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Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Original Production Animation Drawing of Jafar from "Aladdin," 1992


Original production animation drawing of Jafar in blue and graphite pencils from "Aladdin," 1992, Walt Disney Studios; Numbered J-297 in pencil lower right and upper left; Animation ladder upper left; Size - Jafar: 11 x 11", Sheet 12 1/2 x 17"; Unframed.

"Yes. Only one may enter. I must find this one, this... diamond in the rough." - Jafar

"Aladdin," 1992 is a Walt Disney animated musical fantasy featured film that was released on November 25, 1992. The film was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, and is based on the Arab-style folktale of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp from "One Thousand and One Nights." "Aladdin" won two Academy Awards; one for Best Music, Original Song Alan Menken (music), Tim Rice (lyrics), for the song "A Whole New World," and the second for Best Music, Original Score, Alan Menken. The voice cast featureed Scott Weinger as Aladdin, Robin Williams as the Genie, Linda Larkin as Princess Jasmine, Jonathan Freeman as Jafar, Frank Welker as Abu, Gilbert Gottfried as Iago, and Douglas Seale as The Sultan.


Close up of the Jafar original production drawing.

Jafar, which means stream in Arabic, was the villain in "Aladdin." He was the Royal Vizier of Agrabah, but wanted overthrow the Kingdom through the power of a Genie. He was animated by Andreas Deja and voiced by Jonathan Freeman. Sir Patrick Stewart was originally offered the role of Jafar, but had to decline due to scheduling difficulties.

The following is from veteran and head Walt Disney animator for Jafar, Andreas Deja:
"I was thrilled when I got the assignment to supervise the animation of Jafar, the villain in the film Aladdin. I had just finished work on Gaston, who had to be handled with a certain amount of realism. I remember thinking: Not with Jafar! Here was a chance to design and animate a character who belonged in a graphically stylized world. Animator Eric Goldberg had already done some incredible test animation of the Genie, which helped to set the style for character designs. Inspired by the fluid lines of famous caricaturist Al Hirschfeld combined with the voice of Robin Williams, Eric created a Genie for the ages and set the bar very high for the rest of us. But how would I handle Jafar's personality against the uber entertaining Genie and the rest of the cast? Should I go along and give him plenty of lively gestures or should I downplay his acting and look for contrast instead? I found out the more I held back and showed him thinking and plotting, the more evil and interesting he became. Sure there were scenes when eccentric acting was called for such as when Jafar turns into a beggar. The attitudes here show a hunger for power as well as extreme frustration."

This is a very large original production animation drawing of Jafar. It is accomplished in blue and graphite pencils and measures an incredible eleven by eleven inches. Jafar is eyes and mouth open and this is a wonderful expressive drawing, that is perfect for any Walt Disney animation art collection!

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