Translate

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Original Production Animation Drawing of Mickey Mouse from "The Worm Turns," 1937


Original production animation drawing of Mickey Mouse from "The Worm Turns," 1937, Walt Disney Studios; Graphite, blue, and red pencils on peg hole paper; Numbered 59 in graphite pencil lower right; Size - Mickey Mouse: 4 3/4 x 4", Sheet 10 x 12"; Unframed.

 To purchase this drawing or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE!

"The Worm Turns" (released on January 2, 1937) is an animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and was directed by Ben Sharpsteen. Both the title and the opening title card reference and show a worm attacking a bird; however neither animal appears in the short. The music was Franz von Suppe's most notable work, "Leichte Kavallerie (Light Cavalry)." Walt Disney provides the voice of Mickey Mouse, Pinto Colvig the voice of Pluto, and Billy Bletcher the voice of Pete the Dogcatcher.


Close up of the original production animation drawing of Mickey Mouse.

The story of "The Worm Turns" is that Mickey Mouse is in his laboratory, and he mixes a "Courage Builder" potion that he found in an ancient formulas book. He puts the potion into a syringe and tries it out on a fly, that had been captured in the web of a spider. Once the formula is sprayed from a syringe, the fly gains enormous courage; and is able to escape the web and also attack the spider. Seeing that they potion worked, Mickey spots a mouse being chased by a cat. H sprays the mouse, who ends up charging the cat and throwing him out of a window. The cat lands on Mickey's dog Pluto's water bowl. Pluto begins to chase the cat, but Mickey sprays the "Courage Builder" on the cat which causes the cat to now chase Pluto. Pluto escapes, but the Pete  the dogcatcher catches Pluto in a dog net. Pluto escapes, but Pete grabs a shotgun and begins to chase Pluto down the street. Mickey sees the chase, and puts a large dose of the "Courage Builder" formula into a pest sprayer and sprays Pluto. Pluto charges Pete, bites him in the butt, and hurls him into the back of his own Dog Pound Truck; which crashes over the side of a hill. The last scene shows Pluto sniffing a fire hydrant, that Mickey sprays, causing the hydrant to spray Pluto with water. In each case, the weaker character that is sprayed with the potion, gets the upper hand on the stronger opponent.


Close up of the production number.

This is a great drawing of Mickey Mouse wearing his protective lab coat, rubber gloves, and holding the syringe containing the "Courage Builder" formula. He is full figure, eyes and mouth open, and he stands over four inches tall. The drawing is rendered in graphite, blue, and red pencils on peg hole animation paper. This is a wonderful image of Mickey Mouse and certainly a great drawing from one of the Walt Disney cartoon shorts of the 1930's.

No comments:

Post a Comment