"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.

"Ching Chow" (1938) - Stanley Link Pen And Ink

A number of early animators expanded upon the characters and humor from the strips. Stanley Link was one of those great, early cartoonists.  This piece is from his Ching Chow strip that probably would not be published today....

Stanley Link's "Ching Chow"

Here's some background from Lambiek.Net:

Stanley J. Link (1894 - 24/12/1957).  As a teenager, Stanley J. Link took a correspondence course in cartooning. At age sixteen he found his first cartooning job with a Chicago-based animated cartoon company. After freelancing for some time in the early 1920s, Link was hired as an assistant on 'The Gumps'. In the meantime he introduced the popular panel 'Ching Chow' as a daily feature for the News-Tribune group and started his own strip 'Tiny Tim' in 1933. 'Tiny Tim' began as a Sunday feature and was about a boy shrunk to minuscule size. It became a great favorite, especially with children. Stanley Link got into serious trouble with his syndicate however, when he refused to continue 'The Gumps' after Sidney Smith's death in 1935. 'Tiny Tim' eventually folded and Stan Link started a family strip called 'The Dailys', which he drew until shortly before his death in 1957, at the age of 63.

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“Ching Chow” (1938) by Stanley Link.  Probably printed 12/5/1938.  Pen and ink.  Copyright 1938 by the Chicago Tribune-N.Y. News Syndicate.  Note: "12-5" on strip; “475”  [Item: 5"W x 7.5"H]  Acquired 1998.  SeqID-0357

http://lambiek.net/artists/l/link-stanley.htm

"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.

"Snow White" (1937) [Series] - Contact Sheet

Below are a number of posts of items from the 1937 classic "Snow White."

Here are a few contact sheets showing the items that have been posted in this series...

"Snow White" (1937) [Series] - Cel of Queen and the Heart Box

More of the "Snow White" material in the Cowan Collection....

This is the last item in the "Snow White" series. I hope you have enjoyed looking at them! -- Bob


Probably one of the more horrific scenes is when the Queen thrusts a box toward the Huntsman and tells him to cut out Snow White's heart, place it in this ornate box and return it to her as proof of Snow White's death. Perhaps this form of "proof" was commonplace, but I found it a little shocking when I first saw the film (being a somewhat sheltered boy growing up in Iowa).

I remember seeing a similar image about twenty years ago and it took another fifteen years to find one for sale. After all, how could anyone say "No" to that face! Great character moment!

Originally in a Courvosier frame, the piece was repaired by S/R Labs. We removed the plain S/R Labs matte and re-matted the piece in gold leaf with red velvet.

Cel of Queen and Heart Box (click to enlarge)

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In 2002, I received a letter from my father saying that he saw an article on animation in "Popular Science" on animation and thought I might be interested. As I pulled out the enclosed article, a small image caught my attention. There was my Queen on the wall! I thought you might like to see it as well...

Popular Science Article

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From “Snow White” (1937) A gouache on celluloid depicting the Wicked Queen holding the box meant to hold Snow White's heart, applied to an airbrushed background. The matte is stamped on the lower right hand corner "Original WDP" The artwork includes a Courvoisier Galleries label on the back. Condition: excellent." [Item: 14.25"W x 14.5"H; Image: 8 3/16"W x 7-7/8"H] Acquired 1999. SeqID-0426 Updated: 8/1/2005

SeqID 0426 Sleeping Beauty Queen. Reference: Hirshberg, Charles & Sinha, Gunjan. "Citizen Science," Popular Science, May 2002, Page 83

"Snow White" (1937) [Series] - Pastel Concept of Queen

More of the "Snow White" material in the Cowan Collection....


An absolutely wonderful pastel concept of the Queen descending the stairs.

You can sense the urgency as her gaze is down the stairs and her robe flutters with her decent. It's a dark piece (which goes with the story line), but the colors are strong. Very dynamic!

Pastel of Queen Decending Stairs (click to enlarge)

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From “Snow White” (1937). Pastel concept of the Wicked Queen descending the stairs. Double matted in raw silk with a gold leaf frame and matching filet. [9”W x 10”H] Acquired 2004. SeqID-1451 8/1/2005

"Snow White" (1937) [Series] - Queen and Mirror Pencil

More of the "Snow White" material in the Cowan Collection....

The Queen (as with all the Villains) is very collectible. This pencil is unique in that the Queen is facing away from the viewer and her face can be seen reflecting in the mirror. I don't think I've seen many images where a few from behind strengthens the characterization.

The detail in his pencil is amazing. Great attention to detail. As with the image of the Witch (next posting), we used a cut-out to focus attention on the character and draw the viewer into the image. We thought the use of a curved cut-out picked up the line of the held-out cape.

