"Elmer Elephant" (1936) [Series] - Pencils

Here are the last items from our collection of "Elmer Elephant" items...

Finally, a few pencils from the film. I especially like the Elmer and Tillie poses...

 Elmer Elephant Pencils

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From "Elmer Elephant" (1936). Black and red pencil sketch of Elmer Elephant.  [12"W x 10"H]  SeqID-0487

From "Elmer Elephant" (1936). Black and red pencil sketch of Tillie Tiger.  [12"W x 10"H]  SeqID-0488

From "Elmer Elephant" (1936). Black and red pencil clean up sketch of the monkey and ostrich.  [12"W x 10"H] SeqID-0489

From "Elmer Elephant" (1936). Pencil sketch of tiger, hippo, monkey, fox, bear and lion running to catch Elmer.  [12"W x 10"H]  SeqID-0486.

"Elmer Elephant" (1936) [Series] - Credits

More on Elmer Elephant...

Major Pepperidge asked whether or not I knew any information on the people responsible for the character development -- since the film had a different "look" than some of the other films.

Here's some data from DisneyShorts.org:

Characters: Elmer Elephant, Joe Giraffe, Joey Hippo, Tillie Tiger (voice : Bernice Hansen)
Director : Wilfred Jackson
Animation: Ward Kimball, Hamilton Luske, Paul Hopkins, Al Eugster, Gerry Geronomi
Story: Earl Hurd, Bianca Majolie, Roy Williams

And from the entry in Wikipedia:

Elmer Elephant is a Silly Symphonies cartoon short produced by The Walt Disney Company, directed by Wilfred Jackson and released on March 28, 1936.

The short tells the story of a timid elephant named Elmer. In this story, he is invited to Tillie Tiger's birthday party, bringing her a bouquet of flowers. Tillie loves Elmer, but the other animal kids make fun of his nose and cruelly mock him when Tillie isn't around to defend him. Brokenhearted by their teasing, Elmer leaves the party and cries in front of the nearby pond, but is reassured by a nearby giraffe who admits to him that he used to suffer the same teasing about his neck. Just then, a fire breaks out at Tillie's treehouse with her still in it, and the rescue efforts by the other children prove futile. With the help of the giraffe and some pelicans who resemble Jimmy Durante, Elmer successfully puts out the fire and rescues Tillie.

Elmer would later go on to star in a serial in the Silly Symphonies comic strip, even getting his own strip which unfortunately did not last long. And like the Three Little Pigs before him, he would also become a popular character in merchandising. However, with the exceptions of the crowd shots in the later Silly Symphonies short Toby Tortoise Returns and a cameo appearance in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Elmer was never again featured in animation. (He never even appeared in crowd shots on House of Mouse.)

Today, the Elmer Elephant short can be viewed on the Silly Symphonies DVD set in the first wave of the Walt Disney Treasures line. It has also been included as a bonus feature, alongside fellow Silly Symphony short The Flying Mouse, on both DVD releases for Dumbo. From 1983 through 1997, his short was also the featured subject of DTV's music video of "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes.

"Elmer Elephant" (1936) [Series] - 1st and 2nd Generation Stat Model Sheets

More from Elmer Elephant...

There are some 1st and 2nd generation stat model sheets from "Elmer Elephant." There is nothing "wrong" about picking up any of the early "stat" copies made by the Studio. Still great images and there were certainly a limited number of copies made...

1st Generation Stat Model Sheet

2nd Generation Stat Model Sheets

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From "Elmer Elephant" (1936). A 1st generation stat model sheet of Elmer Elephant, pelican, Joe Giraffe, Tillie Tiger, hippo, monkey, fox, bear and lion. [14.5"W x 13.5"H]  SeqID-0485

From “Elmer Elephant” (1936).  A second generation stat model sheet of Elmer (Elephant Character).  "S-No 33"  In pencil: "256-863"  Red "U" before "S-No 33"   A Silly Symphony film directed by Wilfred Jackson.  [Unframed item: 11w X 14h] Acquired 2000. SeqID-0484

From “Elmer Elephant” (1936).  A second generation stat model sheet of Tillie Tiger.  "S-No. 33"  "661-321"  A Silly Symphony film directed by Wilfred Jackson. [Unframed item: 14w X 11h] Acquired 2000. SeqID-0483

"Elmer Elephant" (1936) [Series] - Various Pencils and Models

Here's a collection of "Elmer Elephant" items...

