Steamboat Willie Minnie Mouse Animation Drawing (Walt Disney, 1928)....

Description

Steamboat Willie Minnie Mouse Animation Drawing (Walt Disney, 1928). When Steamboat Willie hit the big screen on November 18, 1928, it was met with a buzz of enthusiasm. "This one represents a high order of cartoon ingenuity, cleverly combined with sound effects. The union brought forth laughs galore," wrote Variety magazine. "This is what Steamboat Willie has: First, a clever and amusing treatment; secondly, music and sound effects added via the Cinephone method. The result is a real tidbit of diversion," wrote The Film Daily. The cartoon was the first Disney production with synchronized sound, and it was the most popular cartoon of its day. Steamboat Willie's influence isn't relegated to 1928, however. The short has been preserved in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry, and the iconic shot of a whistling Mickey at the helm of the boat is still one of the first images brought to mind when Mickey Mouse is mentioned. Steamboat Willie was animated by Ub Iwerks, Wilfred Jackson, Dick Lundy, Johnny Cannon, and Les Clark with a budget of $4,986, and it was not only a popular hit but also a work of technical excellence. It was the first Mickey Mouse cartoon to be distributed, and it is considered Mickey Mouse's official debut. This incredibly rare piece is an original animation drawing from Steamboat Willie. The drawing depicts Minnie Mouse in full figure as she is lifted onto the steamboat with a hook. This image can be found at the 3:27 mark of the short. The drawing is rendered with graphite, with shadows in red and blue colored pencil, on 12 field, 2-peghole animation paper. The paper has been professionally restored, ensuring its continued integrity, but the drawing itself and the original production numbers still remain virtually untouched. The page is numbered in its lower right corner with F-70 and 72. This spectacular piece of animation history is in Very Good condition, with some handling and edge wear, age-related toning, minor creasing, and two light vertical folds.


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