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Sunday, December 31, 2017

Original Production Animation Cel of Cruella De Vil from "One Hundred and One Dalmatians," 1961


Original hand painted production animation cel of Cruella De Vil from "One Hundred and One Dalmatians," 1961, Walt Disney Studios; Set on a lithographic background; Numbered 69 in ink lower right; Size - Cruella De Vil: 8 1/2" x 4 1/4", Image 11 1/2" x 14 1/2"; Unframed.

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

"Cruella De Vil, Cruella De Vil, if she doesn't scare you; no evil thing will."- Roger

"One Hundred and One Dalmatians" ("101 Dalmatians"), is a 1961 full length animated feature film by Walt Disney Productions. It was adapted from Dodie Smith's 1956 novel of the same name. It stars Rod Taylor as the voice of Pongo and Cate Bauer as the voice of Perdita; with Betty Lou Gerson as the voice of the evil and villainous Cruella de Vil. The animation of all the characters from the film was quite extraordinary.

The film "Sleeping Beauty," 1959 was very expensive to make and it took a huge financial loss at the box-office; as a result, the Disney animation studio was considering closing. During the production of "Sleeping Beauty," Walt Disney told animator Eric Larson: "I don't think we can continue, it's too expensive." Because Disney's entire company was based on animation, he was looking for a way to continue with animation, and at the same time significantly reduce costs.

The animator Ub Iwerks had been experimenting with Xerox photography to aid in animation process. By 1959 he had modified a Xerox camera to transfer the drawings by the animators, directly onto animation cels. The process would preserve the spontaneity of the penciled drawings but eliminate the inking process, thus saving time and money. However, the limitation was that the camera was unable to deviate from a black scratchy outline, and the resulting cels lacked the fine lavish quality of hand inking.

Cruella along with Maleficent are two of the most favorite of all the Disney villains, and they were both animated by Marc Davis. The character of Cruella De Vil was created by Dodie Smith for his novel "101 Dalmatians" in 1956, but it was Davis's visual interpretation that the world remembers. Although some of Cruella's traits were based in the novel, Davis along with Bill Peat, morphed the character by making her razor thin and exaggerating her oversized coat onto her thin frame. The long cigarette holder was modeled on one Davis used himself. Inspiration was also drawn from Hollywood legends Tallulah Bankhead, Bette Davis, and Rosalind Russell. Movement, according to Davis, was consistent "like someone you wouldn't like," and another inspiration was based on "one woman I knew who was just a monster. She was tall and thin and talked constantly - you never knew what she was saying, but you couldn't get a word in edgewise."

The voice of Cruella was provided by Betty Lou Gerson. She had worked for Disney prior as the narrator for Cinderella, but her voice talent as Cruella De Vil is her tour de force! The highly pitched phrase "Anita Darling!" is completely iconic and has become part of Disney pop culture.


Cruella De Vil production animation cel without the background.


Close up of the production number.

This is absolutely perfect cel of Cruella De Vil from the scene when she appears in the film. She storms into Roger and Anita's home looking for Pongo and Perdita's dalmatian puppies. She is full figure, her eyes and mouth are open, and she is wearing her classic mink coat and carrying her cigarette with holder. A great addition to any Disney Villain or animation art collection!
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