I seem to recall reading (although I can't remember where or even if my recollection is accurate), that there was a feeling at Disney that Elmer would be "the next big thing" in an effort to broaden the line of recognizable characters. To my thinking, Elmer was the iconic Nerd of his time -- picked on by those at school, some who liked a girl that would never notice him....  You get the picture...  in the same genre as "Ugly Better" or "Mean Girls" or one of a dozen coming-of-age films. While interesting, the Elmer Project never really developed any traction. But the characters were cute and I could certainly picture a line of plush toys....

In this first posting, here are items from the Ingeborg Willy Scrapbook...

Elmer Elephant Scrap

The Bully

Another Bully

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From "Elmer Elephant" (1936). Pencil sketch of Elmer Elephant from the Ingeborg Willy Scrapbook.

"Duck Tales" - Mike Royer Commerical Art

More from "Duck Tales".....

What appears on the screen may be only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to animation artwork. There is a huge amount of material of original art that is developed for commercial, licensed use.  Here are some pieces drawn by the creative Mike Royer....

Citrus World Concept Art

"Launchpad" Art

Here's some background on Mike from his web site (MikeRoyer.com):

Drawn to Southern California, spring 1965, by the lure of a career in Comic Art, Mike spent his first 14 years in comic books, comic strips, and TV animation. Beginning as RUSS Manning's assistant on MAGNUS, ROBOT FIGHTER and TARZAN comic books (at the end of their working relationship Mike lettered and inked the last 6 months of Russ's TARZAN syndicated Sunday strip and the first 4 months of the daily and Sunday syndicated STAR WARS, late 1970s) and then inking and pencilling for Western Publishing (Gold Key). Mike inked such West Coast talents as Sparky Moore, Mike Arens, Paul Norris, and Doug Wildley.

His drawing asignments were on TARZAN, SPACE GHOST, coloring books, puzzles, etc. for Western and doing layout on network animation series like SPIDERMAN. At Gold Key he wrote/adapted and drew SPEED BUGGY, BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KIDS, TARZAN, MAGNUS, and designed and executed covers for Hanna-Barbera TV ADVENTURE HEROES, etc. Mike contributed to James Warren's CREEPY, EERIE, and VAMPERELLA magazines and began drawing the comic panel CRUSIN' record album covers (over 2 dozen to date), many of which he's scripted.

For East coast firms, Mike inked artists Don Heck, Steve Ditko, Ramona Fraden and others, but during this period he is best known to comic fans for his decade as letterer/inker for legendary Jack Kirby at National and then Marvel.

From late Spring 1979, Mike spent the next 14 years on staff with the Walt Disney Company in the creative department of their Consumer Product/Licensing division, addressing the areas of book publishing, comic books and strips, and all forms of themepark and licensed merchandise as a character artist/product designer, performing as idea man, concept and final line artist, and sometime inker.

At Disney, Mike designed and art directed the DICK TRACY and 3-D ROCKETEER comic book Music Company read-alongs. He created the "new look" that launched the massive WINNIE THE POOH licensing program in late 1993. Featured in a 43 minute video "How To Draw Pooh" sent to over 40 licensees, Mike takes no small amount of pride in the fact that POOH soon (and still) outsold Mickey Mouse worldwide.

June 1993 Mike left his staff position to spend the next 7 years full time free lancing for The Disney Store's creative group, becoming their "Main POOH Man" and creating 3-D products utilizing Disney characters.

Since Spring 2000 Mike has functioned as an Art service doing pencil work on a wide variety of projects, including creating character Orthographic Turns and environment "floor plans" for computer game animators, DIGIMON products, on screen icons for FOX FAMILY CHANNEL and FOX KIDS NETWORK, READER RABBIT work books, RESCUE HEROES toy packaging, etc.

