Festival of Fools!

Clopin, Quasimodo and Townspeople

Hunchback of Notre Dame

Released:   June 21, 1996      

During the summer of 1997, I made my third trip to Sotheby’s North York auction room to participate in my first Disney animation sale with works exclusively from the prior year’s feature animation release, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.  Starting with “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” released in 1989, Disney would sell a special selection of original artwork created and used during the making of their feature production release through Sotheby’s auction house in either New York or Los Angeles.  For the Hunchback auction, Disney selected 143 production backgrounds with 1 of 1 original cels based upon the original clean-up drawings and 9 production maquettes to sell to the general public on June 21.  

After having been unsuccessful in the Lion King and Pocahontas auctions, I decided that it was worth the trip for this auction. Traveling with me was my close friend Kevin Swanson who tagged along for the fun of seeing New York and participating in a major auction house event.  This trip to New York was special, as we got to explore Manhattan and enjoy dinner at Windows on World the night before the auction at One World Trade Center.   I remember the incredible views and fantastic food we enjoyed all the while thinking about my strategy for securing a great piece of art the next day.

One of the exciting reasons to visit a public animation sale is the chance to see a large unique collection at one time and knowing that just maybe you might walk away with something special.  This auction proved to be no different.  Entering Sotheby’s showroom was a feast for the eyes as Kevin and I toured the galleries making notes and admiring the lots presented in museum style.  Once the auction began, I was fortunate enough to be top bidder on this amazing piece (lot 73) from the “Festival of Fools” sequence.  Overall, Disney sold $484,725 in original animation art that day.  This trip was a real treat and one trip that I will never forget.  

                   Original four cel key master setup, gouache on celluloid, watercolor on board,

                   Acquired: June 27, 1997

                   Supervising Animator, Quasimodo:  James Baxter,
                   Supervising Animator, Clopin:  Michael Surrey,

                   Background Painter: Debbie Dubois,

                   Sequence 6, Scene 12

Shown here in a raw view is this wonderful key master setup from the Festival of Fools sequence.  I particularly love animation from the contemporary features as well as the classics.  One of the things that I look for in art is how the piece exemplifies or represents the story.  In this scene from Hunchback, the story is not at all what you might think as we literally take a lot of different turns throughout.  Here you have the unbridled enthusiam of Clopin meeting Quasi and the sad story so far in his life.  The colors of the scene support the festive nature but remain cautious as Quasi's story unfolds.  It is comprised of 4 different cel levels to bring it to life with  the townspeople, Quasi & Clopin, confetti and flags all come together with the background.  I loved this piece when I first viewed in the gallery at Sotheby's and it still one of favorite pieces today.