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Sunday, March 13, 2016

Original Production Animation Drawing of The Butterfly Fairy from "The Flying Mouse," 1934


Original production drawing of The Butterfly Fairy from "The Flying Mouse," 1934; Graphite pencil on peg hole paper; Numbered 20 lower right; Size - The Butterfly Fairy: 7 1/2 x 7", Sheet 9 1/2 x 12"; Unframed.

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"The Flying Mouse," 1934 is a Silly Symphonies cartoon produced by Walt Disney, directed by David Hand, and released to theaters by United Artists on July 14, 1934. Music was by Frank Churchill and Bert Lewis and the film was animated by Hamilton Luske, Bob Kuwahara, Harry Bailey, and Bob Wickersham. The use of color for the short was very innovative, as the story occurs within the course of a single day.


Close up of The Butterfly Fairy original production animation drawing.

The story begins with animation set to the song "I Would Like to Be a Bird," as a young mouse fashions wings from a pair of leaves; much to the amusement of his brothers. All of his attempts to fly fail, and he ends up falling into a tub, shrinks his sister's dress, and gets spanked by his mother. When the mouse hears a butterfly call for help, he rescues her from a spider. It is revealed that the butterfly is in fact a fairy, and the mouse makes a wish for a pair of wings; which was granted. However, his bat-like appearance doesn't fit in with either the birds or the other mice; and he finds himself friendless and alone. Even the bats tease him, telling him that he is "Nothin' But A Nothin'". At the end of the film the Butterfly Fairy reappears and removes the mouse's wings, telling him that it is best for him to just be himself.


Close up of the production number.

This is a gorgeous original production drawing of The Butterfly Fairy. The Butterfly Fairy character was certainly an inspiration for the Blue Fairy of"Pinocchio" six years later, so the two share a very similar design. In this drawing the Butterfly Fairy is eyes and mouth open, her beautiful butterfly wings are in view, and she is holding out her magic star tipped wand! A rare and wonderful drawing, perfect for framing!

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