Spring 2001 found Mike and Laurie, his lovely wife and concept collaborater, returning to his birth state, Oregon, settling in Medford, and in the process returned to his career roots. And in the last few years he's found time to ink such luminaries as Steve Rude and Eric Larsen, to name a couple. Mike continues to create Disney character art for limited edition collector pin sets and does "recreations". He strongly believes that his passion, attention to detail and accuracy, and his commitment to integrity will keep him at the board for a long time to come.

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From “Duck Tales” (circa 1989).  On thin tracing paper. Suggestions for a variety of items that could be sold to kids in the Duck Tales theme. For Citrus World. Gyro, Scrooge, Webby, Launchpad, Doofus. Done by Mike Royer. [Item: 17-3/4"W x 14"H]  SeqID 0036

From “Duck Tales” (circa 1989).  An excellent watercolor of Launchpad running in his flight suit. Signed by Mike Royer. [Image: 8-9/16"W x 10-3/8"H]  SeqID 0035

"Duck Tales" (1989) [Series] - Cel and Master Background

Since my company was involved in teleconferencing, I've tended to collect some artwork that reflected telecommunications technology.  This is a nice piece from one of the Duck Tales shows. Good image of the Bad Boys; Huey, Dewey & Louie; and Scrooge McDuck (my favorite).  All on a great Master Background.

Key Character Cel and Master Background

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From “Duck Tales” (1989).  A very interesting image of the Bugle Boys on a large TV with Huey, Dewey & Louie and Scrooge McDuck looking at them. Master background. Key.  Initialed "TV Film Cell."  [Image: 9-13/16"W x 7 7/16"H]  SeqID 0034

"Dudley Do-Right" (circa 1990's) [Series] - Jay Ward Signed Publicity Cel

Sometimes it's nice to have a piece from a show you watched while growing up in front of the TV. The segment in "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show" (Rocky and His Friends [1959-1961 and The Bullwinkle Show [1961-1964]).  The reason we all remember the show was that it was rerun from 1964 through 1973 and then went into syndication.  Much like original Star Trek, the show had a larger-than-life impact that extended well beyond its production period.

This Jay Ward signed piece was a great reminder of Ward's over-the-top character development. Ward was a character in his own right and introduced a number of off-beat characters. Here's a brief bio from Wikipedia:

J Troplong "Jay" Ward (September 20, 1920 – October 12, 1989) was an American creator and producer of animated television cartoons. He produced animated series based on such characters as Crusader Rabbit, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Dudley Do-Right, Peabody and Sherman, Hoppity Hooper, George of the Jungle, Tom Slick and Super Chicken. His company, Jay Ward Productions, also designed the trademark characters for Cap'n Crunch, Quisp and Quake breakfast cereals and made commercials for those products, among others. Ward produced the non-animated series Fractured Flickers that featured comedy redubbing of silent films.

Jay Ward Signed Publicity Cel

From Wikipedia:

Dudley Do-Right was the eponymous hero of a segment on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show which parodied early 20th century melodrama and silent film (by using only a piano as a musical background) in the form of the Northern genre. Dudley Do-Right was a dim-witted Canadian Mountie who was always trying to catch his nemesis Snidely Whiplash, more often succeeding by pure luck than anything else. He romantically pursued Nell Fenwick, the daughter of Inspector Fenwick, the head of the Mountie station. However, a running gag throughout the series was Nell's interest in his horse (called Horse), to the point that she scarcely noticed Dudley's interest.


In 1969, Dudley Do-Right was featured in his own show, The Dudley Do-Right Show, which consisted primarily of existing episodes from the series, produced by Jay Ward Productions and Total Television. In latter years, Jay Ward Productions created animation cells intended for sale and not for use in animation.


The Dudley Do-Right Show was an animated television series assembled by P.A.T. Film Services, consisting of cartoons produced by Jay Ward Productions and Total Television, which aired Sunday mornings on ABC-TV from April 27, 1969 to September 6, 1970. Each half-hour show included two segments each of Dudley Do-Right Of The Mounties and The World Of Commander McBragg, along with one segment each of Tooter Turtle and The Hunter. Dudley Do-Right was a Jay Ward production, while the other segments were products of Total Television. Both companies used Gamma Productions, a Mexico-based animation studio.


