Original Production Animation Drawings of Winnie The Pooh and Rabbit from "Winnie The Pooh and Tigger Too," 1974

Original production animation drawings of Winnie The Pooh and Rabbit in graphite pencil from "Winnie The Pooh and Tigger Too," 1974; Walt Disney Studios; Pooh numbered 13 in pencil center right; Rabbit numbered in pencil 61 center and lower right, YES dialogue and animation ladder upper right; Size - Winnie The Pooh: 6 x 3 1/2", Rabbit: 6 3/4 x 4", Sheets 12 1/2 x 15 1/2"; Unframed.

To purchase these drawings or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE! 

"Oh, I've got a splendid idea! Now, listen. We'll take Tigger for a long explore, see? Someplace where he's never been, and we lose him there!" - Rabbit

"The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh," 1977 was composed of a series of featurettes Disney produced based upon the Winnie-the-Pooh books by A. A. Milne. Walt Disney wanted to introduce the public to the Pooh characters slowly over time and the released featurettes include, "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree," 1966, "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day." 1968, and "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too," 1974. For the full length film in 1977, extra material was added and used to link the three featurettes together. A fourth, shorter featurette was added at the end of the film and was based on the final chapter of "The House at Pooh Corner."

Close up of the original production animation drawings of Winnie The Pooh and Rabbit. 

Wolfgang Reitherman began working for Walt Disney in 1934, along with future Disney legends Ward Kimball and Milt Kahl. The three worked together on a number of early classic Disney shorts and Reitherman worked on Disney feature films produced from 1937 to 1981, including "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (animating the Slave in the Magic Mirror) up to "The Fox and the Hound," where he served as the co-producer for the film. Beginning with 1961's "One Hundred and One Dalmatians," "Woolie" (as he was called by friends) served as Disney's chief animation director.

Original production animation drawing of Winnie The Pooh.

Original production animation drawing of Rabbit.

One of Reitherman's productions, the 1968 short "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day," won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. In addition, all three of Reitherman's sons — Bruce, Richard, and Robert provided voices for Disney characters. Bruce Reitherman was the voice for Christopher Robin in "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree."

Winnie The Pooh was animated by veteran Walt Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston and was voiced by Sterling Holloway. Halloway had a long and distinguished career with Disney and not only provided the voice for Winnie The Pooh, but the Cheshire Cat from "Alice In Wonderland," Kaa from "The Jungle Book," Roquefort from "The Aristocats," and many more characters! Rabbit was animated by the great Don Bluth and was voiced by Junius Matthews; a veteran radio actor who also voiced the owl Archimedes in the Disney film "The Sword In The Stone," 1963.

In "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too," Rabbit had become frustrated that Tigger had bounced him and in the process made a mess of his garden. So one day Rabbit concocted a plan to lose Tigger deep in the forest. On a very foggy morning Rabbit, Pooh, and Piglet take Tigger on an exploration into the Hundred Acre Wood. Unfortunately Pooh, Piglet, and Rabbit become lost as the ever excited Tigger bounds far ahead deeper into the woods. These drawings are from the part in the film when Pooh, Piglet, and Rabbit, no matter which direction they set off into the fog, circle back around to the find the same sand pit. Wonderful images of Winnie The Pooh and Rabbit, and a great addition to any animation art collection!

#pooh #winniethepooh #eeyore #ChristopherRobin #tigger #piglet #paulwinchell #miltkahl #donbluth #JuniusMatthews #hundredscrewood #cel #productioncel #animation #disney #aamilne #waltdisney #animationart #juniusmatthews #shermanbrothers #untitledartgallery #SterlingHolloway #RalphWright #BuddyBaker

Original Production Animation Drawings of Winnie The Pooh and Rabbit from "Winnie The Pooh and Tigger Too," 1974

Original production animation drawings of Winnie The Pooh and Rabbit in graphite pencil from "Winnie The Pooh and Tigger Too," 1974; Walt Disney Studios; Pooh numbered 10 in pencil center right and RABBIT dialogue upper right; Rabbit numbered 41 in pencil center right; Size - Winnie The Pooh: 6 3/4 x 3", Rabbit: 6 1/4 x 3 3/4", Sheets 12 1/2 x 15 1/2"; Unframed.

To purchase these drawings or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE! 

