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Thursday, August 20, 2015

Original Production Animation Drawing of Peg from "Lady and the Tramp," 1955


Original production drawing of Peg in graphite pencil from "Lady and the Tramp," 1955; Numbered 64 in pencil lower right; Size - Peg 7 1/4 x 8 3/4", Sheet 12 1/2 x 15 1/2"; Unframed.


"Lady and the Tramp" (released on June 22, 1955) is a full length featured animated film produced by Walt Disney and released by Buena Vista Distribution. The film was the 15th in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, and it was the first animated feature filmed in with the CinemaScope widescreen film process. The film was based on the story "Happy Dan, The Whistling Dog" by Ward Greene and tells the story of a female American Cocker Spaniel named Lady who lives with a refined, upper-middle-class family. Lady meets a male stray mutt named Tramp and they embark on many exciting and romantic adventures. 


Close up of the Peg original production animation drawing.

Besides Lady and Tramp, the standout character is the film is Peg, a Pekingese who is one of the dogs encountered by Lady when she ends up at the dog pound. Peg is named after and slightly resembles her voice actress, Peggy Lee. Peg's highlight in the film was her singing the song "He's A Tramp" in the dog pound. 

Peggy Lee was an American pop and jazz singer, songwriter, and actress who provided the original speaking and singing voices of not only Peg, but Si and Am and Darling. Lee also composed the majority of the film's soundtrack with Sonny Burke; as well as performed "He's a Tramp", "La La Lu", "What Is a Baby?", and "The Siamese Cat Song."

Peg was wonderfully animated by veteran Disney animator Eric Larson. From Walt Disney animator Andreas Deja:
"Eric usually downplayed his capabilities as a draughtsman when compared to animators like Kahl, Davis or Frank and Ollie. But his assignments for the film Lady and the Tramp show clearly that he was not only a great actor with a pencil, but that his drawings were right on par with the studio's high standards. Peg's animation during her song "He's a Tramp" is beautifully timed in its rhythm and elegant moves."


Close up of the production number.

This is certainly one of the finest drawings by Eric Larson of Peg from her iconic point in the film when she is singing "He's A Tramp." Peg is full figure with her mouth and eyes open. In addition, there is wonderful movement in her paws, tail, ears, and the fur that drops over in front of her eyes.

To view the scene which this drawing was used to create, click on the short video below:


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