The U.S. syndicated version of the show, called Dudley Do Right And Friends, differs from The Dudley Do-Right Show, featuring most of the same recurring cartoon segments, but a different episode selection. The syndicated package features Dudley Do-Right Of The Mounties, The World Of Commander McBragg, The King And Odie, and The Hunter. The latter two originally appeared as part of King Leonardo And His Short Subjects, a series that aired between October 15, 1960 and September 28, 1963 on NBC-TV. Twenty-six new segments of both series were produced for CBS-TV's Tennessee Tuxedo And His Tales in 1963, and these later segments are included in the syndicated Dudley Do Right And Friends.


Actors (voice overs) included:


    * Bill Scott - Dudley Do-Right
    * June Foray - Nell Fenwick
    * Hans Conried - Snidely Whiplash
    * Paul Frees - Inspector Fenwick/Narrator
    * William Conrad did several (but not all) of the narrations.

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From “Dudley Do-Right: publicity cel” (circa 1990's).  Dudley Do-Right, Nell and Horse. Signed by creator Jay Ward.   [Image: 11-7/8"W x 9-3/16"H; Frame: 17-3/16"W x 14-3/4"H]  SeqID-0175 8/14/2005

"Dr. Snuggles" (circa 1980) [Series] - Rocket & Flying Sheep Cel on Production Background

In the last post, I mentioned that I tended to also look for aeronautical related animation work. This fun piece from the UK "Dr. Snuggles" is an example.  The cel consists of a Rocket (the Dreamy Boom Boom) and Flying Sheep on the Production Background. In addition, the piece is signed by J. O'Kelly who was the writer, producer and creator of the series. Two of series were written by Douglas Adams (of "Hitchhiker's Guide" fame).

Here's the entry from Wikipedia:

Doctor Snuggles is an animated series about a friendly and optimistic inventor named Doctor Snuggles who has unusual adventures with his friends in a slightly psychedelic world. The show featured fantastical scenarios which usually involved Doctor Snuggles inventing something outlandish such as a robot helper or diamond-making machine, and had a variety of supporting characters who were mostly anthropomorphic animals. The show was a co-production between British, German and Dutch producers and was originally released as two separate English and German language versions. In the English language version the title character was narrated by veteran actor Peter Ustinov. The show debuted in 1980, and consisted of thirteen half-hour episodes. The show featured original artwork by Nick Price, original scripts and ideas by Jeffrey O'Kelly, and television scripts by Richard Carpenter. Two episodes (#7 and #12) were written by Douglas Adams and John Lloyd, both dealing with ecological issues. In the UK the show featured as part of the Watch It! strand for children on the ITV network. In the United States, the series aired on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. block and in Ontario, Canada, on TVO.

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From “Dr. Snuggles” (circa 1980).  10x11"  Sotheby’s:  "Description (guaranteed) Rocket and flying sheep, gouache on celluloid, with original production background, signed in black felt tip pen by "J. O'Kelly" the writer, producer and creator of the series."  The wood spacecraft was called the Dreamy Boom Boom. From the UK. 1980c  [Item: 10-3/4"W x 10-1/8"H]  Acquired 1999. SeqID-0420

"Donald's Dream Voice" (1948) [Series] - Pencil of Donald Singing

The types of images that people elect to purchase is highly variable. As I've mentioned previously, we tend to buy images that reflect key moments in a film or images that define a character. However, some collect for other reasons. One person I know collects only images of Snow White. Another person collects golf-related images. In my case, I also tend to collect aeronautical images and images of characters singing (since my wife and daughter are big into vocal music).  When we came across this image of Donald, it was another "must have."

For those that don't recall the film, this is from IMDB:

Donald is trying to sell brushes door-to-door, but since nobody can understand him, nobody will buy anything. He happens across a street vendor selling voice pills. They work great, but he's only got a limited number so of course, the last pill ends up in various inconvenient places.

