"Bambi" (1941) [1 of 9] - Thumper and Lady Bunny Oil

A very unusual oil background and cels of Tumpter and Lady Bunny. This is one of the more striking pieces in our collection. A fantastic piece. And we framed it accordingly.

The scene was also the basis for one of the Disney Catalog covers (also below).

Twiterpated

Forgot one... Darn it.

Here's the Bambi cover of "Eyes and Ears" drawn by Don Williams -- this cover was signed by Don.

Don Williams Signed Bambi Cover


----- DATABASE NOTES -----

From “Bambi” (1942). Thumper being "Twiterpated" by Lady Bunny. Cels of Thumper and “Lady Bunny” on an original oil master background. Marked 2002-10.2-14. An oil background is unusual, since water color was the traditional medium. [11.5"W x 8.25"H] Acquired 1996. SeqID-0167 Updated: 7/16/2005

Reference: This image was the inspiration for the cover of a Disney catalog. SeqID-0038
Reference: This image is part of a sequence illustrated in a book written by animators Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas. Thomas, Frank & Johnston, Ollie. Too Funny for Words. NY: Abbeville Press, 1987. ISBN 0-89659-747-4. SeqID 1503.

-----

From Don Williams’ recreation from “Bambi” (1939/1995). Bambi is featured on the cover of this "Eyes & Ears" publication (magazine for Walt Disney World). This is the December 21, 1995 issue; Volume 25, Number 51. The cover artwork is signed by Don Williams. [Item: 11"W x 17"H] Acquired 1997. SeqID-0261 11/29/2008

Actress Jane Randolph and Ice Capades star Donna Atwood acted as live-action references for Bambi and Thumper's misadventure on ice.

Don “Ducky” Williams (http://www.disneyguys.com/Ducky/) 12/2/2008: Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Don "Ducky" Williams wrote his first letter to Walt Disney at age 10. His desire to be a Disney artist intensified as Don grew up, but had to be put on hold while he spent four years in the U.S. Navy. After his tour of duty, he returned to Massachusetts and became employed at a local savings bank, Don still yearned to be with Disney and spent much of his spare time drawing and painting the Disney characters. After much determination and perseverance, Don left the bank and moved to Florida to pursue his life long dream, which was realized in 1980. Now, after nearly 30 years with Disney's Yellow Shoes, The acclaimed Senior Character artist, Don "Ducky Williams has drawn literally thousands of Disney stars for books, lithographs, brochures, magazine ads, and television.

"Bambi" (1942) [2 of 9] - Marc Davis Charcoal Story Board

If you have read any of my posts on picking out artwork, you know I'm a big believer in the "Decisive Moment" -- a moment that summarizes a historical moment. A moment that defines a character or defines a movie. Using this approach can help you decide which piece to buy because those moments tend to define value.

The moment where Bambi meets Faline for the first time is such a moment. And this charcoal concept by Marc Davis was a great piece to acquire. His surprise. Her shy (but self-confident) gaze...

Marc Davis Charcoal Storyboard Concept

----- DATABASE NOTES -----

From “Bambi” (1942). Charcoal story board drawing of Bambi seeing Faline’s reflection in the pond. A story board drawing of Bambi as he first sees Faline's reflection of in the water. The drawing was done by Marc Davis and was originally sold by Courvoisier Galleries of San Francisco. It bears the Courvoisier Galleries Certificate of Authenticity on the back. [10”W x 8”H] SeqID-1160

"Bambi" (1942) [3 of 9] - Tyrus Wong Watercolor Concept

This tiny 4x5 watercolor is fantastic. It's on the wall next to the charcoal piece (previous post). People walk right up to it and study it's flow and line. Fantastic framing and positioning of Bambi (off center). Excellent example of how to portray rain and create a sense of wind... Amazing!

It's in an oversized frame to draw attention to the piece and the frame is a darkened bamboo.

Tyrus Wong Watercolor

Here is some additional information on Tyrus Wong from Wikipedia:

Wong and his father immigrated to the United States from China in 1919. When he attended Benjamin Franklin Junior High in Pasadena, his teachers noticed Wong's artistic ability and arranged for a summer scholarship at the Otis Art Institute. Wong was hooked and decided to leave junior high for a full time studentship at Otis. Since his family was poor, he worked as a janitor at this school and walked for miles just to attend classes. It paid off as Wong had a lucrative career as an artist in Hollywood.

He has done everything from working as a greeting card designer to Warner Bros. film production illustrator (1942-1968), from drawing set designs and storyboard for several movies to being a Disney inspirational sketch artist (1938-1941). It was his lush pastels that served as inspiration for Bambi (1942) where he was the lead artist of the project.

