Stromboli drawing from "Pinocchio," 1940

Original production drawing in red, green, and graphite pencils on five peg hole paper; of Stromboli from the 1940 full length animated feature film "Pinocchio" from Walt Disney Studios; The drawing is stamped PROD 2003 SEQ 4.2 SCENE 50 lower right; Stromboli measures 7 3/4" x 7 1/2" and is on a 12 1/2" x 15 1/2"

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

Although Pinocchio encounters a wide range of antagonists, two of the cruelest are the Coachman and Stromboli; the evil puppeteer, showman, and gypsy whose only goal was to make money.  Both the Coachman and Stromboli were voiced by Charles Judes who added a heavy Italian accent.  Stomboli is also the only Disney Villain who cursed, however it was obscured by being done in Italian.  

Close up of Stromboli

Hamilton Luske directed the live-action footage of most of the actors posing as characters for Pinocchio.  Luske admitted to the fact that the character, acted by story man T. Hee dressed in full gypsy garb, was a bit understated but that he did not want Stromboli's animator Vladimir Tytla doing "too many things."  Tyla was a tall and imposing personality and he had a physical build that was similar to that of Stromboli, which may account for him being given the character to animate.  It is known that while Tytla was working out sequences for Stromobli in his room, that he would perform the story aloud and that Eric Larson stated that he "thought the walls would fall in."  Obviously the performance worked because the villainous Stromboli is one of Walt Disney's greatest memorable villains!

This is a magnificent full figure, eyes and mouth open, multicolor pencil drawing of the villain Stromboli; and he would make a nice addition to any animation collection!

#pinocchio #stromboli #productiondrawing #cel #disney #ericlarson #hamiltonluske #vladimirtytla #animationart

Maleficent & Diablo Drawing from "Sleeping Beauty," 1959

Original production drawing of Maleficent and Diablo from "Sleeping Beauty," 1959; Numbered "20" lower right and has the words "NO YOUR" upper right with line connectors between the O and Y showing that is the letters that Maleficent is pronouncing; Size - Maleficent & Diablo 8 x 5 1/4", Sheet 15 1/2 x 12 1/2"; $1,450 or Pay Over Several Months!

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

If you ask people to name their favorite Disney Villain, chances are you will one of three answers; The Evil Queen/Witch from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," Cruella DeVil from "101 Dalmatians," or Maleficent from "Sleeping Beauty."  Two of the three, Cruella and Maleficent, were created/drawn by the great animator Marc Davis.  Davis was part of what has been dubbed Disney's Nine Old Men; the core group of animators, some becoming directors, that created the finest animated films ranging from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", 1937 to "The Rescuers", 1977.

The voice of Maleficent was performed by Eleanor Audley.  She had worked for Disney prior by also being the voice for the cold and calculating Lady Tremaine (The Stepmother) in "Cinderella."  If is known that Frank Thomas for Lady Tremaine and Marc Davis for Maleficent, incorporated facials features of Eleanor into both characters.  

The drawing pictured is for sale and is a very rare, eyes and mouth open original production drawing of Maleficent and her pet raven Diablo from the 1959 full length animated feature film "Sleeping Beauty" from Walt Disney Studios.  This drawing is from the very famous opening scene of Maleficent when she enters the throne room and cast a spell on Princess Aurora aka Sleeping Beauty!

Queen: "And you're not offended, your excellency?"

Maleficent: "Why no, your majesty. And to show I bear no ill will, I, too, shall bestow a gift on the child." 

The drawing is numbered "20" lower right and has the words "NO YOUR" upper right with line connectors between the O and Y showing that is the letters that Maleficent is pronouncing.  Maleficent and Diablo measures an incredible 8" x 5 1/4" and is on a 15 1/2" x 12 1/2" sheet of three peg hole paper.  If you are interested in purchasing the work, please contact me.

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

#maleficent #sleepingbeauty #disney #animationart #animation #cel #productiondrawing

"Enough, I am King, King, King!" - Prince John Production Cel from "Robin Hood," 1973

Original hand painted production cel of Prince John numbered 6 in ink lower right; Placed on a lithographic background from "Robin Hood," 1973; Unframed; Size - Prince John 7 1/4 x 5", Image 11 x 15 3/4".