Donald Pencil

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From “Donald’s Dream Voice” (1948).  A pencil sketch of Donald singing. On the sheet: "98"  hands outstretched.  [Unframed Item: 12"W x 10"H]  SeqID-0688  10/14/2005

"Donald Gets Drafted" (1942) [Series] - Donald Pencil w/ Timing Marks

Here's a nice World War II era sketch of Donald marching.  Good example of timing marks. The seller thought that Fred Koepitz may have been the animator on this piece directed by Jack King, but there is no specific information on the sketch to support his opinion.

For a great plot summary, Wikipedia has a great entry....

World War II Donald

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From “Donald Gets Drafted” (1942).; Director's drawing of Donald marching.; Notes: "61"; timing marks "61 ... 64"; Fin 2 3; Unframed Item: 12"W x 10"H; SeqID-0729; 8/17/2005; From Sotheby's: This drawing features Donald Duck whistling and marching with gun over his shoulder on paper.; Marked on upper right corner and "61" on lower right hand corner.; Excellent condition.; Notes: Donald's movie have (sic) have appeared in 76 countries; his daily comics appeared and have been published in 47 countries and has appeared on television in 29 countries -- "Encyclopedia of Walt Disney's Animated Characters" Grant; p.61; 69-70.; 10x12; Circa 1943.; Seller: Directed by Jack King; which means that Fred Koepitz may have been the animator.; Lead animator’s sketch.

"Building A Building" (1933) [Series] - Mickey and Minnie Pencil

This is a fantastic pencil of Mickey and Minnie!  Minnie's expression is fantastic and Mickey has a great surprised look that I love....

Mickey and Minnie Pencil

Here is an image from Pierre Lambert's fantastic book, "Mickey Mouse" published in 1998.  It's a great image, but I think I like the personality in the pencil we have....  :-)

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From “Building A Building” (1933).  An exceptional large pencil sketch image of Mickey and Minnie sitting on top of football goal posts. [11.5”W x 9”H] SeqID 0158. 

Reference: Similar image in Lambert, Pierre.  Mickey Mouse.  NY: Hyperion, 1998.  ISBN: 0-7868-6453.2.  $150.  Limited edition: 000421.  Signed by Pierre Lambert.  13"W x 13"H.  Page 76. (Lambert SeqID 1469, 1470 & 1471)

"Dog Napper" (1934) [Series] - Mickey and Donald Pencil

Great example of an early Donald with the elongated beak. Don first appeared in "Wise Little Hen" a little earlier in 1934 and his beak was shortened in 1936 re-design....

In this cartoon, Minnie's Fifi has been stolen and Patrolmen Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck track the dognapper, Peg Leg Pete, who has taken Fifi to his hideout in an old, derelict sawmill.

Mickey and Donald Pencil

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From “Dog Napper” (1934).  A very early Donald riding in a side car with Mickey. Chasing off the image on the left with the side car stretched from the motorcycle.  [Image: 11.25"W x 6-3/16"H.  Frame: 18.5"W x 13.25"H]   Acquired 1990.  SeqID-0033   Updated: 8/3/2005

"Don Donald" (1937) [Series] - Ingeborg Willy Scrapbook Items

"Don Donald" introduced Daisy Duck to the public for the first time. Here is the final group of images from Ingeborg Willy's 1937 scrapbook (Willy had just started to work for Disney in the Pen and Ink Department.

Don Donald Scraps

 

 

 

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From "Don Donald" (1937). From the Ingeborg Willy Scrapbook.
Wikipedia: Don Donald (first released on January 9, 1937).was Donald Duck's first headliner cartoon. It introduces Donna Duck for the first time as Donald's girlfriend. Clarence Nash voices both since Donna's voice is the same as Donald's an octave higher. The cartoon takes place in Mexico and tells the story of Don Donald going to greet his girlfriend Donna. Donald rides a burro and lets Donna also ride it, but unfortunately Donna hates the animal. Angered at blowing his chances with Donna, Donald trades in his burro for a flashy new red car. Donna loves the new car until it breaks down in the middle of nowhere. She leaves Donald, who is left with nothing but a shrunken sombrero.