Tyrus Wong left Disney studios shortly after finishing Bambi, due to repercussions from the Disney animators' strike. Later, he has designed Christmas cards, where some have sold over 1 million copies.

----- DATABASE NOTES -----

From “Bambi” (1942). Color concept sketch with trees, leaves, Bambi. Tyrus Wong and has a very Japanese feel to the overall image. [Frame: 15.5”W x 14.5”H; Item: 4-3/8"w X 3-5/16"h] SeqID-0263 7/27/2005

"Bambi" (1942) [4 of 9] - Charcoal Concept of Bambi and Mother

Two emotions hit you. A kind of quiet bonding AND a dark sense of danger.

Almost anyone that sees this on our wall stops to look more closely. It is arresting. A tone poem of sorts. I don't know the artist that drew this, but I thought it was a fantastic piece...

I also thought the piece was interesting because the Mother in obviously the main character in the scene (to escape from the fire) and Bambi is just emerging from the woods -- unaware that he is about to emerge from youth to adulthood. But, hey, I'm probably reading too much into the whole thing...

By the way, have you ever noticed that there are very few Limited Editions or Sericels of scenes after Bambi's mother gets shot? When you ask most people about Bambi, their favorite scenes are from pre-shot sequences. I've often thought there is a great parallel between Disney's use of the sound of the shot (instead of the graphic "Oh, my God they've killed Kenny!" approach) and Hitchcock's almost-graphic scenes that leave much more to the imagination than the current breed of slasher-shock flicks.

Charcoal of Bambi and Mother

----- DATABASE NOTES -----

From “Bambi” (1942). Charcoal concept sketch of Bambi and his mother in the woods. [Image: 8-3/8"W x 6-1/4"H; Frame: 15-5/8"W x 13-3/8"H] SeqID-0221 8/3/2005

"Bambi" (1942) [5 of 9] - The 'REAL' Story Behind Bambi

In some of the material I picked up at auction were these short memo written by William Hosie (Publicity Department). In the memos, he talks about starting to generate publicity for "Bambi" six months before the release.

One of the concepts Hosie proposes are potential stories about the author's childhood and how his experiences with a bully show up in Bambi. You certainly think of Bambi in a different light after reading his notes...!

Bambi And The Bully!

----- DATABASE NOTES -----

“Bambicopy Hosie” (1942). Two pages written by William A. Hosie (Publicity Department) providing justification for Disney exceeding the $5,000 per set construction cost limits set by the War Production Board. Two additional pages highlighting the similarity between Bambi and the original author. [Item: 8.5”W x 11”H] Acquired 2004. SeqID-1189

2/10/2009 email from Dave Smith: Hosie was William A. Hosie, who was in our Publicity Department from August 1940 to March 1947. I have no other information about him, other than he died in 1995 in New Hampshire.

"Bambi" (1942) [6 of 9] - Wm. Hosie Draft Memo to War Production Board

In our case, after collecting cels for a while we started to collect pencil drawings, then model sheets, then backgrounds and then I started to pick up photographs, scrapbooks and memos -- material that started to give you a feel for the Disney Studio "iceburg." Here's an excellent example... (By the way, I had searched for information about Hosie for years and was unable to fill in any blanks until I wrote Dave Smith last week -- see his note in the Database Notes -- Thanks, Dave!)

To limit non-war effort expenditures, the U.S. Government War Production Board limited Hollywood movies to $5,000 per set for construction costs. Using the Consumer Price Index, $5,000 in 1942 is about the same as $64,000 in 2007 (the latest data set year).

Apparently, when the Disney Studios forwarded their budget for Bambi to the War Production Board it included the costs associated with the Multiplane Camera. The War Production Board evidently disallowed those anticipated expenditures indicating they exceeded the $5,000 limit.

Below are the draft memos written by William A. Hosie (Publicity Department) that were going to be forwarded to the War Department as part of the Studio's argument that since the Multiplane Camera was going to be used for a number of difference scenes (or "sets") the real cost per set was much lower than the $5,000 limit.

World War II and its impact on all of America is dramatically underestimated today. These notes provide a glimpse into the far reaching restrictions that were imposed in all walks of life... (If any of you can decipther the hand written notes, please let me know!)

Wm. Hosie Draft Memo to the War Production Board

----- DATABASE NOTES -----

“Bambicopy Hosie” (1942). Three pages written by William A. Hosie (Publicity Department) providing justification for Disney exceeding the $5,000 per set construction cost limits set by the War Production Board. Two additional pages highlighting the similarity between Bambi and the original author. [Item: 8.5”W x 11”H] Acquired 2004. SeqID-1189

2/10/2009 email from Dave Smith: Hosie was William A. Hosie, who was in our Publicity Department from August 1940 to March 1947. I have no other information about him, other than he died in 1995 in New Hampshire.