"Oh, I've got a splendid idea! Now, listen. We'll take Tigger for a long explore, see? Someplace where he's never been, and we lose him there!" - Rabbit

"The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh," 1977 was composed of a series of featurettes Disney produced based upon the Winnie-the-Pooh books by A. A. Milne. Walt Disney wanted to introduce the public to the Pooh characters slowly over time and the released featurettes include, "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree," 1966, "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day." 1968, and "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too," 1974. For the full length film in 1977, extra material was added and used to link the three featurettes together. A fourth, shorter featurette was added at the end of the film and was based on the final chapter of "The House at Pooh Corner."

Close up of the original production animation drawings of Winnie The Pooh and Rabbit. 

Wolfgang Reitherman began working for Walt Disney in 1934, along with future Disney legends Ward Kimball and Milt Kahl. The three worked together on a number of early classic Disney shorts and Reitherman worked on Disney feature films produced from 1937 to 1981, including "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (animating the Slave in the Magic Mirror) up to "The Fox and the Hound," where he served as the co-producer for the film. Beginning with 1961's "One Hundred and One Dalmatians," "Woolie" (as he was called by friends) served as Disney's chief animation director.

Original production animation drawing of Winnie The Pooh.

Original production animation drawing of Rabbit.

One of Reitherman's productions, the 1968 short "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day," won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. In addition, all three of Reitherman's sons — Bruce, Richard, and Robert provided voices for Disney characters. Bruce Reitherman was the voice for Christopher Robin in "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree."

Winnie The Pooh was animated by veteran Walt Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston and was voiced by Sterling Holloway. Halloway had a long and distinguished career with Disney and not only provided the voice for Winnie The Pooh, but the Cheshire Cat from "Alice In Wonderland," Kaa from "The Jungle Book," Roquefort from "The Aristocats," and many more characters! Rabbit was animated by the great Don Bluth and was voiced by Junius Matthews; a veteran radio actor who also voiced the owl Archimedes in the Disney film "The Sword In The Stone," 1963.

In "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too," Rabbit had become frustrated that Tigger had bounced him and in the process made a mess of his garden. So one day Rabbit concocted a plan to lose Tigger deep in the forest. On a very foggy morning Rabbit, Pooh, and Piglet take Tigger on an exploration into the Hundred Acre Wood. Unfortunately Pooh, Piglet, and Rabbit become lost as the ever excited Tigger bounds far ahead deeper into the woods. These drawings are from the part in the film when Pooh, Piglet, and Rabbit, no matter which direction they set off into the fog, circle back around to the find the same sand pit. Wonderful images of Winnie The Pooh and Rabbit, and a great addition to any animation art collection!

#pooh #winniethepooh #eeyore #ChristopherRobin #tigger #piglet #paulwinchell #miltkahl #donbluth #JuniusMatthews #hundredscrewood #cel #productioncel #animation #disney #aamilne #waltdisney #animationart #juniusmatthews #shermanbrothers #untitledartgallery #SterlingHolloway #RalphWright #BuddyBaker

Original Production Animation Drawings of Winnie The Pooh and Rabbit from "Winnie The Pooh and Tigger Too," 1974

Original production animation drawings of Winnie The Pooh and Rabbit in graphite pencil from "Winnie The Pooh and Tigger Too," 1974; Walt Disney Studios; Pooh lettered A in pencil center right and Rabbit numbered 1 in pencil center right; Size - Winnie The Pooh: 6 1/2 x 3 1/4", Rabbit: 7 1/4 x 4", Sheets 12 1/2 x 15 1/2"; Unframed.

To purchase these drawings or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE! 

"Oh, I've got a splendid idea! Now, listen. We'll take Tigger for a long explore, see? Someplace where he's never been, and we lose him there!" - Rabbit

"The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh," 1977 was composed of a series of featurettes Disney produced based upon the Winnie-the-Pooh books by A. A. Milne. Walt Disney wanted to introduce the public to the Pooh characters slowly over time and the released featurettes include, "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree," 1966, "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day." 1968, and "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too," 1974. For the full length film in 1977, extra material was added and used to link the three featurettes together. A fourth, shorter featurette was added at the end of the film and was based on the final chapter of "The House at Pooh Corner."

Close up of the original production animation drawings of Winnie The Pooh and Rabbit. 

