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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Original Production Drawing of Donald Duck from "Donald's Cousin Gus," 1939


Original production drawing of Donald Duck from "Donald's Cousin Gus," 1939; Red, green, blue, and graphite pencil on peg hole paper; Numbered 6 1/2 lower right; Size - Donald Duck: 4 1/4 x 5 3/4", Sheet 10 x 12"; Unframed.


"Donald's Cousin Gus" was the first ever pre-recorded program (in this case film) to be televised in the United States; airing as part of NBC's "first night" of sponsored programming on May 3, 1939. The short was produced by Walt Disney, distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, and directed by Jack King and Carl Barks. It was animated by Dick Lundy, Lee Morehouse, Wolfgang Reitherman, and Don Towsley. The story was written by Jack Hannah and Carl Barks. The short stars the voice talents of Clarence Nash as the voice of Donald Duck and Pinto Colvig as the voice of the Barking Hot Dog.


Close up of the Donald Duck original production animation drawing.


Close up of the production number.

The story of "Donald's Cousin Gus" is that Donald Duck is visited by his gluttonous cousin, Gus Goose; who then proceeds to eat Donald out of house and home. This was the first appearance of Gus Goose in film. This is a great drawing from the scene when Donald Duck uses his handcart to scoop up Gus, still seated on a dining chair, and trying to move him out of the house. Gus uses his umbrella to grab the top of the door trim to escape, and poor Donald ends up running into his mailbox. This drawing is right as Gus escapes the handcart and Donald is looking back. Note that his handcart still has, the now empty, dining room chair. The drawing is accomplished in red, green, blue, and graphite pencil on peg hole animation paper. Donald is full figure, eyes and mouth open, and his handcart is also drawn on the sheet. A great drawing of Donald Duck from a historically significant and wonderful Walt Disney cartoon from the 1930s!

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

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