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

Prince John is a spoiled King who will resort to any underhanded trick so that he can maintain the crown and throne of Nottingham.  He was voiced by the great and deep voiced Peter Ustinov, and he was animated by veteran Disney animator Ollie Johnston.  One of the characteristics of the Prince John is that he throws terrible temper tantrums and will resort to sucking his thumb, particularly if his mother is mentioned.  In this full figure, eyes and mouth open cel; Prince John is furious and throws a tantrum by jumping up and down screaming "Enough, I am King King King!"

Image showing full cel with production number lower right.

Close up of the Prince John cel.

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

#princejohn #robinhood #disney #animationcel #animationart #art #artcollecting #productionbackground #productioncel #robinhood1973 #xerography

Original Production Animation Cel of Madame Medusa from "The Rescuers," 1977

Original hand painted production animation cel of Madame Medusa set on a lithographic background from "The Rescuers," 1977, Walt Disney Studios; Numbered 129 in ink and Walt Disney seal lower right; Size - Madame Medusa: 8 1/2 x 5 1/2', Image 10 x 15 1/4"; Unframed.

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

"Give you time? You bungler! You have been down there for three months." - Madame Medusa

"The Rescuers" is an animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Productions; and was released on June 22, 1977 by Buena Vista Distribution. The film is based on a series of books by Margery Sharp, most notably "The Rescuers and Miss Bianca." The 23rd film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film is about the Rescue Aid Society; an international mouse organization headquartered in New York; and shadowed the United Nations. The Rescue Aid Society, a mouse based group, was dedicated to helping abduction victims around the world at large. Two of these mice, jittery janitor Bernard (voiced by Bob Newhart) and his co-agent, the elegant Miss Bianca (voiced by Eva Gabor), set out to rescue Penny, an orphan girl being held prisoner in the Devil's Bayou by treasure huntress Madame Medusa.

Early designs for Medusa were done by Ken Anderson, there were even discussions about bringing back Cruella deVil from "101 Dalmatians" as the villain; but that was eventually abandoned. The character of Medusa was eventually created and although there are many similarities with Cruella (thin build, similar cars, appear wealthy, bad tempers, cry upon realizing that they have lost, etc.), Medusa is still quite distinct with her wild red hair, sagging breasts, green eyes, and lots and lots of makeup. Her ultimate goal in the film is to possess the Devil's Eye, the world's largest diamond. Milt Kahl was given the task of animating Medusa and it is known that one his inspirations was his ex-wife. Kahl's brilliance in animation is really showcased with this character and many point to the scene where she is removing her false eyelashes as proof of his technical skill.

Original production animation cel of Madame Medusa without the background.

The next three paragraphs are from veteran Walt Disney animator Andreas Deja:
"When Milt Kahl was asked in an interview if he had a favorite character he animated, his response was: "Oh I enjoyed a few, I just loved doing Madame Mim, Shere Khan was a lot of fun, and so were the butler and old lawyer in 'Aristocats'. But I guess I enjoyed Medusa more than any one of them." And it shows. His last animation assignment at Disney -just like Marc Davis's- was a tour de force of character acting. It was a "I'm going to give it all" feel to it.

Marc told me that Milt promised him, Medusa will "wipe his Cruella off the screen". Then he added with a chuckle: "Of course that didn't happen". So there was definitely a friendly competition going on between these two great animators and their characters. Milt sort of designed Medusa's features opposite from Cruella's. Cruella has small nose, Medusa's is longer. Cruella's hair parts in the middle, Medusa's off to one side. Cruella has a pointy jaw, Medusa is almost chin less etc.

I have to admit, when I first saw Medusa in "The Rescuers" in a London theater, I couldn't believe my eyes. So much inventiveness in her drawing and motion. How on earth can you show an animated character removing her make up? Wasn't that something only a live actress could pull off...but in animation? Incredible! I have spent way too much time studying this character, on the other hand I think I got a lot out of it. Dialogue, graphic but dimensional drawing and just being gutsy in general."

When Madame Medusa is first introduced in the film "The Rescuers," she is barging into her back room of her pawn shop to answer a ringing telephone. "Madam Medusa's Pawn Shop Bou-tique," she says. Geraldine Page, the Oscar winning actress, provided the voice to this wonderful villain and the way that she increases her voice tone with the words pawn shop boutique is just so wonderful and extremely memorable.

Close up of the Walt Disney seal.

This is an original production animation cel of Madame Medusa. A wonderful image from a key scene in the film when she is talking on the phone to her henchman Snoops and says to him, "Give you time? You bungler! You have been down there for three months." Medusa is eyes open and her mouth is in a disapproving frown showing her teeth as she is staring into the telephone in her left hand. A great addition to any animation art collection!