"Bambi" (1942) [7 of 9] - New York Graphic Society Poster

This was a very striking, large (24" x 27") Bambi poster. It was in pretty good shape and had a nice "feel" to it. And, once again, we could put this in our low humidity environment and add some color to the walls. [see the next posting]

Bambi New York Graphic Society Poster

----- DATABASE NOTES -----

From “Bambi” (1942). WALT DISNEY POSTER where "Bambi Meets His Forest Friends" printed lower left Copyright New York Graphic Society, Fine Art Publishers, Published with the cooperation of Walt Disney Productions, Calif. CONDITION: Bambi poster with several tears on the border of the poster, and soiling around the edges of the poster. [Image: 24”W x 27”H] SeqID-0948

"Bambi" (1942;1989 ) [8 of 9] - Bambi and Thumper Limited Edition

Not everything in a collection needs to be original... If you have a number of pieces from a film, sometimes you'll see a Sericel or Limited Edition that just looks great and can be part of a wall grouping that helps in the education process as you talk interested folks through the animation or collection process. OR, as it was in our case, you want some color that you can put on the walls in a low humidity environment.

Our Colorado home is at 8,500-feet and the humidity in the house can be as low as 10% during the winter (it would be even lower if we had forced hot air heat instead of out hot water baseboard heat -- since forced hot air heat actually dries out the air even more). For this reason, all of our cels are in the basement were we can keep the humidity to about 30% (which is about as much as our humidifiers can pump out). In the rest of the house we have pencil work. This is great, but you miss the color of the cels. For this reason, we've picked up a few Limited Editions over the years that don't suffer the problems older cels experience -- where the paint separates from the acetate.

Colorful Bambi Limited Edition

----- DATABASE NOTES -----

From “Bambi” (1942; 1989). Bambi Flower and Thumper in a Limited Edition cel (#384/500). In the flowers when Flower is first introduced. A very popular image. [Image: 15-5/8"W x 11-5/8"H; Frame: 23-3/4"W x 19-3/4"H] Acquired 1989. SeqID-0028 8/3/2005
Pre-production began in 1936 and was intended to be Disney's second full-length animated film after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Disney's perfection and quest for realism delayed the project significantly, so that Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940), Reluctant Dragon, The (1941) and Dumbo (1941) were released earlier than Bambi.

Some scenes of woodland creatures and the forest fire are unused footage from Pinocchio (1940).
The hunter who shoots Bambi's mother was originally going to be included as a character in the movie. But, for a man to shoot the mother of the hero, he would have to be clearly cruel and villainous for children to accept him. Since Disney didn't want to be seen as maligning hunters as evil, the character was cut and never shown in the final version of the film.

Thumper was created by Marc Davis (1913-2000) was one of the most talented artists at and a main animator for Disney Studios. Some of the animated characters he designed were Thumper from “Bambi” (1942), Cinderella from “Cinderella” (1951), Tinker Bell in “Peter Pan” (1953), Maleficent and Briar Rose in “Sleeping Beauty” (1959) and Cruella De Vil in “101 Dalmatians” (1961). Thumper was created by Marc Davis (1913-2000) was one of the most talented artists at and a main animator for Disney Studios. Some of the animated characters he designed were Thumper from “Bambi” (1942), Cinderella from “Cinderella” (1951), Tinker Bell in “Peter Pan” (1953), Maleficent and Briar Rose in “Sleeping Beauty” (1959) and Cruella De Vil in “101 Dalmatians” (1961).

"Bambi" (1942) [9 of 9] - Sketch Book

OK. I'm going to start posting our collection of Bambi material. Hope you enjoy it.

If you are interested in the Disney's artistic transformation to bring the study of art to cartooning, then this is an excellent book. A number of excellent examples of the anatomical drawings of deer as the animators sought to create more realistic movement and physicality. By the way, Disney produced a number of sketch books for the major releases. We don't have all of them, but a majority of them. We were fortunate enough to pick up at least two copies of each: one for reference and one we left sealed in the original plastic for re-sale at a later date. I just re-read the last sentence and realized how "hard core" we had become!

Bambi Sketch Book

----- DATABASE NOTES -----

Walt Disney Studios. Walt Disney’s Bambi: The Sketch-Book Series. Bedford, MA: Applewood Books. [9.5”W x 12”H; in slip cover] Limited edition: 1,057/3,000. SeqID-1496