"Don Donald" (1937) [Series] - Ingeborg Willy Scrapbook Items

First of several postings...  "Don Donald" (1937) was Donald's first time as a headliner and introduced Donna Duck.  Donna was a little more "assertive" in this film -- her character was lightened in subsequent films.  Because of its significance, it is a good film for collectibles...

Here are some scraps from the Ingeborg Willy Scrapbook (who worked in the Pen and Ink Department in the late 1930's).

What I liked about the Cactus was the fact that you can see the erasure marks as the character was refined. It really gives you insight into the artist's process.

I was just looking at these and thought that the Disney donkey sure looked a lot like Sparky from the Fleischer "Sparky and Hunky" series....

Ingeborg Willy Scraps

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From "Don Donald" (1937). From the Ingeborg Willy Scrapbook.
Wikipedia: Don Donald (first released on January 9, 1937).was Donald Duck's first headliner cartoon. It introduces Donna Duck for the first time as Donald's girlfriend. Clarence Nash voices both since Donna's voice is the same as Donald's an octave higher. The cartoon takes place in Mexico and tells the story of Don Donald going to greet his girlfriend Donna. Donald rides a burro and lets Donna also ride it, but unfortunately Donna hates the animal. Angered at blowing his chances with Donna, Donald trades in his burro for a flashy new red car. Donna loves the new car until it breaks down in the middle of nowhere. She leaves Donald, who is left with nothing but a shrunken sombrero.

"Do You Have Any Castles" (1938) [Series] - Watercolor Concept

Here's a nice concept watercolor from Schlesinger/Warner.  The films, however, were well crafted.  To me, it seemed that many of the cartoons of this period had similar character design -- regardless of studio. This is a watercolor concept of several characters.  The color in vivid, character depiction is good, the sight gag of the musicians of different heights using the same bow was clever.  Just a great piece of colorful whimsy for the walls...

Watercolor Concept

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“Do You Have Any Castles” (1938).  A Leon Schlesinger Studios production. Also known as “Have You Got Any Castles” as a re-issue.  Watercolor concept of characters.  [12”W x 12”W]  SeqID-1219  11/2/2005

IMDB: Another entry in the "books come alive" subgenre, with possibly more books coming alive than any other. We begin with some musical numbers, notably the various pages of Green Pastures all joining in on a song, The Thin Man entering The White House Cookbook and exiting much fatter, and The House of Seven (Clark) Gables singing backup to Old King Cole. The Three Musketeers break loose, become Three Men on a Horse, grab the Seven Keys to Baldpate, and set the Prisoner of Zenda free. They are soon chased by horsemen from The Charge of the Light Brigade and Under Two Flags and beset by the cannons of All Quiet on the Western Front. All this disturbs the sleep of Rip Van Winkle, who opens Hurricane so that everyone is (all together now) Gone with the Wind.  Written by Jon Reeves {jreeves@imdb.com}

The globe on the cover of Pearl Buck's book "The Good Earth" requests blessings for people in his family, including "Papa Leon and Uncle Ray." This is in reference to Leon Schlesinger, who was the executive producer of the Warner Brothers Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons up until 1944, and Raymond Katz, Schlesinger's brother-in-law, who also worked in the cartoon studio.

"Baggage Buster" (1941) [Series] - Pan Master Background

Now, a return to the 1940's!  I only have one item from The Baggage Buster (1941) and it is great!  This is a fantastic watercolor pan Master Background!  I like it because of its simplicity and focus on the center Depot Building...  It makes a great wall hanging because of its large size (the unframed image is almost 58-inches wide)!  The marks on the lower right are start/stop timing marks and cel position marks -- there are position marks on the bottom center as well.

FYI:  I was going to modify the light/dark elements in Photoshop until I looked at the color chart that I included in the larger original shot.  The light tone of the background is correct and to add some contrast would not have given the correct impression about the pieces role as a "background" element...

Pan Master Background (click to enlarge)

 

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From “Baggage Buster” (1941).  Pan master background of depot in this Goofy cartoon.  [Image: 57.5"W x 12"H]  SeqID-0317

"The Alpine Climbers" (1936) [Series] - Ingeborg Willy Scraps and Limited Edition

These are the full holdings on "The Alpine Climber."