Wolfgang Reitherman began working for Walt Disney in 1934, along with future Disney legends Ward Kimball and Milt Kahl. The three worked together on a number of early classic Disney shorts and Reitherman worked on Disney feature films produced from 1937 to 1981, including "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (animating the Slave in the Magic Mirror) up to "The Fox and the Hound," where he served as the co-producer for the film. Beginning with 1961's "One Hundred and One Dalmatians," "Woolie" (as he was called by friends) served as Disney's chief animation director.

Original production animation drawing of Winnie The Pooh.

Original production animation drawing of Rabbit.

One of Reitherman's productions, the 1968 short "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day," won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. In addition, all three of Reitherman's sons — Bruce, Richard, and Robert provided voices for Disney characters. Bruce Reitherman was the voice for Christopher Robin in "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree."

Winnie The Pooh was animated by veteran Walt Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston and was voiced by Sterling Holloway. Halloway had a long and distinguished career with Disney and not only provided the voice for Winnie The Pooh, but the Cheshire Cat from "Alice In Wonderland," Kaa from "The Jungle Book," Roquefort from "The Aristocats," and many more characters! Rabbit was animated by the great Don Bluth and was voiced by Junius Matthews; a veteran radio actor who also voiced the owl Archimedes in the Disney film "The Sword In The Stone," 1963.

In "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too," Rabbit had become frustrated that Tigger had bounced him and in the process made a mess of his garden. So one day Rabbit concocted a plan to lose Tigger deep in the forest. On a very foggy morning Rabbit, Pooh, and Piglet take Tigger on an exploration into the Hundred Acre Wood. Unfortunately Pooh, Piglet, and Rabbit become lost as the ever excited Tigger bounds far ahead deeper into the woods. These drawings are from the part in the film when Pooh, Piglet, and Rabbit, no matter which direction they set off into the fog, circle back around to the find the same sand pit. Wonderful images of Winnie The Pooh and Rabbit, and a great addition to any animation art collection!

#pooh #winniethepooh #eeyore #ChristopherRobin #tigger #piglet #paulwinchell #miltkahl #donbluth #JuniusMatthews #hundredscrewood #cel #productioncel #animation #disney #aamilne #waltdisney #animationart #juniusmatthews #shermanbrothers #untitledartgallery #SterlingHolloway #RalphWright #BuddyBaker

Original Production Animation Drawing of Rabbit from "Winnie The Pooh and Tigger Too," 1974

Original production animation drawing of Rabbit in graphite pencil from "Winnie The Pooh and Tigger Too," 1974; Walt Disney Studios; Size - Rabbit: 7 1/4 x 4", Sheet 12 1/2 x 15 1/2"; Unframed.

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

"Oh, I've got a splendid idea! Now, listen. We'll take Tigger for a long explore, see? Someplace where he's never been, and we lose him there!" - Rabbit

"The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh," 1977 was composed of a series of featurettes Disney produced based upon the Winnie-the-Pooh books by A. A. Milne. Walt Disney wanted to introduce the public to the Pooh characters slowly over time and the released featurettes include, "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree," 1966, "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day." 1968, and "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too," 1974. For the full length film in 1977, extra material was added and used to link the three featurettes together. A fourth, shorter featurette was added at the end of the film and was based on the final chapter of "The House at Pooh Corner."

Close up of the original production animation drawing of Rabbit.

Wolfgang Reitherman began working for Walt Disney in 1934, along with future Disney legends Ward Kimball and Milt Kahl. The three worked together on a number of early classic Disney shorts and Reitherman worked on Disney feature films produced from 1937 to 1981, including "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (animating the Slave in the Magic Mirror) up to "The Fox and the Hound," where he served as the co-producer for the film. Beginning with 1961's "One Hundred and One Dalmatians," "Woolie" (as he was called by friends) served as Disney's chief animation director.

One of Reitherman's productions, the 1968 short "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day," won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. In addition, all three of Reitherman's sons — Bruce, Richard, and Robert provided voices for Disney characters. Bruce Reitherman was the voice for Christopher Robin in "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree."

Winnie The Pooh was animated by veteran Walt Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston and was voiced by Sterling Holloway. Halloway had a long and distinguished career with Disney and not only provided the voice for Winnie The Pooh, but the Cheshire Cat from "Alice In Wonderland," Kaa from "The Jungle Book," Roquefort from "The Aristocats," and many more characters! Rabbit was animated by the great Don Bluth and was voiced by Junius Matthews; a veteran radio actor who also voiced the owl Archimedes in the Disney film "The Sword In The Stone," 1963.

