Malificent....Powerful and Strong!

Sleeping Beauty
Released:  January 29, 1959
Worldwide Box Office:  $51,600,000

Well up this week, I thought I would share some of my favorite drawings of Maleficent considering the recent release of Disney's film starring Angelina Jolie.  Maleficent is one of my favorite villains from one of my favorite films.  So keeping this real simple this week, here are few pieces with the dialog that you can just imagine in your mind Eleanor Audley speaking in her distinct voice.

First up from the beginning of the film, where Maleficent learns that she "wasn't wanted" by Merryweather.  Maleficent comes back, "Oh Dear, what an awkward situation....!"

This is a nice 16 field drawing of her and Diablo, signed by Marc Davis.  I love her expression and particularly the way Marc positions her finger and hand by her face to give just that extra touch of wicked elegance.

After she gathers her thoughts, bestows her "sleeping" gift, Maleficent expresses,

"Stand back you fools!"

This is also a nice key animators drawing of Maleficent complete in full figure with flowing robes, staff and fingernails!

Next up is a great a publicity photo I picked up last year of Eleanor Audley being filmed for the animated sequence.  In this sequence Eleanor is acting out the scene for when she retorts violent toward her Goons for looking for a baby all these years.  

A few years back, I was offered a wonderful collection of sequential drawings of Maleficent from the dramatic scene.  What was particularly fun was the way I was able to bring back to life in my hand her "wrath and fury" as I flipped the drawings.  This sequence was beautifully drawn on wider "technirama" animation paper and shows how they mastered her fiery robe to express her emotion.  There are also some great facial expressions in this very short but active scene.  Here she screams as she pulls up her robe and staff in this sequence,"Imbeciles!  Idiots!"   

This sequence was animated by Ambrozi "Amby" Paliwoda who was from my home state and born inCleveland, Ohio.  He worked at the Disney studio from 1935 to 1960 and was awarded the Animation Guild's Golden Award in 1985 for his lifetime work.  In a later post, I promise to share the full sequence complete with my re-created pencil test.  It is a great sequence. 

What do you think?!

Discovering Winnie the Pooh!

and Happy Birthday to Kim, too!

Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree
Released:  February 4, 1966


Well up next I thought I would celebrate yet another family event and a nice discovery.  June of 2014 has had a lot of fun family events and to round them out I sharing a neat story about a wonderful set of production pieces from one of my sister's favorite films, Winnie the Pooh.  My sister's 45th birthday is this month and I thought this would be a fun post.

Next up is a production cel setup that I acquired several years back of Pooh getting stuck in Rabbit's door.  As befitting Pooh's character, his love for honey has gotten him into trouble and literally stuck!   Christopher Robin comes to the rescue along with Kanga and Eyeore to attempt to pull him out. Unfortunately, it doesn't work and Pooh has to learn a lesson.  "No more honey!" as is so eloquently quoted by Rabbit.  Below is a two cel setup of the characters that were trimmed and attached a new cel.  It was paired along with a photographic background of Rabbit's front door.

                              Original Production Cel Setup, gouache on trimmed celluloid

                              Acquired:  March 29, 2009

                              Artist:  Unknown

                              Sequence 1, Scene 540.1, 550

       Original Production Cel Setup paired with photographic background

One of the fun things about collecting animation is learning about and discovering new pieces and ways to display and interpret the art up close.  As luck would have it, a few years later I discovered a production background from the original film from the same sequence and scene that I could pair up with the cel setup.   

                              Original Production Background, watercolor on paper

                              Acquired:  May 20, 2011

                              Artist:  Unknown

                              Sequence 1, Scene 540.1, 550

After compositing the production elements together digitally, I now have a more complete and wonderful key master setup (or pretty close too, it!).  Once I get the chance to physically composite I will share a new image.  What do you think?   

                              Original Production Setup on Master Background, 

                                 gouache on celluloid and watercolor on paper

                              Acquired:  December 20, 2009

                              Artist:  Unknown

                              Sequence 2, Scene 116

 Happy Birthday Kim!

A Little Magic adds a lot to life!

Magic, A Father/Daughter and a Happy Ending

Well, today is a special day and I thought to commemorate it was only fitting that post a couple of pieces in honor of my oldest nephew, Cameron and my newest niece, Laura.  Today on June 6 in Carillon Park located in Dayton, Ohio, Cameron married his longtime elementary and high school sweetheart.   As tribute to symbolize the magic in the relationship, I thought I would post three different pieces I know the happy young couple would enjoy.

First up is piece from one of Cameron's favorite Disney films, The Sword and the Stone.  This key master setup features the young Wart who loses his way only to land at Merlin's table.   This setup is comprised four elements, all of which are production.  I love the magic in the scene as Wart discover the Sugar Bowl.  Merlin has also nicely left him some chocolate chip cookies on a plate for him.  If you look closely can you notice Merlin's ghost in the sugar?

                              Original Production Setup on Key Master Background, 

                                 gouache on celluloid and watercolor on paper

                              Acquired:  December 20, 2009

                              Artist:  Unknown

                              Sequence 2, Scene 116

Next up, a piece from newest niece, Laura's favorite animated film, Mulan.  I guess this piece which is also a key master setup is fitting for the day as Cameron was with me when I purchased this piece from the Mulan Sotheby's auction in New York in 1999.  This key master setup includes a beautiful background of the magnolia tree in which Mulan and her Father meet.  How nice considering today, Laura and her dad will have a special meeting point on her wedding day.  Comprised of a single character cel paired with an original production background this piece expresses the essence of the story in many ways.

                              Original Setup on Key Master Background, 

                                 gouache on celluloid and watercolor on board

                              Acquired:  March 6, 1999

                              Artist:  David Wong

                              Sequence 3.9, Scene 34.5

      

The final piece is a simple rough animation drawing of the Prince and Cinderella from the end of this 1951 classic film.  I love the simplicity of this nice drawing and I felt it was appropriate to this post with a happy send-off on Cameron and Laura's adventure in life.  I wish them well and can't wait for them to visit soon!

                        Original Production Drawing, graphite and colored pencil on 16 field paper

                              Acquired:  March 1, 2009

                              Artist:  Unknown