#MrSnoops #GlenKeane #MargerySharp #OllieJohnston #MichelleStacy #madamemedusa #Bernard #Bianca #AndreasDeja #medusa #therescuers #disney #animationcel #animationart #geraldinepage #miltkahl #JoeFlynn #EvaGabor #BobNewhart #DevilsBayou #untitledartgallery

"I'll be gone, no oh no... they'll be gone!" - Edgar cel from "Aristocats," 1970

Original hand painted production cel of Edgar holding a basket containing Duchess and her kittens from the 1970 full length animated feature film "The Aristocats" from Walt Disney Studios; Set over a non-matching lithographic line overlay background; Cel is hand signed by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston in black marker lower center - photograph taken during the actual signing of this cel is included; Framed using a black wood frame, three mats, and plexiglass.

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

It is Paris 1910 and Madame Bonfamille tells her lawyer Georges Hautecourt that she has decided to leave all of her stocks, bonds, mansion, treasures, jewels, and her entire fortune to her beloved cats rather than to her butler, Edgar Balthazar.  When Edgar overhears this he fears the cats will outlive him, and that he will never see a penny of the inheritance.  He then realizes that he has to get rid of the cats; "I'll be gone, no oh no... they'll be gone," he says.  Edgar decides to put sleeping tablets into the cats milk and when they fall asleep, he takes them in a covered basket on his motorcycle far away from the city of Paris.  

The character of Edgar was voiced by Roddy Maude-Roxby, an accomplished English actor.  He was just wonderful in the role with the delightful snooty English butler voice, that could also morph into a scheming cunning timber perfect for a Disney Villain.  In this wonderful full figure cel, Edgar is carrying the cats Duchess and her three kittens Marie, Berlioz, and Toulouse in the draped basket to his motorcycle.  The cel is signed by two famed Walt Disney animators, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston.  Frank and Ollie were the best of friends in and out of the Walt Disney Studios.  When they both married they purchased houses next door to each other and also wrote several books about animation art together.  

Photograph taken during the actual signing of this cel by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston

Years ago, when Frank and Ollie were still alive and in good health; galleries could pay and fly them  to do book, cel, and/or drawing signings.  The cost to the gallery was $150/signature and several different galleries took advantage of this wonderful and rare opportunity.  Other animators did this as well, such as Ward Kimball, but in a much more reduced capacity.  Today, Frank and Ollie's signatures still add value to the cels, drawings, and books that they inhabit, such is the case for this wonderful cel of Edgar.

Framed Edgar cel

#aristocats #frankthomas #olliejohnston #edgar #disney #animation #art #cel #animationcel #productioncel

Witch with Apple drawing from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," 1937 - "Go on, take a bite."

Original production drawing of the Old Hag or Witch from the 1937 full length animated feature film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" from Walt Disney Studios;  The Witch measures an incredible 7 1/4" x 6 1/2" and is on a 15 3/8" x 12 1/2" sheet of watermarked five peg hole paper.

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

The famed animator Joe Grant created the initial sketches of the Witch, which had some basis in the early Witch drawings from Arthur Rackham's illustrations from "Hansel and Gretel."  After Walt Disney approved the character design; Norman Ferguson was given the task of animating her.  There were early concerns that the Witch would be viewed by the audience as more of a laughable and entertaining clown rather than an evil old hag; however, Norm's animation skill won out and the character seems even more menacing than her prior Queenly form.  The Witch is the only character in "Snow White" to look directly into the camera and therefore address the audience.  With her one tooth, expressive eyes, and boney hands; Ferguson had a lot of choices in which to invoke fear and to scare.  Despite her slow movements and apparent frailness, we all know there is pure evil afoot!

In this drawing, the Witch is outside holding the poisoned apple and asking Snow White through an open window to "Go on take a bite." Snow White's animal friends, realizing that something is not right, try to frighten the Witch away; and as she tries to shoo away the birds flying around her, she drops her basket of apples.  Of course, when she reaches down to pick them up she clutches hold of the red poisoned apple to make sure it is safe.  Here she is smiling while polishing the apple, to make sure it will tempt Snow White to take a bite!

Close up of the Witch or Old Hag

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

#snowwhite #witch #witchwithapple #productiondrawing #art #animation #disney #evilqueen #oldhag #animationcel #cel