In "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too," Rabbit had become frustrated that Tigger had bounced him and in the process made a mess of his garden. So one day Rabbit concocted a plan to lose Tigger deep in the forest. On a very foggy morning Rabbit, Pooh, and Piglet take Tigger on an exploration into the Hundred Acre Wood. Unfortunately Pooh, Piglet, and Rabbit become lost as the ever excited Tigger bounds far ahead deeper into the woods. This drawing is from the part in the film when Pooh, Piglet, and Rabbit, no matter which direction they set off into the fog, circle back around to the find the same sand pit. A large image of Rabbit and an absolutely beautiful piece of animation art perfect for any collection!

#pooh #winniethepooh #eeyore #ChristopherRobin #tigger #piglet #paulwinchell #miltkahl #donbluth #JuniusMatthews #hundredscrewood #cel #productioncel #animation #disney #aamilne #waltdisney #animationart #juniusmatthews #shermanbrothers #untitledartgallery #SterlingHolloway #RalphWright #BuddyBaker

Original Production Animation Drawing of Winnie The Pooh from "Winnie The Pooh and Tigger Too," 1974

Original production animation drawing of Winnie The Pooh in graphite pencil from "Winnie The Pooh and Tigger Too," 1974; Walt Disney Studios; Numbered 123 in pencil center right; SAY dialogue and animation ladder upper right; Size - Winnie The Pooh: 5 1/2 x 3", Sheet 12 1/2 x 15 1/2"; Unframed.

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

"Oh, I've got a splendid idea! Now, listen. We'll take Tigger for a long explore, see? Someplace where he's never been, and we lose him there!" - Rabbit

"The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh," 1977 was composed of a series of featurettes Disney produced based upon the Winnie-the-Pooh books by A. A. Milne. Walt Disney wanted to introduce the public to the Pooh characters slowly over time and the released featurettes include, "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree," 1966, "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day." 1968, and "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too," 1974. For the full length film in 1977, extra material was added and used to link the three featurettes together. A fourth, shorter featurette was added at the end of the film and was based on the final chapter of "The House at Pooh Corner."

Close up of the original production animation drawing of Winnie The Pooh.

Wolfgang Reitherman began working for Walt Disney in 1934, along with future Disney legends Ward Kimball and Milt Kahl. The three worked together on a number of early classic Disney shorts and Reitherman worked on Disney feature films produced from 1937 to 1981, including "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (animating the Slave in the Magic Mirror) up to "The Fox and the Hound," where he served as the co-producer for the film. Beginning with 1961's "One Hundred and One Dalmatians," "Woolie" (as he was called by friends) served as Disney's chief animation director.

One of Reitherman's productions, the 1968 short "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day," won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. In addition, all three of Reitherman's sons — Bruce, Richard, and Robert provided voices for Disney characters. Bruce Reitherman was the voice for Christopher Robin in "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree."

Winnie The Pooh was animated by veteran Walt Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston and was voiced by Sterling Holloway. Halloway had a long and distinguished career with Disney and not only provided the voice for Winnie The Pooh, but the Cheshire Cat from "Alice In Wonderland," Kaa from "The Jungle Book," Roquefort from "The Aristocats," and many more characters! Rabbit was animated by the great Don Bluth and was voiced by Junius Matthews; a veteran radio actor who also voiced the owl Archimedes in the Disney film "The Sword In The Stone," 1963.

In "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too," Rabbit had become frustrated that Tigger had bounced him and in the process made a mess of his garden. So one day Rabbit concocted a plan to lose Tigger deep in the forest. On a very foggy morning Rabbit, Pooh, and Piglet take Tigger on an exploration into the Hundred Acre Wood. Unfortunately Pooh, Piglet, and Rabbit become lost as the ever excited Tigger bounds far ahead deeper into the woods. This drawing is from the part in the film when Pooh, Piglet, and Rabbit, no matter which direction they set off into the fog, circle back around to the find the same sand pit. A large image of Winnie The Pooh and an absolutely beautiful piece of animation art perfect for any collection!

#pooh #winniethepooh #eeyore #ChristopherRobin #tigger #piglet #paulwinchell #miltkahl #donbluth #JuniusMatthews #hundredscrewood #cel #productioncel #animation #disney #aamilne #waltdisney #animationart #juniusmatthews #shermanbrothers #untitledartgallery #SterlingHolloway #RalphWright #BuddyBaker

Original Production Animation Cels of Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather From "Sleeping Beauty," 1959

Original hand painted and hand inked production animation cels of Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather set on a lithographic background from "Sleeping Beauty," 1959, Walt Disney Studios; Size - Flora, Fauna, & Merryweather: 8 1/4 x 10"; Image 9 1/4 x 11 1/2"; Unframed.

