Animation Collection: Original Production Animation Cel of Mad Madam Mim from "The Sword In The Stone," 1963

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Original Production Animation Cel of Mad Madam Mim from "The Sword In The Stone," 1963

Original hand painted production animation cel of Mad Madam Mim from "The Sword In The Stone," 1963, Walt Disney Studios; Set on a lithographic background; Numbered M-13 in ink lower right; Size - Madam Mim and Broom: 4 1/2 x 5 1/4", Image 8 1/2 x 11"; Unframed.

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"Cause I'm the magnificent, marvelous, mad Madam Mim!" - Madam Mim

"The Sword in the Stone," 1963 is the 18th full length feature film produced by Walt Disney and it was released on December 25, 1963 by Buena Vista Distribution. The film was based on the novel of the same name, that was first published in 1938. It was later republished in 1958 as the first book of T. H. White's tetralogy "The Once and Future King." It was to be the final Disney animated film released before Walt Disney's death on December 15, 1966. The songs in the film were written and composed by the Sherman Brothers, who would become very famous for their future work on later Disney films including; "Mary Poppins," 1964, "The Jungle Book," 1967, and "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," 1971.

Close up of the original production animation cel of Mad Madam Mim.

Madam Mim was the villain in the film and 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.

Close up of the production number.

This is a great cel of Mad Madam Mim as she is performing the "Mad Madam Mim" song for Wart; who had been transformed by Merlin into a small brown bird. The songs lyrics were written by the Sherman Brothers, and when she sings "I can be tiny, small as a mouse," Mim shrinks to the size of a mouse. She then creates a broom and flies into the air singing the line, "Cause I'm the magnificent, marvelous, mad Madam Mim!" This rare and wonderful cel of Mim. She is full figure, standing on the flying broom, her arms out stretched, and her mouth and eyes open. A spectacular original piece of animation artwork of one of Disney's most memorable contemporary villains!