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Description

United Productions of America (UPA) Group of 4 Key Master Backgrounds from WWII Propaganda Films (UPA, c. 1940s). A striking quartet of original hand-painted 12-field backgrounds from one of UPA's World War II propaganda films, rendered in black-and-white on studio background board. The set charts a wartime narrative through place: a stark Nazi headquarters exterior, a sweeping aerial of a European oil field, and two ground-level views amid derricks and pipes. With high-contrast washes, bold silhouettes, and economical detail, the art embodies UPA's modernist graphic language-built for clarity, speed, and impact on training and propaganda screens. The German factory background was created for a bombing run sequence in training films. During the 1940s, U.S. animation studios supported the war effort with films that explained complex technology and procedures while boosting morale. UPA (United Productions of America) contributed alongside Disney and Warner Bros., producing government-commissioned shorts before postwar investigations chilled Hollywood's federal contracts. These production-used backgrounds are eloquent artifacts of that moment: designed to read instantly, photograph cleanly, and drive a story about strategy, logistics, and targets. An exceptional offering for collectors of vintage animation and WWII history. In Good condition with edge wear and toning consistent with age and studio handling.


Auction Info

Auction Dates
December, 2025
12th-15th Friday-Monday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 9
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 170

Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.

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Sold on Dec 15, 2025 for: $720.00
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