"Dumbo" (1941) [Series] - Crow Pencils

More Dumbo items from the Cowan Collection...

OK. Let me get started again....  Continuing with some nice pencils of the Crows from Dumbo.  One of the more interesting items is a sketch of the Crows with their names and mark up directions. My guess is that the names were added at a later time, but it does provide some insight as to the process of getting everyone's name correct...

From Wikipedia:

The crow characters in the film are in fact African-American caricatures; the leader crow voiced by Caucasian Cliff Edwards is officially named "Jim Crow". The other crows are voiced by African-American actors, all members of the Hall Johnson Choir.

 The Crows

(Click to Enlarge)

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From Dumbo (1941).  A pencil sketch of crows with red mark up directions, names of crows.  "2006.12.212.0"  "cel 1  1st set up  24B"  10”H X 12"W  Circa 1941  Acquired 2000. SeqID-0500

From Dumbo (1941).  A pencil sketch of Dandy (Jim) Crow.  "2006.19.18.0"  "8 of 19.1"  "36" "Reg to BG"  10h X 12"W

From Dumbo (1941).  A pencil sketch of the crows sitting on a telephone line.  Pencil in red.  "2006.19.229.0"  "C9"  10h X 12"W.  Circa 1941. Unframed Item: 12"W x 10"H  SeqID-0498  Acquired 2000.

"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] - 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.

"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.

"Fantasia" (1940) [Series] - Mickey Pencil

More items in the Cowan Collection from "Fantasia"...

This is one of my favorite Mickey pencils.  Great character, large image, good expression and representative of one of the key moments as Mickey starts to exert his "power."

Mickey Pencil (click to enlarge)

 

Here is a similar image from the Disney web site.  Frankly, I like the pencil that we have -- a little more facial expression and I like the hand/finger positioning...

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From Fantasia (1940), the Sorcerer's Apprentice sequence.  Excellent pose of Mickey in full apprentice costume. Hands outstretched. Looking over his right shoulder with a grin. Hat slightly bent. Stu thinks this is one of the best images of Mickey he's seen.  [9.5”W x 7”H]  SeqID 0039
Reference: In the WD Fantasia book, there is a cel almost identical featured on page 89.  Also very similar image on the Disney web site.

"Fantasia" (1940) [Series] - Mickey Pencil

More items in the Cowan Collection from "Fantasia"...

This is one of several Mickey pencils that we have.  A nice piece that is low key, but is really a pretty good example of communicating a character's personality without seeing the eyes.

Notice the erasure marks around the hat...  I'm not sure who's initials are on the lower right...

Mickey as Sorcerer's Apprentice (click to enlarge)

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From “Fantasia” (1940).  A pencil sketch from the Sorcerer's Apprentice sequence.  Mickey as Sorcerer, seated with hat over his eyes.  Notes: "D53  BC"  Stamp: 2004 7.055.0  Good, large image.  Looks like Mickey just fell and is getting himself together.  Nothing on back.  [Unframed Image 12"W X 10"H]  SeqID-0349  8/3/2005

"Fantasia" (1940) [Series] - Pencil Concept of Pegasus

More postings from the Cowan Collection's "Fantasia" holdings...

I've always thought this was a great concept for one of the younger Pegasus characters.  Good character development.  And a somewhat unexpected movement -- although I've seen horses scratch behind their ears in exactly the same way.  Nice inclusion of the stream and willows...