The 1936 film has Mickey (voiced by Walt Disney), Donald (Clarence Nash) and Pluto (Pinto Colvig) climbing a mountain. A good short with lots of slapstick comedy.

Clarence Nash (who came from Oklahoma) was already on the radio voicing a goat (inspired by his own goat, Mary) when Disney heard him. Nash voiced Donald for some 50 years and he also voiced Daisy, Huey, Dewey and Louie. After Cliff Edwards died in 1971, Nash took over the voice of Jiminy Cricket. By the way, here is a picture taken by Ingeborg Willy (who worked in the Pen and Ink Department) of Nash as he walked to work.


Pinto Colvig, in my opinion, has to be one of the most versatile performers I've read about. A history in vaudeville; drew his own cartoons for The San Francisco Chronicle; had his own animation business; worked with Walter Lantz; voiced Pluto, Goofy, Grumpy, Sleepy and The Practical Pig for Disney; voice Popeye's Bluto for Fleischer; sang as a Munchkin in "Wizard of Oz"; created "Bozo the Clown"; and in 1963 he became a leading voice in the anti-smoking effort before dying of lung cancer in 1967. There are a number of excellent articles on Colvig -- a short bio can be found on IMDB. A fantastic career and made significant contributions to the entire field through his work for a number of animation houses...

Here are some scraps of Donald that were in the Ingeborg Willy Scrapbook...

Donald Scraps

In 1989, Disney released a set of two Limited Edition items to celebrate Mickey's 60th. One was from "Little Whirlwind" and the other was from "The Alpine Climbers" (seen here).

"The Alpine Climbers" Limited Edition (424/950)

While some collectors limit their collections to only originals, we have always had a tendency to buy items that we simply like. As I've mentioned before, living in a high (8500-feet), dry climate in Colorado means that our cels are confined to an area that we can keep humidified. In other areas of the house we hang pencils and water colors. We also place a few of the Limited Editions in the non-humidified areas to add color and variety.


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From “Alpine Climbers” Limited Edition (1936; 1989). Limited Edition: 424/950. Part of two in the 1989 60th Mickey set Limited Edition. [15.25”W x 11”H] SeqID 0022

From “Ingeborg Willy’s Scrapbook” (1936-1937). A scrapbook of photos, pencil drawings and other items put together by Ingeborg Willy, who was an inker for Disney from 11/23/36 to 11/26/41 and who died in 1999. Acquired 1998. SeqID-0243 Updated: 7/28/2005

"The Band Concert" (1935) - Mickey Pencil Scrap

In cleaning up a few items, here is a great image of Mickey from "The Band Concert." Super expression!

This is from the Ingeborg Willy Scrapbook (see the Content By Category section).

Mickey Pencil

"Magician Mickey" (1937) - Pencil Scrap of Mickey

I was going through some of the images on the new network drive and found this item that I failed to include in my posting of Magician Mickey material (please refer to the Content By Category on the right side for the collection of films, characters and names posted thus far).

This is from the Ingeborg Willy Scrapbook and provides a great action snapshot, although it's too bad Mickey's face is not more visible.

"Country Cousin" (1936) [Series] - Abner Cel And Pencil Background

Here's the last "Country Cousins" item in our collection concluding the Series.

This is a great image of Abner. Lots of energy in the face and a good body extension. The background is also great because of the color direction and the additional notes.

The reference to "Stapp" is probably animator Terrell Stapp, who was one of the Art Directors on Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo and Fantasia.

As with the previous blog entry, this was one of those odd combinations of cel and pencil that offended purists, but I enjoyed because it offered an opportunity to discuss several layers in the animation process. This is especially true with Stapp's reference to the special handling of Jello's unique transparency.

Abner Cel and Pencil Background [click to enlarge]

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From “Country Cousin” (1936). Cel of Abner on original pencil background. Academy Award winning Silly Symphony cartoon. [Image: 9-7/8"W x 7-7/8"H; Frame: 15-7/8"W x 14.25"H] Acquired 2000. SeqID-0322 8/3/2005