Original Production Animation Cels of Napoleon and Lafayette from "The Aristocats," 1970

Original hand painted production animation cels of Napoleon and Lafayette from "The Aristocats," 1970, Walt Disney Studios; Each cel set on a lithographic background; Napoleon cel numbered 33 in ink lower right; Lafayette with hand painted right leg & paw cel; Size - Napoleon: 6 1/4 x 10", Image: 10 x 14"; Lafayette: 5 x 6", Image: 6 x 14 3/4"; Unframed

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Disney’s The Aristocats (1970) holds a special place in the studio’s history as the final animated feature personally approved by Walt Disney before his passing in December 1966. Although Disney did not live to see its completion, the film was ultimately released to theaters by Buena Vista Distribution on December 11, 1970. The production reflects the elegance, warmth, and humor that characterized Disney animation during this era, blending refined visual design with memorable comic performances. The voice cast included Eva Gabor as Duchess, alongside Hermione Baddeley, Phil Harris, Dean Clark, Sterling Holloway, Scatman Crothers, and Roddy Maude-Roxby, all of whom helped give the film its distinctive charm.

Based on a story by Tom McGowan and Tom Rowe, the film centers on a family of pampered aristocratic cats living in Paris in 1910. Madame Adelaide Bonfamille, their wealthy and affectionate mistress, adores her beloved cats—Duchess and her three kittens, Toulouse, Berlioz, and Marie. In one of the film’s pivotal scenes, Madame informs her elderly lawyer, Georges Hautecourt, that she intends to leave her vast fortune—her mansion, jewels, investments, and treasured possessions—to the cats. Only after their passing is the remainder to go to her butler, Edgar Balthazar. Upon overhearing this shocking arrangement, Edgar becomes consumed with greed and panic, fearing that the cats may outlive him and prevent him from ever inheriting the estate.

Driven by this selfish ambition, Edgar devises a scheme to remove the cats from the picture entirely. He secretly places sleeping tablets in their evening milk, causing them to fall asleep. Once unconscious, he places them in a covered basket and transports them far into the French countryside on his motorcycle, abandoning them far from Paris. This sequence sets the adventure in motion, eventually leading to their encounter with the charismatic alley cat Thomas O’Malley, who helps guide them home.

This wonderful pair of animation cels comes from one of the film’s most delightful comedic interludes involving the two farm dogs, Napoleon and Lafayette. These characters were both animated by legendary Disney animator Frank Thomas, whose expressive character work brings their personalities vividly to life. Originally intended for only a single scene, the dogs proved so entertaining that the filmmakers expanded their role to include a second memorable sequence in which Edgar returns to retrieve his lost umbrella and bowler hat. Their scenes add a distinctly rural comic energy to the film and provide some of its most quotable dialogue.

In this scene, the proud and self-important bloodhound Napoleon listens intently and announces, “Lafayette! Lafayette! Listen.” The nervous and somewhat dim-witted basset hound Lafayette dismisses the sound, replying, “Oh, shucks, Napoleon. That ain't nothing but a little old cricket bug.” Napoleon, however, confidently insists, “It’s squeaky shoes approachin’.” When Lafayette protests that “cricket bugs don’t wear shoes,” Napoleon sharply responds, “Hush your mouth.” The humor lies in the contrast between Napoleon’s stern certainty and Lafayette’s anxious confusion, a classic comic pairing that Disney executes beautifully through voice acting and animation.

The cel itself wonderfully captures this dynamic. Napoleon is shown reclining with a commanding, almost suspicious expression, emphasizing his role as the self-appointed guardian of the farmyard. Below him, Lafayette’s eager, slightly bewildered face perfectly conveys his loyal yet comic subordinate role. Together, these characters became fan favorites, and their chemistry was so successful that voice actors Pat Buttram and George Lindsey would later reunite in Disney’s Robin Hood (1973) and The Rescuers (1977).

From an animation history perspective, this cel setup is a wonderful example of Disney’s character acting at its finest—subtle expressions, strong posing, and impeccable comedic timing that continue to make The Aristocats a beloved classic. A fantastic pair of Walt Disney cels perfect for any animation art collection!

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