My notes indicated that he was called "Peter," but I wasn't sure.  I did a quick search and found this interesting link:

Peter was retroactively named after his popularity grew from the release of "Fantasia." As such, several Peter Pegasus shorts were planned and went into pre-production in the early 1940s, including one titled "Peter Pegasus" as a segment to "Invitation to Dance" which would have also brought back the dancing mushrooms from the "Nutcracker" segment of "Fantasia." The basic plot involved a series of misadventures after sneaking out of his nest, including following a family of ducks a la "The Ugly Duckling," and accidentally disturbing an angry bee. It never progressed beyond the storyboard. As they say, "If wishes were horses..." (sigh). Recently, another "Baby Pegasus" was introduced in the film "Hercules" (June 27, 1997) as the Hero's childhood playmate who grows up to become his faithful companion. This one was formed from the clouds by Zeus, and is not known for his intelligence, but loyalty certainly counts. The only occasions I can think of where Disney used a winged horse was in "Donald Duck" #27 (Jan. 1953) in a tale called "The Flying Horse," where Donald, $crooge and the Nephews encounter a mechanical one. An inventor trades Donald the metal horse for Uncle $crooge's helicopter and later reneges. Another time was in the time travel tale in "Uncle Scrooge" #75 (June 1968), where Gyro, Uncle $crooge, and Huey, Dewey & Louie tavel to ancient Greece during "The Battle of Marathon" (hence the title of the story) and an ancient inventor has likewise created a mechanical winged horse which carries them all from the battlefied to safety, before they return to the present. And finally the "real" Pegasus appeared in "Super Goof #34 (June 1975) in "The Golden Apple-Picker" when the evil Emil Eagle tests his Fantasy-Fact Fixer gizmo which transports him, Clarabelle, Super Goof and Pegasus (who had followed him from a previous attempt), through a portal to the Garden of Hesperides of ancient Greek myth.

Pencil Concept (click to enlarge)

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Graphite concept sketch of Peter Pegasus during the Pastoral Symphony sequence from “Fantasia” (1940).  [12Wx9.5H]

"Fantasia" (1940) [Series] - Nubian Centaurette Pencil & Pin

More postings of "Fantasia" items in the Cowan Collection...

Note: Stephen made a comment that this version of the Centaurette is in the film.  And it's in my DVD as well.  Frankly, I don't know what I was thinking about when I typed of the info in my database that this character was deleted from the film.  You can see the strike-through corrections below.  Now, I'm assuming that there is no difference between the DVD version of Fantasia and what appeared on the screen -- I'm just don't have that expertise....  Thanks, again, Stephen!

In the last posting, I put up a Centaurette pencil that didn't make it into the film. According to my notes, this more elegant version was also deleted from the final film -- although the sequence & scene stamp would indicate that it had made it pretty far in the process.  Here is another Centaurette that did make it into the film -- a rather elegant version.

There are some initials in the lower right -- if anyone has an idea as to the meaning, please let me know...

 Then it seems that the character was brought back in "Aida" (at least that was my reaction when I saw the musical on Broadway).  A few years ago, I was at Disney World and stopped by a shop to pick up a few trading pins.  I was surprised to see the Nubian pin AND I was surprised to see that the pin was so similar to the pencil in the collection. I thought it was odd that there would be a trading pin of a character that was deleted and was so similar to the pencil.

Nubian Centaurette Pencil (click to enlarge)

Nubian Centaurette Trading Pin

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From “Fantasia” (1940), the Pastoral Symphony sequence.   The graphite and colored pencil on paper drawing depicts a Nubian Centaurette holding a fan from The Pastoral Symphony sequence, a scene that was later deleted from the final version of the film, annotated "A15"  "PROD 2004 SEQ 4.3 SCENE 25"  "?THE?"  Green in shadows. [Unframed 16-field]  Acquired 2000.  SeqID-0717 8/6/2005

"Fantasia" (1940) [Series] - Black Centaurette Pencil

More postings of items in the Cowan Collection from "Fantasia"...

This character was pulled from the film, which was an interesting statement about the times.  It also represents a shift from similar characters in previous Disney films.

There are the initials "WK" on the piece and the seller thought the image might have been drawn by Ward Kimball or Walt Kelly (of "Pogo" fame), but there is no specific indication of that fact.  I don't have any additional information that would provide any clues.  If you have any thoughts, please leave a comment....