Queen and Mirror Pencil (click to enlarge)

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From “Snow White” (1937) This is an excellent pencil sketch of the Queen in front of the mirror, with her reflection apparent. [Image: 7 7/16"W x 8.5"H. Frame: 15-3/8"W x 16-7/8"H] Acquired 1989. SeqID-0129 8/3/2005

"Snow White" (1937) [Series] - Witch Pencil

More of the "Snow White" material in the Cowan Collection....


This was one of the early pencils we picked up. It's a great image of the Witch holding out the apple for Snow White.

The Witch was placed in the right third of the sheet and the power of her character seemed to get lost in the field. Rather than cut the image out and re-frame it, we decided to keep the page whole and do a cut-out to focus on the Witch. We also put in a small section of red around the cut-out to highlight the red of the apple. The black is felt and the frame itself is high-gloss.

Frankly, I think a good frame can highlight the art. In this case, most viewers stop to look at the image and actually move in closer to look at the detail.

Witch Pencil (click to enlarge)

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From “Snow White” (1937) Pencil sketch of the Queen (as the witch) as she holds out an apple. [Image: 5-5/16"W x 5-7/8"H. Frame: 20-11/16"W x 17-3/16"H] Acquired 1989. SeqID-0128 8/6/2005

"Snow White" (1937) [Series] - Snow White Pencil

More of the "Snow White" material in the Cowan Collection....


Our daughter enjoyed singing as she grew up and we tended to pick up items that showed characters singing.

This is one of several nice pieces that show a character singing -- where the process of singing further reinforces the character.

Snow White Pencil

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From “Snow White” (1937) Pencil drawing with some red of Snow White singing. Note: "Prod 2001, Seq. 134, Scene 14"' "D" Shows some brown tape over registration holes. Acquired 1992. SeqID-0130 8/5/2005

"Snow White" (1937) [Series] - Promotional Model Sheet Photo

More of the "Snow White" material in the Cowan Collection....


A few years ago, I picked up another scrapbook that had cels and promotional photographs in it. Here is one photo that was sent out to help publicize the movie and the animation process. This photograph was used in one of the publications posted earlier.

All of the pencil notations were actually part of the photograph -- not added later.

Comparative Size Promotional Photograph

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From “Snow White” (1937). Promotional photo of the comparative sizes of: Doc, Snow White, Grumpy & Dopey. Dated: 9/28/36. Scrapbook photo. [10"W x 8"H] Acquired 2003. SeqID-1415

"Snow White" (1937) [Series] - Courvoisier Items

More of the "Snow White" material in the Cowan Collection....

OK. We have a number of Courvoisier items from Snow White and instead of putting them up one-by-one, I'll just post the rest here.

As I recall, Guthrie Courvoisier was an art dealer in San Francisco who was looking for a different art form to promote. He thought animation art represented a new class of artwork and became interested in it. While there was some market in the sale and trade of cels, Courvoisier thought the cels needed to be placed on some "context" and designed backgrounds and frames to create an overall piece of artwork. So, having some pieces from Courvoisier's first effort add to the historical significance.

"Snow White" Courvoisiers

Click to Enlarge
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Snow White

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Happy

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Grumpy

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Sleepy

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Bashful

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From “Snow White” (1937) Cel of Snow White with bird on hand on Courvoisier production background. Fine condition Courvoisier cel. [Image: 5-3/4"W x 5-3/4"H] Acquired 1998. SeqID-0331 8/1/2005

From “Snow White” (1937) Courvoisier cel of Happy in gold frame looking to left with right hand up a little. Seller: “Cels of Happy are very rare.” [Image: 5-3/4"W x 7-3/4"H. Frame: 13.25"W x 15.5"H] Acquired 1998. SeqID-0333 8/5/2005

From “Snow White” (1937). Courvoisier cel of Grumpy at organ on painted background. Seller: Grumpy is one of the more collectible Dwarfs. [Image: 7"W x 8"H. Frame: 15.5"W x 17-3/4"H] Acquired 1998. SeqID-0335 8/5/2005

From “Snow White” (1937) Courvoisier cel of Sleepy in gold frame with eyes half closed and holding fish clarinet and cymbal. [Image: 6-1/8"W x 5-1/8"H. Frame: 12"W x 11.5"H] Acquired 1998. SeqID-0334 8/5/2005

From “Snow White” (1937). Courvoisier cel of Bashful playing accordion on painted background. [Image: 7-13/16"W x 5-11/16"H. Frame: 18"W x 16"H] Acquired 1998. SeqID-0336 8/5/2005