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Friday, January 5, 2018

Original Production Animation Drawing of Snow White With The Poisoned Apple from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," 1937


Original production animation drawing of Snow White with the poisoned apple from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," 1937, Walt Disney Studios; Red and graphite pencils on peg hole paper; Numbered 8 lower right; Stamped production numbers lower left; Size - Snow White: 6 x 4", Sheet 10 x 12"; Unframed.


“I wish -- I wish--... and that he will carry me away to his castle... where we will live happily ever after.” - Snow White

Development on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs began in early 1934, and by June Walt Disney announced to The New York Times the production of his first feature, to be released under Walt Disney Productions. Before Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the Disney studio had been primarily involved in the production of animated short subjects in the Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies series. However, Disney hoped to expand his studio's prestige and revenues by moving into features, and he estimated that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs could be produced for a budget of $250,000 (this was ten times the budget of an average Silly Symphony).

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was to be the first full-length cel animated feature in motion picture history, and as such Walt Disney had to fight to get the film produced. Both his brother and business partner Roy Disney, as well as his wife Lillian attempted to talk him out of it.  The Hollywood movie industry mockingly referred to the film, while is was in production, as "Disney's Folly."  Disney ended up having to mortgage his house to help finance the film's production, which would eventually ran up to a total cost of $1,488,422.74; an absolutely massive sum for a feature film in 1937!


Close up of the Snow White production drawing.

After a long and difficult four years, on January 13, 1938, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs made its New York premiere at Radio City Music Hall. The film ran for five weeks in a row, the first motion picture to do so, and it could have played longer if not for prior commitments of the venue. It was to be the theatres' most successful engagement in all of the 1930s. The film was loved by everyone and Disney, along with his animation team, had managed to make an animated film that the audience would believe! The crowd would be sad and cry when Snow White bit the apple and was placed in a glass casket; and they would laugh, smile, and be happy during the song and dance numbers with the Dwarfs.

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!


Close up of the production stamp.

Snow White's design was supervised by Grim Natwick, an animator who had previously developed and worked on Betty Boop at Fleischer Studios. It is interesting to note that early designs for the Snow White resemble Betty Boop, and some appear to be caricatures of famous actresses of the time. As development continued, Snow White became more and more lifelike. Another animator, Hamilton Luske's first designs for Snow White depicted her as a slightly awkward, gangly teenager. However, Walt Disney had a different idea in mind; he wanted Snow White to be older, and more realistic-looking. This was achieved by the use of live-action references for the animators. Also, in order for Snow White to better relate onscreen to the seven Dwarfs, it was decided that her head be slightly larger than normal. In addition, the women in the animation studio's ink and paint department felt that Snow White's black hair was too unnatural and harsh, so they drybrushed whisps of light grey over the top of each and every cel.


Close up of the production number.

One of the greatest scenes in the film "Snow White" is when the Evil Queen has transformed into the Old Hag/Witch and she is inside the Dwarf cottage trying to get Snow White to take a bite from the poisoned apple. This is an extremely rare and important original production animation drawing of Snow White holding the poisoned apple. She is eyes closed, making a wish, just before she bites the apple and falls into a Sleeping Death. This is a fantastic drawing from this pivotal scene and a stand out piece for any animation art collection. The dialog for the scene is below: 

Witch: "And because you've been so good to poor old Granny, I'll share a secret with you. This is no ordinary apple, it's a magic wishing apple."
Snow White: "A wishing apple?"
Witch: "Yes! One bite, and all your dreams will come true."
Snow White: "Really?"
Witch: "Yes, girlie. Now, make a wish, and take a bite."
Snow White: "I wish -- I wish--"
Witch: "That's it. Go on. Go on."
Snow White: "... and that he will carry me away to his castle... where we will live happily ever after."

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