Black Centaurette Pencil (click to enlarge)

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From Fantasia (1940), the Pastoral Symphony sequence.  A pencil sketch of a black Centaurette (#45)  with flower in her mouth.  Notes: "#45"; the image has "WK" written on it.  [Image: 11-1/4"W x 9"H]  SeqID 0040
Seller thinks this stands for Ward Kimball or Walt Kelly. He thinks the nature of the image would lead him to think it's Walt Kelly -- who did Pogo.

"Fantasia" (1940) [Series] - Lee Blair Ben Ali Gator and Hyacinth Hippo Pencil Concept

More postings of items in the Cowan Collection from "Fantasia"...

This is a great piece!  Super expressions!  As I've mentioned before, I try to collect images that represent key moments in the film and/or images that capture the essence of a character.  This is a good example.

Note: Thanks for the corrections. I first wrote "Les" Blair and have corrected it to "Lee" Blair.  I appreciate it...

This image was featured in Mindy Aloff's book "Hippo In A Tutu" (pg. 113) and had this to say about the image: “A Lee Blair story sketch of Hyacinth Hippo being partnered enthusiastically in arabesque on pointe by Ben Ali Gator in 'Dance of the Hours.' Lee Blair was married to Disney inspirational artist Mary Blair.”  The Blair Connection was a result of Aloff's research and wasn't based on any information I had about the piece.

Lee Blair Pencil Concept

 

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From “Fantasia” (1940), the Dance of the Hours sequence.  Pencil concept sketch of Ben Ali Gator is dancing with Hyacinth Hippo.  Notes: "WDP" stamp on lower right.  [Image: 10-5/8"W x 8"H; Frame: 16-7/8"W x 14-3/8"H]  SeqID-0168  8/3/2005

"Fantasia" (1940) [Series] - Watercolor Concept

More postings of items in the Cowan Collection from "Fantasia"...


This is a great graphite and watercolor concept of what was called the "Bug Orchestra."

When I last posted this, I mentioned that the story (as it was told to me) was that there was a point when it was not clear that Stikowski would continue with the project and that some rough ideas were generated for an "alternative" to the orchestra. Several readers wrote that the story I heard may have been incorrect. Regardless, this is a nice piece and gives the viewer some additional insight into the creative process.

Watercolor Concept (click to enlarge)

Stamp on the back (significantly enlarged)

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Graphite and watercolor concept drawing of “Bug Orchestra,” which was deleted when arrangements with Liopold Stikowski were finalized, from “Fantasia” (1940). [12Wx10H]

"Fantasia" (1940;1990) [Series] - 50th Anniv. Limited Edition

A series of postings of Fantasia items in the Cowan Collection...

There are always some nice pieces that you run across that are just fun to have. Case in point, this graphite and colored pencil Limited Edition celebrating the 50th anniversary of Fantasia.

While the bulk of the items we pick up are pencils and cels, we tend to pick up other pieces as well. The nice thing about some of these items is that they hold up well to placement anywhere in our low-humidity house in Colorado. Good color. Good action. Just a great little piece. There are a few comments in the "NOTES" below that you might find interesting...

Pegasus and Unicorn Limited Edition (click to enlarge)

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From "Fantasia" (1940; 1990), the Pastoral Symphony sequence. Came as a gift from Animation USA. A graphite and colored pencil "308/500" "Pegasus and Unicorn from Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral), Ludwig van Beethoven" Appears to be a pastel concept of the figures. The characters were initially to dance/move to a different piece of music -- Cydalise. The unicorn stayed much the same in the final rendition. However, Pegasus was changed to be more stately and graceful. Print embossed with "Fantasia 50 Years Limited Edition" in lower right (1990 release). Similar images can be seen in the Fantasia book, pg. 144. [Item: 20"W x 16"H] Acquired 1998. SeqID-0397

"Fantasia" (1940) [Series] - Preview Contact Sheet

Postings of "Fantasia" (1940) related items from the Cowan Collection.

OK....


Here's a contact sheet of the Fantasia items in the collection that I will start posting...