LOT #18137 |
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The Little Mermaid King Triton's Throne Room and Manta Ray Ursula Early Concept Art Group of 10 by Ken O'Connor with R... (Total: 13 )
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Sold on Dec 14, 2025 for:
$600.00
Bid Source: Internet bidder
Description
The Little Mermaid King Triton's Throne Room and Manta Ray Ursula Early Concept Art Group of 10 by Ken O'Connor with Reference Text and Second Draft Script (Walt Disney, 1989). "You've got your looks, your pretty face. And don't underestimate the importance of BODY LANGUAGE!" Ursula's own body language is looking quite peculiar in these 8 rare and early character concepts that feature her with a manta ray-like design by long-time layout artist Disney Legend Ken O'Connor (1908 - 1998), which are joined by a pair of his visual development sketches for King Triton's throne room and a "reddish?" haired princess as well as a reference print of Hans Christian Andersen's original 1836 text and a brad-bound copy the Disney's film's second draft script from late 1986. Although O'Connor had retired from Disney after more than three decades with the studio in 1978, he continued to lend his imagination and artistry as a consultant over the next ten years. He was brought on as a visual development artist for The Little Mermaid as one of his final projects with Walt Disney Studios, during which time he created these unusual concepts for the tale's much needed villain. Walt had dreams of adapting Andersen's maritime fairy tale as early as the 1930s, but a myriad of circumstances led to the project being shelved until directors John Musker and Ron Clements prepared a two-page treatment in the mid-1980s that got the project once again green-lit. The Sea Witch received some of the most intensive character development as she was an unnamed minor player in the 19th century source material. Here O'Connor portrays her as a manta ray-like creature harkening almost to a comical Silly Symphony style design with her pointed witch hat and cauldron. Her 8 character development sheets are joined by a developmental layout of Triton's throne room and a small 4" x 6" profile sketch of a tiara clad young woman with the note "reddish?" pointing to her hair. These concepts have each been rendered in graphite with a few containing red pencil frame blocking on sheets of 16 field animation paper some of which have been trimmed slightly at the top or side. Also included is a swim pattern layout made from a trimmed print of a 4-image concept that was previously mounted to a 16 field sheet of animation paper, however the studio tape has detached and the prints are now loose. Rounding out the lot is an 18-page print copy of Hans Christian Andersen's original 1836 text of The Little Mermaid as well as O'Connor's brad-bound second draft script for the Disney feature dated December 2, 1986 on the title page. With typical handling and edge wear including age-related toning, fold creases, surface wrinkles with minor edge tearing, and faint surface wear/smudging, overall this remarkable testament to Ursula's character development is in Good condition.From the Ken O’Connor Archive.
Auction Info
2025 December 12 - 15 The Art of Disney Signature® Auction #7408 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2025
12th-15th
Friday-Monday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 14
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 156
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.
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