim claims to be more powerful than Merlin, during her opening scene she does only minor tricks.  When Merlin stops her from attacking Arthur she challenges him to a Wizard's duel which involves mutating into various forms in order to best your opponent.  She states that she is "mad for games," and lays out the rules for her duel with Merlin. 

MADAM MIM: "Now, rule one, no mineral or vegetable. Only animal. Rule two, no make-believe things like, pink dragons and stuff. Now, rule three, no disappearing." 
MERLIN: "Rule four, no cheating." 
MADAM MIM: "All right, all right." 

At the very start of the duel, Mim breaks her own rule by disappearing and proves she can not be trusted.  During the battle, Mim's incredible shape shifting abilities almost give her the upper hand against Merlin.  She turned herself into: an alligator, a fox, a hen, an elephant, a tiger, a rattlesnake, and a rhinoceros, all of which were colored pink and finally into an ugly, purple, fire-breathing dragon.  This cel along with a flame overlay cel is from the very begining of the scene when Mim first transforms into a purple dragon and then asks Merlin (knowing that her rule stated no Pink Dragons), "Did I say no purple Dragons?"  BTW: Merlin wins the battle, of course!

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Shere Khan Cel from "The Jungle Book," 1967


A very rare, eyes open original hand painted production cel of Shere Khan from "The Jungle Book," 1967;  With the Disney Seal lower right; Set on a lithographic copy of an original Jungle Book production background;  Framed with two suede acid free mats, a gold and brown wood frame, and UV conservation clear glass.

To purchase this cel or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE

Shere Khan the tiger is the main antagonist in the 1967 Walt Disney film "The Jungle Book," an adaption of writer Rudyard Kipling's series of stories.  Khan was voiced by George Sanders, a veteran actor with a deep bass voice and a heavy British accent.  The choice of Sanders was perfect for Shere Khan who, in the film, seemed to adopt a British gentleman persona and used British phrases such as "Good show."

Milt Kahl, the great veteran Disney animator, was in charge of bringing Shere Khan to life and so of course Kahl set out on a crash course in tigers.  Kahl said in an interview: " I learned so much about tigers by studying them that I didn't have to rely on any life action crutch."  From Disney animator Andreas Dejas about the animation of Shere Khan, "Great perspective walk, and I love the way the tiger lies down, upper body first, then the rear.  The way he moves those front feet is worth studying alone.  Such great anatomy."


Framed Shere Khan cel

This is an absolutely wonderful cel of Shere Khan and he is almost 10 inches long!  He is seen walking from the left, is large paws slowly moving his massive body forward.  Both eyes are open and he is wearing is ever present frown.  This cel is from when Shere Khan is wondering through the Jungle when he suddenly hears Kaa singing "Trust In Me," and then goes to investigate.  The Walt Disney seal is lower right, he is set on a beautiful lithographic copy of a "Jungle Book" background, and the entire work is custom museum framed.

To see the cel in the film, just click on the short video below:


"Allow me to present your charming daughter." - Ratigan Cel


Original hand painted production cel of Professor Ratigan set on a hand painted non-production watercolor background that matches the scene from "The Great Mouse Detective," 1986; Disney seal lower right; Framed with a brown wood frame, three acid free mats, and UV conservation clear glass.


It took Disney way too long to finally cast veteran actor Vincent Price, known for his roles in horror films, in the role of the villain Ratigan.  Price had such a distinctive voice that had been used for so many horror and thrilling roles, so the casting just seemed to be overdue.  Ratigan was a character created by Eve Titus in a series of stories about Basil of Baker Street; a mouse that lived next door to Sherlock Holmes and who shared many of his skills and traits.  Ratigan was a takeoff of Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes nemesis, and the character was brought to life by veteran Disney animator Glen Keane.


Close-up of Ratigan cel

This is a wonderful very large, eyes, and mouth open full figure original production cel of Professor Ratigan from the 1986 full length animated Walt Disney feature film "The Great Mouse Detective."  The evil Professor Ratigan is holding his cape up getting ready to reveal to Hiram Flaversham his kidnapped daughter, Olivia.  "Allow me to present your charming daughter," Ratigan says.  He measures an incredible 8" x 9 3/4", is placed over a custom hand painted watercolor background that matches the scene from the film, and the entire setup is museum framed.


Photograph of framed Ratigan cel.

To see the cel in the film, just click on this short video below: