"Casper" - Wendy and Ghost Pencils

A set of two pencils: Wendy and the other ghosts. Here are the sheets and a Photoshop composite. The sequences are slightly different, but close enough to get the effect...

1950's Wendy & Ghost Pencils

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Sketch of Wendy looking left, with hands up. Note: "B-5" 3-hole at top of page. This set has Wendy and a sketch of the three other ghosts. Early 1950's for the group. Done by Famous Studios. Shamus Culhane directed the series while at Famous after Fleischer Studios. [Item: 12-1/2"W x 10-1/2"H] Acquired 1996. SeqID-0447

"Casper" - Pencil Sketch

I don't have any production data to identify this Famous Studio Casper film -- "M26" is on the sheet.

This pencil sheet is one of the more unusual sheets I've seen. On the front is the typical pencil sketch, but on the reverse is some light pastel coloring. Normally, all you would see is the pencil sketch, but when you hold the paper up so that there is light behind the sketch, you can see Casper change color! Interesting... But I have no idea why someone would modify the sketch...

Unusual Casper Sketch

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Pencil sketch of Casper thinking. Note: "M26" "Do not ink bridge on nose" If you hold up Casper, you can see through him to the sheet (so he looked like a ghost). 3-hole punch at top of page. [12.5”W x 10.5”H] Acquired 1996. SeqID-0446

"Casper" - 1950 Stat Model Sheet

While not in the same league as Disney, I certainly remember watching Casper cartoons on the TV. Here are a few Casper items from the Famous Studio...

1950 Casper Stat Model Sheet

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Casper Model Sheet. Dated "4/13/50." Stat model sheet of Casper. On bottom row, Casper is shown lifting a little boy. Glossy paper. [Item: 14”W X 11.5”H] Acquired 1999. SeqID-0431

"Superman" (1941) [2 of 3] - Stat Model Sheet Ok'd by Dave Fleischer

This early stat Superman model sheet is a little different because it's focus is only the head positions. The large head positions makes it a very striking piece.

If you have had a chance to watch any of these early Superman cartoons, the images along the bottom page are wonderful examples on Superman's "almost smile" that shows up in all the films.

Superman Model Sheet OK's by Dave Fleischer

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From Fleischer/Famous Studios “Superman” (1941). A Fleischer Studios Superman stat model sheet showing the head sizes for Superman signed by Dave Fleischer. "Aug. 1941" "OK Dave Fleischer" [Item: 12"W X 11.25"H] SeqID-0527

"A Kick In Time" (1940) - Sunky Model Sheet Signed by John Walworth

This was a nice little piece that I stumbled upon. At the time, most were interested in collecting Disney and not many were aware of Fleischer. I thought the angles were interesting (I had not seen many model sheets) and the expressions were great.

This was Walworth's second film. He worked on "Mr. Bug..." next, Casper and a host of other popular characters. Later, he was credited as designing a number of the toys found in Cracker Jack boxes...

Spunky Model Sheet Signed by Walworth

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From “A Kick In Time” (1940). A pastel model sheet of Spunky signed by John Walworth (1914-1992), one of the animators on the film. Directed by Dave Fleishcer. Fleischer Studio stamp. Note: “Fleischer Studios (Spunky)”; Signed: “John Walworth '38” By the way, Walworth designed many of the toy surprises found in boxes of Cracker Jack candy. [Image: 12-7/8"W x 5-11/16"H; Frame: 23"W x 17-3/4"H] Acquired 1990. SeqID 0005 Updated: 5/18/2008

"Unknown Fleischer Film" (circa 1930's) - Shane Miller Watercolor

Merry Christmas and Season's Greetings!

Since I will be away for part of December, I thought this would be a good opportunity to post some Christmas/Holiday related art. To see other holiday related items, select "Category-Holiday" from the "Content by Category" list on the right.


Even though I don't know the film this is from, it is a fantastic image for this Christmas season. Shane was an outstanding artist and the light/shadow in this nighttime watercolor is really amazing. This digital image does not capture the real beauty of Shane's work - the full tonal range, strokes and the overwhelming sense of wonder that seems to jump from the page. I hope you enjoy it....

Shane Miller Watercolor

By the way, if anyone can tell me the film this is from I would appreciate it... Just to clarify, the piece was a gift and I was told this was from a Fleischer film but there are no notes on the front or back of the piece. If this is from another film, let me know.

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From an Unknown Fleischer film (circa 11930’s). Watercolor of 3 Wise men. 8.8w X 6.25" Watercolor by Shane Miller (although there is no indication of Miller on the piece). Wise men are on camels looking at the Star during the evening, with a strong green cast to the image. Miller was one of the top artists that worked on Guliver's Travels and Mr. Bug. [Item: unframed 8.75"W x 6.25"H] Acquired 1999. SeqID-0422 11/29/2008

"Melody Time: 1 Once Upon A Wintertime" (1948) [5/16] - Cel of Horses on Paul Terry Background

A nice cel of the horses, chipmunks and blue birds. The Disney employee that put together the scrapbook used chalk on the construction paper to indicate the feet in the snow. The final framing used a background from a 1940's Paul Terry film

Cel of Woodland Creatures

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From “Melody Time: Once Upon A Wintertime” (1948). Cel from a scrapbook compiled by an unknown Disney employee of the horses, a blue bird and chipmunks on a winter production background from a 1940’s Paul Terry film. [5.5"W x 6"H] Acquired 2003. SeqID-1439 8/4/2005

"Melody Time: 1 Once Upon A Wintertime" (1942) [6/13] - Cel of Rabbits & Blue Birds On Fleischer Background

This cel has some nice sized images of the rabbits and blue birds. We used a background from a 1940's Fleischer/Paramount film -- one of the first backgrounds drawn by Davey Binus for Paul Terry.

Cel of Rabbits & Blue Birds, then on Fleischer Background

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From “Melody Time: Once Upon A Wintertime” (1948). Cel from a scrapbook compiled by an unknown Disney employee of the rabbit couple and blue birds on a cabin exterior production background from a 1940’s Fleischer/Paramount film (one of the first backgrounds drawn by Davey Binus for Paul Terry). [6.25"W x 6"H] Acquired 2003. SeqID-1440 8/4/2005

"Mr. Bug Goes To Town" (1941) - Master Background

For me, there was a lot to like about some of the artwork in "Mr. Bug Goes To Town" (1941) and I think this background proves the point. Really quite good.

"Mr. Bug Goes To Town" (1941) - Master Background

The film was released just 3 days before the attack on Pearl Harbor and did not have good box office receipts -- the two events may or may not be connected. At any rate, Paramount fired Max Fleischer and the Famous Studios was born.

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I probably should have framed the piece using hinges so that the entire background could be seen. Ah, well....

In an earlier post, I showed a note that Dave Fleischer sent to his doctor. The note was on "Mr. Bug Goes To Town" stationary.

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From “Mr. Bug Goes To Town” (1941) - released by Paramount and produced by Fleischer Studios. Watercolor background of house that bug lives in. Shows cloths pin and cigar and heart with pin. Notes: "OK" stamp with name (maybe "R. Little"); "1-76"; 3 holes punched at top. Some other writing and some initials. On back: "1-76- Miller - 17 1/2 Little - 1 18 1/2" [Item: 17-1/4"W x 12-3/4"H] SeqID-0289.

Little Lulu (1940's)-Photostat Model Sheets

I was just looking through some of the non-Disney stuff and saw these from the Famous Studios. Photostat Little Lulu Model Sheets from the early to mid-1940's. Some are "OK'd" by storyboard artist Isadore Sparber -- one of the more talented artists of the time.

Little Lulu Photostat Model Sheets

1943 (SeqID-0441)

(SeqID-0442)

1943 (SeqID-0443)

1945 (SeqID-0444)

In the mid-1940s, Lulu appeared in a series of theatrical animated shorts produced by Famous Studios for Paramount Pictures from 1943 to 1948. In all, twenty-six Little Lulu cartoons were released in a period of less than five years. A similar character, Little Audrey, was then created after Paramount failed to renew the Lulu license (and therefore avoided the payment of royalty fees). The voice of both Little Lulu and Little Audrey was performed in various cartoons by either Mae Questel (also the voice of Betty Boop and Olive Oyl from the Popeye cartoons) or Cecil Roy. [Wikipedia: Little Lulu]

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SeqID-0441. Little Lulu Model Sheet (1943). Famous Studios. Stat model sheet dated 5/27/1943. Original basic paper. OK by storyboard artist Isadore Sparber, [18w X 13.5h] Acquired 1999. SeqID-0441 Updated: 5/18/2008

SeqID-0442. Little Lulu Model Sheet (circa 1945). Famous Studios. Stat model sheet of Little Lulu -- comparative sizes for Lulu. Stat on low gloss paper. Basic copy on plain paper. [Item: 13.5"W x 10.5"H] Acquired 1999. SeqID-0442. Updated: 5/18/2008

SeqID-0443. Little Lulu Model Sheet (1943). Famous Studios. Very early sheet on no gloss paper. Four images on the top row, one in the middle and four images on the bottom row. OK by storyboard artist Isadore Sparber. Notes: "O.K. I. Sparber"; "Don't put on mouths unless for dialog!"; "Chart Property of Famous Studios -- June 21 1943 --" Copy on plain paper. [13.5”W x 13”H] Acquired 1999. SeqID-0443 Updated: 5/18/2008

SeqID-0444. Little Lulu Model Sheet (1944). Famous Studios. Photostat sheet features Lulu and Frog. OK by storyboard artist Isadore Sparber. Note: Date of "4/44"; "D.T."; "OK I. Sparber" Semi-gloss paper. [15”W x 11.5”H] Acquired 1999. SeqID-0444 Updated: 5/18/2008

Dave Fleischer Letter (1946)

While the majority of the material I collect is Disney, I do collect other items I find interesting. Here is a great piece -- a letter and sketch from Dave Fleischer to his physician after he broke his finger (circa 1941). Dave and Max Fleischer were co-owners of Fleischer Studios, one of the other major animation studios during the early and mid-1940's. In addition, Dave directed many of Fleisher's films. Dave writes a great line: Here you are, Doc -- The hand that’s feeding you, Dave Fleischer. Few items with Dave Fleischer's signature seem to exist today. Clike on this line to see Wikipedia's entry on Dave Fleischer.

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A 2-page sketch from Dave Fleischer to his physician after Dave broke one of his fingers (circa 1941). Written on Paramount’s “Mr. Bug Goes To Town” produced by Fleischer Studios stationary. Left page: “Now where did he get that bone?”; “To Doc Frieder from Dave Fleischer” Right page: “Here you are, Doc -- The hand that’s feeding you, Dave Fleischer” [2 @ 8.5”W x 11”H] SeqID-0260

The second--and final--feature to come out of Max and Dave Fleischer's animation studio was this look at a community of insects whose city garden home is threatened, and how a plucky grasshopper named Hoppity saves the day and wins the heart of a bee named Honey. AKA: "Mr. Bug Goes to Town." 78 min.

Notes from seller: Both are letters from Dave Fleischer & both are signed by him. The stationary is fascinating (First I have ever seen!) and the drawing on the first is GREAT while the second is certainly Ok. These are the only two pieces I have seen with Dave Fleischer's signature on them. Furthermore, the are the ONLY TWO drawing that I have seen that can be attributed directly to him. There are definitely signatures of Max out there but Dave‘s is another story! This is VERY rare and quite adorable stuff. Please give these careful consideration as I honestly believe nothing like these will EVER come around again!