To purchase these cels or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE!

Flora: "Make it pink!"

Merryweather: "Make it blue!"

Fauna: "Oh, I just love happy endings."

"Sleeping Beauty," 1959 is an animated musical film produced by Walt Disney based on two stories: "The Sleeping Beauty" by Charles Perrault and "Little Briar Rose" by The Brothers Grimm. The film was released to theaters on January 29, 1959, by Buena Vista Distribution. This was the last Disney adaptation of a fairy tale for 30 years because of its initial mixed critical reception and because of under performance at the box office. The next Disney adaption of a fairy tale would not occur until 1989 with "The Little Mermaid."

"Sleeping Beauty" was directed by Les Clark, Eric Larson, and Wolfgang Reitherman; under the supervision of Clyde Geronimi. Additional story work was by Joe Rinaldi, Winston Hibler, Bill Peet, Ted Sears, Ralph Wright, and Milt Banta. The film's musical score and songs, featuring the work of the Graunke Symphony Orchestra under the direction of George Bruns, are arrangements or adaptations of numbers from the 1890 "Sleeping Beauty Ballet" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. "Sleeping Beauty" was the first animated film to be photographed in the Super Technirama 70 widescreen process, as well as the second full-length animated feature film to be filmed in anamorphic widescreen (following "Lady and the Tramp" four years earlier). The film was presented in Super Technirama 70 and 6-channel stereophonic sound in first-run engagements.

Flora, Fauna and Merryweather are Princess Aurora's Fairy Godmothers, who appear at baby Aurora's christening to present their gifts to her, as well as go on to become her guardians. The Fairies were voiced by Verna Felton (Flora), Barbara Jo Allen (Fauna), and Barbara Luddy (Merryweather). Verna Felton also voiced Queen Leah, Aurora's mother; and had prior roles as Dumbo's mother in "Dumbo," the Fairy Godmother in "Cinderella," the Queen of Hearts in "Alice in Wonderland," and Aunt Sarah in "Lady in the Tramp." Barbara Luddy had previously voiced Lady in "Lady and the Tramp." The principle animator for the Three Fairies was Ollie Johnston and a little known fact is that one of the actresses who was one of the live action models for the Good Fairies was Frances Bavier, the future Aunt Bee on "The Andy Griffith Show."

Original production animation cels of Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather without the background.

Fauna is the middle Fairy and is dressed in a green gown, a green hat, and a green cape clipped with a green triangle. Her gift to Aurora is the gift of song.

Flora is the tallest and oldest Fairy, dressed in a red gown (although she is obsessed with the color pink), a red hat, and a red cape clipped with a yellow square. She is the strongest-willed leader of the group, and her gift to Aurora is the gift of beauty. She also created for Prince Phillip the powerful Sword of Truth and the invulnerable Shield of Virtue, for his escape and battle with Maleficent.

Merryweather is the shortest and youngest Fairy, dressed in a blue gown, a blue hat, and a blue cape clipped with a blue circle. She is the Fairy who is the most verbal and aggressive towards Maleficent, and she is much bolder than the other two Fairies. As Merryweather is about to give her gift, Maleficent makes her appearance and curses Aurora to die when she touches a spinning wheel's spindle before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday. Merryweather's gift to Aurora is to weaken Maleficent's curse so that instead of death, Aurora will fall into a deep sleep until she is awakened by true love's kiss.

This is a wonderful set of original hand painted and hand inked production animation cels of all three Good Fairies, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather from the Walt Disney masterpiece "Sleeping Beauty," 1959. All three Fairies are eyes open and large impressive images. This is an extremely beautiful piece of original vintage artwork, that would make a great addition to any animation collection!

