Original hand painted and hand inked production animation cels of Snow White, Bashful, & Sneezy from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," 1937, Walt Disney Studios; Set on their key master production background with production notes verso; Size - Snow White & Bashful: 6 3/4 x 7 1/2", Sneezy: 4 3/4 x 1 3/4", Background 9 1/2 x 16 1/2", Image 9 1/4 x 16 1/4", Unframed.
“Lips red as the rose. Hair black as ebony. Skin white as snow.”
―The Magic Mirror describing 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!
A
large number of actresses auditioned for the voice of Snow White. Walt
Disney listened to each audition in his office while the actress
performed in another room, without any knowledge of the actress'
appearance or reputation. This would insure that he would only judge
based on the sound of the voice. According to later accounts, most of
the voices Disney felt, did not sound young enough. Eventually, in
September of 1935, Adriana Caselotti was chosen for the voice of Snow
White. Caselotti was eighteen at the time and made her coloraturo
soprano sound younger, knowing that the character was intended to be 14
years old. In recording sessions Caselotti found difficulty in the line,
"Grumpy, I didn't know you cared"; instead of "didn't", Caselotti was
only able to say "din". After rehearsing the line many times, Walt
Disney eventually said "Oh, the heck with..." and "din'" remained in the
final film.
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.
Although the
initial concept designing of the dwarfs was relatively easy for the Walt
Disney animation department, the actual animating of them proved to be
difficult. The animators, already finding human figures difficult to
animate, now had to animate dwarfed human figures. The great Disney
animator Vladimir Tytla noted that the dwarfs should walk with a swing
to their hips, and Fred Moore commented that they had to move a little
more quickly in order to keep up with the other human characters.
Bashful
is very shy and coy, and he has a crush on the beautiful Snow White.
His shyness prompts him to blush and he then covers his reddened face
behind his hands and beard; which is often accompanied by giggles.
Various Walt Disney artists were involved with Bashful's concept and
animation throughout the film including: Vladimir Tytl, Fred
Moore, Shamus Culhane, and Les Clark. The film and television actor
Scotty Mattraw provided the voice for Bashful.
Due to Sneezy's severe hay fever, he sneezes very often throughout the
film and this often prevents him from speaking. His sneezes can be gale
force and will blow away anything and anyone in their path. As a result,
the other dwarfs are quick to hold his nose whenever they feel he may
have a sneeze approaching. The memorable scene in which the dwarfs tie a
knot in Sneezy's beard was inspired by an early sketch by Albert
Hurter, a concept and inspirational sketch artist at Walt Disney
Studios. Various Disney artists were involved in the animation of Sneezy
throughout the film including: Ward Kimball, Vladimir Tytl, Fred Moore,
Shamus Culhane, and Les Clark. Billy Gilbert, an American comedian and
actor known for his comic sneeze routines, provided the voice of Sneezy.
These
original production animation cels are from the scene
in the
film that occurs just before the Dwarfs head off to work in the gemstone
mine. They warn Snow White to be careful with Doc saying, "Now, don't
forget, my dear. Th-The old Queen's a sly one. Full of witchcraft. So
beware of strangers." Snow White assures them that she will be careful.
Each Dwarf says goodbye to Snow White and this is
an absolutely beautiful multi-cel setup of her bending down to kiss Bashful on the top of his head, as he looks up in his coy and bashful way. Standing just
outside of the Dwarf forest cottage door is Sneezy. All three characters are placed on their matching original hand painted production background; and the piece would be a
highlight for any serious animation art collection, as well as being museum quality!
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