Translate

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Original Production Animation Drawing of Donald Duck from "Mickey's Fire Brigade," 1935


Original production drawing of Donald Duck from "Mickey's Fire Brigade," 1935; Graphite, red, blue, and green pencils on peg hole paper; Numbered 130 lower right; Size - Donald Duck: 3 1/2 x 4", Sheet 9 1/2 x 12"; Unframed.


"Mickey's Fire Brigade," 1935 is an animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by United Artists. It was directed by Ben Sharpsteen, music by Bert Lewis, and with animation by Paul Allen, Milt Kahl (inbetweening), Grim Natwick, Fred Spencer, Bill Tytla, and Cy Young. The short features the voices of Walt Disney as Mickey Mouse, Clarence Nash as Donald Duck, Pinto Colvig as Goofy, and Elvia Allman as Clarabelle Cow.


Close up of the original production animation drawing of Donald Duck.

The plot of "Mickey's Fire Brigade" is that Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy are firefighters responding to a hotel fire. Mickey drives a contemporary style hook-and-ladder fire truck, Donald is standing on the stack a ladders on the truck shouting "Fire! Fire! Fire!", while Goofy is steering the rear of the truck. The three fire fighters arrive at the hotel and go to work. The film is filled with lots of comedic gags which show the trio to be inept fireman. The fire and smoke are animated as if to have a mind of their own, and they make every attempt to foil the fireman's efforts to put them out!


Close up of the production number.

The firefighters soon realize that there is a woman upstairs who needs saving. They find Clarabelle Cow locked in the bathroom taking a bath and singing, unaware that the hotel is on fire. After Goofy unsuccessfully warns her through the transom, Mickey and Donald break the door down using Goofy as a battering ram. Clarabelle is alarmed and thinks that Mickey, Donald, and Goofy are criminals. As Clarabelle is screaming for the police and hitting them with her scrub brush, the three firefighters lift her bathtub (with Clarabelle still in it) and shove it out the window. Clarabelle sails through the air in her tub, and slides down a ladder to the ground. The three firefighters then land in the bathtub. The film ends with Clarabelle continuously hitting them with her scrub brush.

This is a wonderful drawing of Donald Duck from the 1935 Walt Disney animated short, "Mickey's Fire Brigade." Donald's eyes are open, he is full figure, wearing his fireman's hat, and carrying a water bucket. In addition, the multicolored penciled image is centered on the sheet and the action pose is beautifully rendered.

No comments:

Post a Comment