#PrincessAurora #Aurora #SleepingBeauty #Disney #WaltDisney #MaryCosta #MarcDavis #AliceDavis #cel #animation #animationart #animationdrawing #productiondrawing #animationcel #untitledartgallery #DisneyPrincess #TomOreb #Maleficent #productioncel #Flora #Fauna #Merryweather #OllieJohnston #FrancesBavier #VernaFelton #BarbaraJoAllen #BarbaraLuddy #CharlesPerrault #BrothersGrimm #LesClark #EricLarson #WolfgangReitherman #ClydeGeronimi #JoeRinaldi #WinstonHibler #BillPeet #TedSears #RalphWright #MiltBanta #GeorgeBruns #PyotrIlyichTchaikovsky #Tchaikovsky #Technirama #BriarRose

Original Production Animation Cel of Old Hag (The Witch) from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," 1937

Original hand painted and hand inked production animation cel of Old Hag (The Witch) with the Poisoned Apple from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," 1937, Walt Disney Studios; Numbered 108 in ink lower right; Set on a lithographic background; Size - Old Hag (The Witch): 7 x 7 1/2", Image 9 3/4 x 13 1/4"; Unframed.

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

"Have a bite!" - Old Hag (The Witch)

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!

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. However, Disney was criticized by some for making a very scary film for children.

When the movie was played at Radio City Music Hall on its first release, the theater managers had to replace the music played when Snow White runs into the Dark Forest; because they were nervous that the kids would be too frightened upon hearing it. Snow White's run into the Forest had another result;  young children were still so scared by the sequence, that they wet their pants. As a result, the velvet upholstery of each and every seat held by a child, had to be replaced prior to every showing of the film.

The Walt Disney film's version of the Evil Queen changing into an Old Hag is very different compared to the original story. In the Disney version, the Queen uses her dark magic powers to actually transform herself into an old woman instead of just taking on a disguise; as in the Brothers Grimm story. Animation provided a transformation scene that is truly spectacular and the Disney team even made the event greater by utilizing the multi-plane camera; to make the room itself appeared to spin. This sequence along with the flight of Snow White through the Dark Forest; caused the British Board of Film Censors (now, the British Board of Film Classification) to give the film an A-certificate (children had to be accompanied by an adult) upon its original release. This resulted in a nationwide controversy as to whether the Forest and the Witch were too frightening for younger audiences. Nevertheless, most local authorities simply overrode the censor's decision and gave the film a U-certificate (Suitable for children).

Walt Disney's response to the idea that the film was too frightening for children was, "I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether we be six or sixty." This may have been his statement, but he never made another film with such a scary villain. Every film after Snow White had the main villain accompanied by a comedic sidekick; such as Maleficent and her Goons, Cruella de Vil with Horace and Jasper, or Medusa with Snoops.

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!

Original production animation cel of Old Hag (The Witch) without the background.

 Close up of the production number.

The voice of the Queen was provided by Lucille Leverne and she also wanted to read for the part of the Witch. Leverne was a veteran stage actress and was perfect for the Queen, with a real regalness to her voice. When she was in the sound booth and Walt Disney heard her reading the role of the Witch, he stopped her and said that her voice just did not work for that role. Lucille said to just wait one minute and left the sound booth and then quickly returned and started the reading again. Now her voice had changed to that wonderful raspy, gummy, and single toothed sounding Witch. Disney was amazed and asked how she had managed to get that perfect character voice, and Lucille replied, "Oh, I just took out my false teeth."

After the Evil Queen transforms herself into the Old Peddler Woman or Old Hag, she prepares the poisoned apple. The apple is created and pulled out of the Witch's cauldron and turns a bright red, "To tempt Snow White to take a bite!" The Hag, speaking to her pet Raven, says "Have a bite!" and suddenly thrust the apple in her hand towards the Raven. This is an extremely rare full cel of this very iconic character, and one of the finest cels of Old Hag (The Witch) that I have ever seen or offered for sale in my almost 30 years of collecting and dealing. A stand out piece for any animation art collection!

#SnowWhite #Doc #Bashful #Dopey #Happy #Sneezy #Sleepy #Grumpy #Disney #WaltDisney #PintoColvig #VladimirTytla #BillTytla #MarcDavis #GrimNatwick #animation #FrankChurchill #HamiltonLuske #AdrianaCaselotti #animationdrawing #productiondrawing #animationart #untitledartgallery #cel #CourvoisierGalleries #CourvoisierGallery #Courvoisier #Witch #EvilQueen #OldHag #Huntsman #animationcel #sevendwarfs #dwarfs #ArtBabbit #OllieJohnston #FrankThomas #ShamusCulhane #FredMoore #LucilleLaVerne #KeySetup #productionbackground #RadioCityMusicHall #Raven